ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
THE HIGHLANDERS use a triangle-and-two defense to frustrate Shawsville and notch a 66-37 Three Rivers District win.
Glenvar High School's path to girls' basketball bliss started at the defensive end of the floor Thursday night.
The Highlanders confused and frustrated visiting Shawsville, mostly with a triangle-and-two defense, and dominated the backboards on the way to a 66-37 Three Rivers District rout.
The rattled Shawnees lost control of the game in the first half. Midway through the third quarter, the rout was already on.
``We let some things gets to us early and we got out of our game,'' Shawsville coach Tracy Poff said. ``Credit for that goes to the Glenvar defense. They played great defense.''
Targets of the special defense were point guard Beth Burdette and forward Megan Forster. Burdette is a clever floor leader and Forster the leading scorer in Timesland at nearly 26 points per game.
Forster never found a rhythm and finished with 10 points. Burdette was never allowed to get the Shawnees offense started.
``We wanted to know where Forster was at all times,'' Glenvar coach Dennis Layman said.
For Shawsville (10-4 overall, 2-2 Three Rivers), it's been a tough week. Tuesday, the Shawnees entertained Floyd County, the top team in the district. The Shawnees played hard, but were beaten 56-45.
After that loss, a trip to Glenvar (10-4, 3-1) became even more difficult. It didn't help that the Highlanders were on their game.
``Most of it came from our rebounding,'' said Glenvar's Erika Hale. ``We didn't really have a set offense, but we got a lot of good fast breaks.''
Many started near midcourt, which is where the Glenvar press was most productive.
Hale, last year's Timesland Sizzling Sophomore of the Year, led Glenvar with 19 points. Jamie Dowdy added 11 and drew the praise of her coach for her work at the other end of the floor.
``Her defense was very good tonight,'' Layman said.
Backcourt players Amanda Kennedy and Bonnie Willet combined for 15 points for the Highlanders.
Hale and Amanda Rydell dominated the inside.
``The triangle and two allowed the big girls to stay inside and dominate the boards,'' Hale said.
Sarah Hagood scored 10 points for Shawsville. The Shawnees' lack of depth was exposed by the Highlanders' pressure.
``They outplayed us in every phase of the game,'' Poff said.
Layman liked what he saw.
``We really came out focused,'' he said. ``I was just as worried about Shawsville as I was about Floyd County earlier.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB