ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 17, 1996 TAG: 9611190003
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-14 SPORTS EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
THE TERRIERS EARN a home game in the state tournament with a 58-52 Region III victory in overtime.
Lara Nester is Timesland's leading 3-point shooter, but she's no gunner.
The William Byrd guard had fewer than three attempts per game from beyond the arc while posting the top percentage from long distance during the girls' basketball season. So when she took the shot Saturday night, it was very meaningful.
Nester's 3-pointer in overtime turned the Region III championship game toward William Byrd, and the Terriers went on to down Lord Botetourt 58-52 at Salem.
``If I don't feel it, I'm not putting it up,'' said Nester. ``I'd rather pass than put up a bad shot.''
Trailing 52-51, Nester's shot gave the Terriers (22-4) the lead for good. More importantly, it put Botetourt in an unfamiliar position - having to play catch-up. The Cavaliers couldn't do it.
So if Lord Botetourt (24-2) is to successfully defend its Group AA championship, the Cavaliers will have to do it on the road. With the loss, they'll play a first-round state tournament game at Marion on Tuesday night. The Scarlet Hurricane upset Richlands 67-55 in the Region IV title game.
Byrd will be at home against Richlands. If both Blue Ridge District teams win, they'll play a fifth game in the state tournament semifinals Friday at Virginia High in Bristol. So far, the teams have split the four games and the last two have gone to overtime.
After Nester's shot, Botetourt's Takisha Basham and Sarah Moore both missed short field-goal attempts and Byrd's Brandon Sigel couldn't convert a pair of free throws.
However, the Terriers' Andrea Gay hit one free throw with 28 seconds left and, after Botetourt's Sarah Hicks failed to tie the score on a 3-point try, freshman guard Dawn Chewning iced the game by making a free throw with 12 seconds left.
``Nester's shot really hurt. It changed the whole strategic situation,'' said Botetourt coach David Wheat.
It wasn't that the Cavaliers didn't have their chances. Behind 1996 Timesland Player of the Year Hicks, Botetourt opened several leads. Each time Byrd rallied.
Hicks had a game-high 27 points, nine rebounds, four steals and two assists in what might have been her best game of the year. However, she got only eight points in the second half.
``We weren't doing a good job in our match-up [zone], so we went to a 2-3 to cover the inside,'' said Byrd coach Richard Thrasher. ``We were letting Sarah have too many good shots on the baseline.''
``I came ready to play,'' said Hicks, who had been slowed by an ankle injury until the tournaments, when she seemed to get her foot speed back.
``I knew this game wouldn't be easy and I had to play all out, no matter what. I couldn't have an off night as I have in the past against Byrd,'' said Hicks.
Hicks got Byrd's inside players - Brandy Allen and Stephanie Parnell - in foul trouble. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, Hicks couldn't get Allen out of the game as the Terrier junior forward had 20 points and eight rebounds in one of her best games.
``I think I've been saving all week for tonight because I knew it would be a tough game,'' said Allen, who had not played as strongly in Byrd's semifinal victory against Jefferson Forest.
This game nearly didn't make overtime. Byrd took a 49-48 lead when Gay got a layup and a free throw for a three-point play. Allen's free throw with 1:02 left made it a two-point Terrier advantage.
Basham missed a short shot that Chewning rebounded, but the Byrd guard missed a one-and-one. Given a second chance, Basham's layup was good with nine seconds left to send the teams into an extra period for the second Saturday in a row.
In overtime, Hicks' layup made it 52-51. That's when Thrasher set it up for Nester after a Byrd timeout.
``Botetourt went to a zone and we thought we could rotate the ball,'' said the Byrd coach.
The Terriers shot well, hitting 22-of-39, while the Cavaliers struggled and made only 23-of-51 from the field.
The Terriers also controlled Moore, the co-Blue Ridge District Player of the Year with Hicks, as she was held to seven points and only two assists. However, she got eight rebounds.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 84 linesby CNB