ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 29, 1997 TAG: 9701290033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
FRANK ENGLISH LEADS a second-half rally as William Byrd subdues Rockbridge County.
With William Byrd in trouble at the half Tuesday, Frank English stepped up to save the Terriers just as he did so often in football.
The Terrier forward had his first double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead a rally in the second half as Byrd stopped visiting Rockbridge County 52-45 in a Blue Ridge District contest. The Terriers were down 30-21 at the half before English accumulated eight points, six rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in the final two quarters.
The Terriers (12-4 overall, 8-1 Blue Ridge) had problems because leading scorers Kevin Stump and Mayo Wilson combined for only five points at the half. Wilson, facing a diamond-and-one defense, didn't take a shot until midway through the second quarter as the Wildcats' Jonathan Haston and Jaymie Terrell took turns on the Byrd point guard.
``You can't take them all out,'' said David Miller, Rockbridge County's coach. ``Frank made the big plays in the second half.''
``There were a lot of open shots tonight,'' said English. ``I guess people will let me have those shots.''
English scored seven points in the first quarter, but he was scoreless in the second period when Rockbridge County (3-10, 3-5) outscored the Terriers 13-7. In the third quarter, Byrd opened with a 16-2 run and took the lead for good when Jason Bailey hit a layup to make it 34-32.
It was English, though, that was the difference. He had two assists that helped the 6-foot-5 Stump get two of his four baskets after the half. One time he blocked a shot, got the rebound and then had the assist to Stump on the other end.
``English played tonight like he did this fall when he was [all-state] quarterback. He's capable of playing that way every night,'' said Byrd coach Paul Barnard.
Josh Wheeler added 14 points for William Byrd.
After Byrd opened a six-point lead in the fourth, Rockbridge County rallied behind the shooting of Jason Hannah, whose 3-pointer made it 46-45 with 2:11 left. But Wilson connected on four consecutive free throws to put the game away.
It was another close loss for Rockbridge County against one of the top teams in the Blue Ridge District.
``We wanted to be able to play with these teams up here, but I'm tired of just playing with them. It's time we beat them,'' said Miller, a first-year coach trying to turn around a losing program. ''We have to win so that our team knows we can beat them.''
Byrd (20-of-49 from the field), which has a crucial game at second-place Salem on Friday, and Rockbridge County (20-of-48) had similar shooting nights. The Terriers dominated on the boards with a 40-19 edge. Stump had a game-high 11 rebounds.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines KEYWORDS: BASKEBALLby CNB