ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701210037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Now people know why no one wants to play Salem.
Despite a losing record and some inconsistent play from a veteran squad, the Spartans are very dangerous. Just ask Woodrow Wilson of Beckley, W.Va.
The Spartans knocked off West Virginia's No.1 team 63-53 Saturday in the final game of the Crestar Roundball Classic, preventing a four-game sweep by the visiting teams for the first time ever.
The Spartans (6-6) used a big night by Kwam Lewis, who scored 18 points and had a career-high 16 rebounds. But really, everyone wearing a silver uniform wanted this one.
``I told the guys, you never quit, never give up. Just keep on battling, and they did tonight,'' said Salem coach Charlie Morgan, whose team has been up and down this season.
Lewis had seven points and five rebounds in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. ``I knew I had to rebound,'' he said. ``This is a tough team and the only way to win was to get some second shots.''
Andy Beach, scoreless against Northside on Friday, came up with seven of his nine points in the second half. ``I really had something to prove,'' said Beach. ``Coach Morgan said I had to come back and play hard.''
In the losers' dressing room, Wilson coach Dave Barksdale was enraged at the whole evening. He refused to use as an excuse that his formerly unbeaten team hadn't played for 10 days because of the snow and might be a little rusty.
``Five-and-six beating the No.1 team in West Virginia. You explain that,'' Barksdale snarled.
``We got beat in every phase of the game. They wanted the game more than us. They wanted to stop us more than we wanted to stop them.''
The Flying Eagles lived up to their name, letting fly 3-point shots like they were tossing pennies in a wishing well. Wilson (5-1) made only four of 33 shots from beyond the arc and no starter was shy about shooting, including center Tamar Slay, who actually hit one.
``We played pretty good here two years ago [when Wilson beat William Fleming]. People talked about how good we were, but they won't do that now,'' said Barksdale. ``We try to shoot 3-pointers, we just didn't do very good.''
Salem trailed 32-25 when the Spartans went on a 12-0 run climaxed by two baskets from Eric Grinnell. Wilson never led again, but the Eagles cut it to 52-51 on Slay's 3-pointer.
Grinnell hit inside again and then Lewis made two free throws with 2:24 left for a five-point lead. The Spartans made their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
Salem hit only 20 of 50 shots, but that was a better percentage than Wilson's 21-of-67. The Spartans used 10 steals, including four by Herschel Thomas, to keep Wilson's offense off balance.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 linesby CNB