ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 30, 1996 TAG: 9610300075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: GIRLS' BASKETBALL
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
Shermika Harris blocked three shots in the final 49 seconds as Laurel Park held off Martinsville 38-36 in a Piedmont District game in Laurel Park on Tuesday night. The loss dropped Martinsville into a second-place tie with Laurel Park and Bassett, a 71-45 winner over Fieldale-Collinsville.
Martinsville (12-7 overall, 6-3 district) led 25-21 at halftime but Laurel Park tied it at 32 with 4 minutes, 33 seconds left. Brandy Martin hit a free throw before driving for a layup to give the Lancers a 35-32 lead with 2:58 to go. Jamie Farrington scored for the Bulldogs but Martin retaliated to make it 37-34. After the first of three late turnovers for Martinsville, Harris hit a free throw to make it 38-34 with 1:45 to go. But Harris wasn't through.
With 49 seconds left, she blocked two consecutive shots. After missing two free throws, Harris was at it again, blocking another shot with five seconds left. Martinsville committed another turnover with one second left.
Brandy Martin finished with 18 points for Laurel Park (12-7, 6-3) and Harris added seven points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
Tiffany Watkins scored 18 points for Martinsville.
In other games:
Radford 56, Giles 37: Kim Kimbleton scored 13 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Bobcats stopped the Spartans in a Three Rivers District game 19 in Radford.
Radford (10-10, 3-6) hit eight of 13 3-point attempts, including four in the second quarter, when the Bobcats outscored Giles 16-9. Kimbleton also sparked the defense with 4 steals and with her interior presence.
Jodi Mullins led the Spartans (5-14, 0-9) with 14 points.
Patrick County 49, Magna Vista 43: At Ridgeway, the Cougars outscored the Warriors 25-8 in the fourth quarter to wipe out an 11-point deficit in a Piedmont District contest.
Anitra Huff and Allison Brammer each scored 13 points to pace district leader Patrick County (17-3, 7-2). Moranda Wade and Sandi Reid had 12 each for Magna Vista (7-11, 2-7), which wilted under furious fourth-quarter pressure by the visitors.
Bassett 71, Fieldale-Collinsville 45: Heather Miller scored 22 points as the Bengals overpowered the Cavaliers in a Piedmont District game in Collinsville.
Amber Byer and Jamie Roberts added 11 points each for Bassett (16-4, 6-3), which broke open the game by outscoring F-C 18-6 in the third quarter.
Jennifer Will led the Cavaliers (6-14, 0-9) with 17 points, including three 3-pointers.
Fort Chiswell 50, Rocky Gap 35: Kelly Reynolds scored six of her 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Pioneers (12-8, 9-3) topped the Eagles (9-12, 5-7) in a Mountain Empire District game in Rocky Gap.
Amber Gunter hit two 3-pointers as the Pioneers scored the game's final 15 points. Kristen Harmon added 10 points for Fort Chiswell.
The Eagles were led by Jamie Johnston, who scored 13 points, and Sarah French, who grabbed 12 rebounds.
Floyd County 80, Auburn 34: The Buffaloes used a balanced attack to subdue the Eagles in a Three Rivers District game in Floyd.
Floyd County (18-2, 8-1) had four players in double figures, led by Sara Conner's 15 points. Amy Vest had 12 points and Sonja Hylton and Karen Pursifull added 10 each.
Auburn (8-13, 3-7), which trailed 41-13 at the half, got 14 points from Laura Underwood and 12 from Susan Wirt.
Grayson County 61, Pocahontas 34: Lindsey Cariko scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Blue Devils to a Mountain Empire District victory over the Indians in Pocahontas.
Grayson County (6-15, 5-7) led 28-19 at halftime before pulling away. Teaka Wright contributed 11 points for the Blue Devils.
Pocahontas (4-15, 3-9) was led by Pamela Nunley's 10 points.
Covington 55, Bath County 44: Joanne Helton scored 14 of her 20 points in the second half as the Cougars (13-4, 9-0) expoloded after the break to turn back the Chargers (8-11, 3-6) in a Pioneer District contest in Covington.
Covington trailed by 11 points at halftime before outscoring Bath County 44-20 in the second half. Melissa Page scored eight of her 18 points in the third quarter for the Cougars.
Katie Hardbarger led the Chargers with 17 points.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 88 linesby CNB