ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
It turns out that the Lord Botetourt girls' basketball team isn't overrated after all.
The Cavaliers entered Thursday night's Blue Ridge District game at William Byrd as the top-ranked team in Timesland. But the Terriers didn't see it that way. Instead, their fans chanted ``Overrated'' every time Lord Botetourt touched the ball and, on one occasion, threw objects at Cavalier spectators.
William Byrd's disdain was understandable. The Terriers defeated the Cavaliers by 15 points earlier this season, only to find themselves ranked third in the area.
Maybe William Byrd should have kept its feelings to itself, especially since Lord Botetourt escaped with a 41-39 victory. With the win, the Cavaliers (14-1 overall, 6-1 district) are in a first-place tie with Northside in the Blue Ridge District. The Terriers (11-3, 6-2) fell to second.
"Despite the earlier loss this season, we thought that we would still be the better team because of our experience," said Katrina Elliott, a Lord Botetourt senior guard. "But this victory was extra special because they kept yelling `Overrated.' It feels great to win this game."
Elliott and her teammates weren't able to celebrate until Andrea Gay's 3-point attempt missed at the buzzer.
"But that shot isn't what lost the game for us," said Richard Thrasher, the Terriers' coach. "You couldn't have asked for her to take a better shot. It just so happens that it didn't fall. Where we lost the game was in the first quarter. We were standing around while Botetourt got eight straight offensive rebounds. And I don't know how many points Sara Moore had but she killed us."
Thrasher was right.
Moore was unstoppable, finishing with a game-high 18 points, nine rebounds, seven steals and two blocks. The shooting guard came on strong later in the game, scoring 11 of the Cavaliers' final 17 points. And the 5-foot-9 senior even shined at center when Sarah Hicks became saddled with foul trouble.
"I think this was the best game Sara played all year," said Lord Botetourt coach David Wheat.
And it couldn't have come at a better time.
Hicks, the reigning Timesland Player of the Year was held to nine points while Elliott was scoreless. Meanwhile, Brandy Allen and Stephanie Parnell, the Terriers' top guns, were shut down, scoring a combined 12 points.
"I was motivated because of the how badly we played [against William Byrd] the last time," said Moore. "I just wanted us to play our best against them. I wouldn't have cared if Gay made the [winning] 3-pointer or not. I just wanted to come in here and play a close game."
Moore left that impression from the start, scoring the first basket of the game. Takisha Basham's free throws gave Lord Botetourt a 6-2 lead with 3:14 left in the first quarter.
William Byrd, which shot 35 percent in the opening half, entered halftime trailing 22-16.
Brennan Sigel's basket capped a third quarter that Byrd dominated, outscoring Botetourt 12-4 and taking a 28-26 lead.
The Cavaliers answered with a 14-5 run to start the fourth quarter as the Terriers missed five straight shots.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB