ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 23, 1996 TAG: 9611260015
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Virginia Tech men's basketball team plays its final exhibition game of the season today when it takes on Court Authority at 4 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum.
Tech, which opens the regular season on Nov. 29 against Hawaii-Hilo in the Big Island Invitational, beat a team from Yugoslavia 69-53 in its first preseason test.
Court Authority is led by a host of former college players, including Eric English and Pete Woolfolk of Richmond, Warren Peebles of Virginia Union, Chris McNeil of Pittsburgh and Edmund Sherod of Virginia Commonwealth.
Court Authority is 4-8, losing to North Carolina by five points and George Washington by two points in overtime.
Tickets for today's game are $5.
In other sports news in the region:
* The Roanoke City Boxing Association is holding signups for Roanoke City's youth boxing program at noon today at the Victory Gym inside the visitors' stands at Victory Stadium.
Youths ages 12 to 21 are eligible and no experience is necessary. Six-time world champion Thomas ``Hitman'' Hearns will participate in an open sparring session during the signups.
Hearns' opponent for next Friday's fight has not been determined. According to Kurt Block of the Marquee Group, which produces ESPN2 fight promos, a fighter should be named by Monday.
* University of Virginia tailback Tiki Barber is one of eight semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation's top collegiate running back.
Barber, a 1993 graduate of Cave Spring High School, leads the ACC in rushing (119.5 yards per game), all-purpose yards (169.1 per game) and punt returns (13.2 per return).
The other finalists are Darnell Autry of Northwestern, Calvin Branch of Colorado State, Troy Davis of Iowa State, Warrick Dunn of Florida State, Byron Hanspard of Texas Tech, Robert Holcombe of Illinois and David Thompson of Oklahoma State.
Three finalists will be announced Nov.26 and the winner will be announced Dec.2.
* Virginia Tech cross country coach Steve Taylor was named the Atlantic 10 Conference's coach of the year after leading the Hokies to their first A-10 championship. Tech was 3-0 in the regular season and finished eighth in the NCAA District III championships.
Taylor, a Tech graduate, was an All-American in cross country and track before coaching at Cave Spring and Lord Botetourt high schools. He took over the Tech program in 1991.
* Former Radford tennis player Sue Shoemaker Hollandsworth has returned to her alma mater to coach the Highlanders' women's program. Hollandsworth, who coached at Floyd County High School from 1993-95, played for Radford's nationally ranked squad in 1984, the school's last in Division II competition. A 1987 graduate, Hollandsworth played No.1 singles at Radford from 1985-87.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines KEYWORDS: 2DAby CNB