ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 31, 1997 TAG: 9701310043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Three huge games highlight one of the biggest nights of the high school basketball season.
In the Blue Ridge District, the boys' team from William Byrd (12-4, 7-1) can take control of the race with a win tonight at second-place Salem (9-6 overall, 6-2 Blue Ridge).
It won't be so easy for the Terriers, however, as Salem has beaten Byrd in two previous meetings this year, including a victory in the NationsBank Holiday Hoops Classic.
In fact, Salem has won six straight and eight of the past nine games it has played against Byrd dating back to the 1995 season. The Terriers own the district lead because the Spartans were upset by Lord Botetourt and Blacksburg while Byrd has not lost to another Blue Ridge team other than Salem.
Byrd has not won on the Spartans' home floor since 1990. However, the two teams have met only four times in that span at Salem with the other games being played at Byrd or the Salem Civic Center. All four losses by Byrd at Salem have been by seven points or less.
Two big games in the Roanoke Valley District send the Cave Spring girls to Pulaski County at 6 p.m., and Patrick Henry battles William Fleming in a boys' game at the Salem Civic Center at 7:30 p.m.
Like the Blue Ridge District, a victory by the leader in either case could virtually settle the regular-season race. Pulaski County is a game ahead of Cave Spring and Fleming is one game in front of PH in the standings. Pulaski County (12-1, 4-0) dominated Cave Spring (13-2, 3-1) on the Knights' floor earlier, 62-45.
Both teams still must play third-place William Fleming after tonight, but this is the final regular season meeting between the two clubs. Pulaski County and Cave Spring have had playoffs for the title two of the past three years. However, Pulaski County has won three straight and five of the past six games between the teams.
Patrick Henry (11-4, 3-1) was the preseason favorite to win the RVD boys' title. However, PH was upset by Fleming (11-4, 4-0) earlier in the season, 57-56. The Colonels led 4-2 early and then didn't regain the lead until Charles Burnette hit the deciding free throws with 52 seconds left.
The Colonels have won three of the past four Roanoke Valley District regular-season titles. The only one Fleming didn't win, in 1994, went to PH. Since 1986, when Franklin County won, either Fleming or Patrick Henry has captured the regular-season race.
Another big rivalry resumes when Blacksburg (6-8, 3-5) faces visiting Christiansburg (9-5, 4-4) in a Blue Ridge District game. While the contest doesn't have title implications, the winner has a chance to finish among the top four teams and earn a home game in the first round of the district tournaments next month.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB