ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 13, 1996 TAG: 9611130089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: FLOYD
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
The Covington High School girls' basketball team got its first up-close look at its counterpart from Floyd County on Tuesday night and saw a mirror image.
The difference was the mirror image was the team that was forcing all the turnovers.
In a Region C tournament matchup of teams with similar philosophies on the game, the Buffaloes had the better execution and did away with the spunky visitors from Covington 89-61.
Next up for the Buffaloes (23-2) is old rival Narrows, a team Floyd County remembers from the days when both were in the old Mountain Empire District. The Green Wave survived a 59-58 overtime thriller with Chilhowie on Tuesday night to earn its spot in the regional semifinals. Narrows and Floyd County play in the second game of a Thursday doubleheader at Christiansburg High School. The winner earns a berth in the Group A tournament.
Covington (14-8) ended its first trip to regionals since 1982 with a newfound appreciation of its foe, a team it encountered for the first time Tuesday.
``We play a lot like they do, pressing after made baskets and sometimes after made free throws,'' said Rob Bennett, the Cougars' coach. ``But they are so fundamentally sound. We played Lord Botetourt a few years ago, but I'm sure this is the best team these girls have ever seen.''
Despite the best efforts of sensational point guard Joann Helton, who scored 33 points, the Cougars trailed almost from the start. The trick was to somehow find a way to slow the Buffaloes.
Covington never did.
Floyd County poured it on with a 46-point first half, then came out with a 34-15 blitz in the third quarter to put the game totally out of reach.
``We took three little runs at them,'' said Alan Cantrell, the Buffaloes' coach. ``We moved the ball around a little better during the one in the third quarter.''
Floyd County scored on nine of its last 10 possessions in the third quarter, making eight of 10 shots during one frantic stretch.
That echoed a sequence in the 24-point second quarter when Floyd County scored six consecutive baskets, converting on nine of 11 possessions.
``We have not played a team that shot the ball and rebounded and passed like they did,'' Bennett said.
Covington didn't lack for experience. The Cougars started five seniors, including Helton, who scored the 1,000th point of her career in the sixth game of the season. Melissa Page chipped in 12 points and Charli Laws nine, but Helton handled most of the scoring load as well as the ballhandling.
Helton's frequent forays inside attracted plenty of defensive attention and lots of fouls. The Buffaloes had 24 fouls, 13 more than Covington, and Helton was the primary beneficiary. She visited the line 19 times and made 13. The Cougars made good on 23 of 36 free-throw attempts.
Julie Sowers had 21 points, nine of those from 3-point range, and Amy Vest added 18 (six points from beyond the arc) before fouling out. Sara Conner added 14 and Jill Quesenberry also had 14, including another 3-pointer.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 linesby CNB