ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 27, 1996 TAG: 9612270068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
It took the best effort by Gar-Field guard Kelvin Pollard to make his coach's homecoming a happy occasion.
Pollard hadn't scored more than 14 points in a game this year, but he changed all that with a 21-point performance in the first round of the NationsBank Holiday Hoops Classic on Thursday to lead the Indians past host Salem 57-50 in a boys' basketball game at the Salem Civic Center.
``He's a fourth-year varsity player and that's his best game this year. He's one of the best kids I've ever coached, and he has a wonderful attitude,'' said Gray, who was an assistant coach at William Fleming and a former player at William Byrd.
The victory shoves Gar-Field (5-2) into a semifinal game tonight at 7:45 against Patrick Henry in a battle of Northwest Region rivals. Salem drops into the consolation bracket today at 3:45 p.m. for a battle against Blue Ridge District rival William Byrd.
While Pollard might not have scored that many points in one game this year, he was well known to Salem coach Charlie Morgan.
``We knew he hadn't played up to his potential but that he could be dangerous,'' Morgan said.
Pollard hit only two of eight shots in the first half as Salem led 30-29. After the half, Pollard was a different player, making six of eight from the field, including three 3-point shots.
Behind Pollard, Gar-Field vaulted to a 46-36 lead, but the Spartans (1-4) rallied behind junior guard Herschel Thomas, who finished with 15 points.
Salem cut it to 53-50 on Thomas' final field goal, but moments later he missed a tying 3-point attempt and the Spartans were forced to foul. Kareem Kyer's two free throws with 31.9 seconds left made it 55-50 and Mark Dogbatse sank two more with 13.6 seconds remaining to lock up the victory.
Salem was playing a perimeter game and without inside scoring couldn't catch the Indians. Thomas (five) and Sam Lazzaro (six) combined for 11 assists, but Gar-Field dominated the boards 31-22 as Dogbatse had seven rebounds.
LENGTH: Short : 44 linesby CNB