ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 4, 1996 TAG: 9611050119
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Despite the new alignments, the same teams are favored to dominate the girls' basketball tournaments that begin tonight.
When it all ends in three weeks, the likeliest Timesland teams to play in the Group AA tournament are Lord Botetourt and William Byrd. In Group A, Floyd County and Glenvar seem to be the Timesland teams with the best chances.
These four teams played in the state tournaments a year ago, along with Blacksburg, which advanced as a Region IV team. With Blacksburg and Christiansburg joining the Blue Ridge District, either Bassett, Laurel Park, Martinsville or Patrick County carry Timesland hopes out of the Piedmont District.
Glenvar is now in the same district as Floyd County - Three Rivers - after leaving the Pioneer District where it had dominated for years. These two teams tied for the regular season title and have a playoff tonight at Auburn with the winner automatically making the Region C tournament. However, tonight's loser will be favored to come back through the Three Rivers District tournament and also make the Region C playoffs.
One other playoff tonight sends Parry McCluer against Covington for the Pioneer District crown. However, neither team will be favored to make it through Region C play.
Two tournaments start tonight. Carroll County goes to Graham in a first-round Group AA Southwest District contest while there are three first-round Group A Hogoheegee District battles. George Wythe and Rural Retreat, a pair of Timesland teams, are at home this evening.
The most interesting aspects of the new alignment have been the races in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont districts. The Blue Ridge expanded to eight teams and the Piedmont fell to six.
``It's the best [Piedmont] district race we've had since I've been here,'' said Bassett coach Lisa Black. ``Any team can win the tournament. Even [last-place] Fieldale-Collinsville, which is a dark horse.''
Black knows what she's talking about. Going into the final night, the right combination of wins and losses could have left four of the six teams tied for first. Patrick County, the preseason favorite, stopped anyone from having to figure out how to hold a four-team playoff and district tournament at the same time by beating Bassett 40-36 to avenge an earlier 17-point loss.
In the Blue Ridge District, defending state champion Lord Botetourt started in last place and had to work its way back to the top. The Cavaliers lost their league opener to William Byrd, the other Group AA finalist a year ago, and star center Sarah Hicks injured her ankle and missed three games.
``This was a lot tougher this year,'' said Lord Botetourt coach David Wheat. ``Winning the district with as many competitive teams and as long a season as it is became an endurance test.''
Of course, everyone was out to get the Cavaliers. ``People said we were going to win the district and the state. I had to remind them we didn't win the district [regular season or tournament] last year,'' said Wheat. ``There's so much pressure when everyone's out to get you.''
On the other hand, Byrd lost many of its stars from last fall and doesn't have a senior on the team. Yet the Terriers finished second behind Botetourt with a 17-3 record.
``We won every game we played on the road. That's a great accomplishment for our team,'' said Byrd coach Richard Thrasher.
``I think we have a good shot in the tournament, but anybody in this district can beat anyone on a given night. It will be a very competitive tournament, one of the best we've had.''
Salem, the third team in the hunt last year, is another squad that doesn't start a senior. The Spartans finished fifth in the Blue Ridge, but might have been higher had they not been hit with injuries. At one time, coach Dee Wright had only seven players before bringing up three from the junior varsity.
``By doing that, we've been able to have enough for a full practice,'' said Wright. ``It's difficult with only seven kids. I think the new players helped us pick up our intensity and our execution. Now I think our girls want to go out on a winning note.''
Salem proved that on the final night of the year by upsetting third-place Northside on the Vikings' court.
While there were no Group AA playoffs, three of the four Region C districts had or will have playoffs. Besides the Three Rivers and Pioneer playoffs tonight, Narrows topped Galax 43-40 Saturday to join Northwood as an early entrant in next week's Region C tournament.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB