ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 1, 1996 TAG: 9611010043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DALEVILLE
SOURCE: BILL RAY STAFF WRITER
Emotions were running high Thursday night at Lord Botetourt High School. Not because the Cavaliers' girls' basketball team got upset, but rather because the game marked the last time the school's stellar senior class would take the court in a regular-season game.
The Cavaliers used the emotional uplift to their advantage and put the Blue Ridge District regular-season championship on ice with a 63-46 victory over Christiansburg.
The defending Group AA champion Cavaliers (20-1 overall, 13-1 district) earned an automatic berth in the Region III tournament.
With one victory in the regional tournament, Lord Botetourt will advance to the state tournament to defend its 1995 state title.
After jumping out a 10-2 lead, the Cavaliers saw the Blue Devils battle back to within two points early in the first quarter. Despite the tenacious defense of Botetourt's Katrina Elliot, the pesky Blue Demons would not go away. At halftime they trailed by seven, 34-27.
But the full-court pressure applied by Botetourt throughout the game finally made the Blue Demons crack in the second half, forcing turnover after turnover while holding Christiansburg to 19 points after intermission.
``I was hoping it would [work],'' Botetourt coach David Wheat said. ``We seemed to be having fun with the press tonight. They seemed to be eager to play defense tonight.''
When the Cavaliers opened the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run, it was too much for the Blue Demons to overcome.
What made the win even sweeter was the fact that despite winning regionals and state last season, the Cavaliers failed to win the district.
``This was the first time I have won a district title,'' Botetourt center Sara Hicks said. ``We were really excited about this game.''
Hicks, an all-state player last season, led all scorers with 26 points, while fellow all-state player Sara Moore tallied 18.
``They were really hustling all over the place,'' Wheat said. ``They shot and passed the ball well tonight. Both of them are very unselfish players. Real Division I-caliber players.''
Christiansburg was led by junior Amber Reed with 16 points and senior Lisa Dalton with 11 in the losing effort.
Lord Botetourt will play host to the Blue Ridge District tournament next week before heading to Rustburg for the Region III tournament.
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB