ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 8, 1996 TAG: 9611080084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: BILL RAY STAFF WRITER
THE BOBCATS and Shawnees have star power, but it's not enough in the Three Rivers District tournament.
Although Radford and Shawsville got standout performances from their stars, both teams were eliminated from the Three Rivers District girls' basketball tournament Thursday at Christiansburg High School.
Despite an inspired effort from senior Charlee Taylor, Radford fell to Floyd County 60-48 in the first game of the evening. The Buffaloes advance to Saturday's championship game, where they will meet Glenvar, a 38-34 winner over Shawsville.
After going in front 10-2, Radford saw its margin quickly erased as top-seeded Floyd County mounted a 10-2 run of its own. The Bobcats' one-woman show continued as Taylor kept them in striking distance throughout the first half.
Behind her 16 first-half points the Bobcats trailed 28-27.
``I think you saw one of the best individual efforts you are ever going to see out there tonight,'' said Rick Cormany, who took over Radford's coaching duties after Brenda King took a medical leave. ``She had a lot out there to prove tonight. She stepped it up.''
Taylor led all scorers with 32 points, but it was not enough. The Buffaloes came out strong in the second half and hit the shots they missed in the first half.
Junior Julie Sowers set the pace for Floyd County in the third quarter after being shut out in the first half. Sowers hit back-to-back layups for the Buffaloes to start the third quarter and sank three critical 3-pointers en route to 17 points.
``She is a player who has been more consistent for us lately,'' said Alan Cantrell, the Buffaloes' coach. ``She slumped a bit in the middle of the season, but seems to have come out of that now.''
As the game wore on, the Bobcats - who dressed only eight players - wore out. In the fourth quarter they managed only seven points as the Floyd County press became more effective.
``The press can do two things,'' Cantrell said. ``Every once in a while you can come up with a steal, but more importantly you can force a team into a running game they might not be used to.''
In the nightcap, Shawsville was two turnovers from upsetting second-seeded Glenvar.
Again, the top individual effort came in a losing cause as the Shawnees' Megan Forster led the upset bid with 23 of their 34 points. Only three other players scored for Shawsville.
``We were conscious of both'' Forster and teammate Sarah Hagood, said Dennis Layman, Glenvar's coach. ``Forster got her points off sheer athleticism. The shots she made, she was just taking it and making it.''
With time running out and the score knotted at 34, Glenvar's Erika Hale sank a layup. With 40 ticks left on the clock, Shawsville's Mandi Forster turned over the ball, forcing the Shawnees to stop the clock with a foul.
When Megan Forster fouled, it was ruled intentional, giving Glenvar two free throws and possession of the basketball. After Glenvar's Jamie Dowdy missed both free throws, the Shawnees fouled again on the ensuing inbounds pass.
This time, Amy Layman sank both free throws, giving the Highlanders a more comfortable margin of 38-34.
Still not out of the game, the Shawnees committed their second crucial turnover when Kristen Underwood mishandled the ball.
Shawsville finished the night with 25 turnovers, 16 in the second half.
``What hurt us down the line was experience,'' said Tracy Poff, the Shawnees' coach. ``When they needed something late, they went to [Hale]. They just had more experience this year.''
The district final is 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Christiansburg High School, but both teams will advance to the Region C tournament. The junior varsity championship game will be played at 1 p.m.
see microfilm for box score
LENGTH: Medium: 77 linesby CNB