ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 1997 basketball TAG: 9701220049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on January 23, 1997.
A Salem Gigh School boys' basketball player was identified
incorrectly in a photo caption in Wednesday's editions. The player
chasing a loose ball in B-3 was Herschel Thomas.
The sounds of bouncing basketballs, tooting whistles, and the nerve-testing squeak of sneakers were heard in the Salem High gymnasium Tuesday night.
And that was long after the resident Spartans had disposed of Rockbridge County 58-53 in the evening's Blue Ridge District feature match.
Rockbridge hung around like a stubborn tune that keeps recycling in your head, closing within five points with under two minutes to go. Ultimately, the task of closing down the Wildcats rally fell to Salem guard Herschel Thomas, who scored six of the final seven points put up by his team in the final 1:31 of play.
Salem improved to 7-6 overall, 5-2 in the Blue Ridge.
After the game, Spartans coach Charlie Morgan may have been inclined to discuss those and other developments of the night, but he was busy conducting another round of practice. He politely indicated that he preferred to keep his thoughts private.
Even in defeat, Rockbridge County (2-7, 2-3) seemed to derive more enjoyment from the proceedings than did their hosts.
``We've showed everybody that we can play with anybody in the district,'' said first-year head coach David Miller, promoted to the top spot after three years as a Wildcats assistant. ``We're already starting the second part of the season Friday even though the weather has kept us from playing Blacksburg and Christiansburg yet.
``We're still hanging around. We still have a lot of games to play and we have a chance to get back into this race.''
Thomas kept Salem in the game by scoring 21 points, 12 coming on 3-pointers. The junior guard scored 11 points in the second half.
He and Marshall Woolridge, who had 12 points, combined for six triples, which prevented the Wildcats' zone defense from completely clogging the neighborhood around the basket.
Rockbridge stayed with the zone throughout.
``I've been around these players for four years,'' Miller said. ``I know what they can and cannot do. We've tried to play a fast-paced game. The results were not good.''
Instead, the Wildcats stayed active in the zone and deliberate offensively. The final tally included Jonathan Haston with three 3-pointers and 14 points, and Ricky Wright and Luke Serber scoring 10 each.
``We play an ugly game,'' Miller said. ``A tough, hard-nosed, ugly game. But that's what we have to do. I'm really proud of the nine seniors I have. Ricky Wright has been a great leader for us. I've asked them to learn a totally different style of play and they've done it without complaining.'' NOTE: please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN STAFF Salem's John Hancock runs down aby CNBloose ball in the backcourt in Tuesday's game with Rockbridge
County.