ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997 TAG: 9702120041
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: community sports
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: CHRIS LANG STAFF WRITER
Joe Shrewsbury is not the tallest basketball player in the town of Pulaski Adult Basketball League and probably not the most skilled, either.
But on one particular night, he was the best, pouring in 67 points and setting a new league record as he and his Hudson's teammates pounded Coca-Cola, 153-93.
"He's not real tall," said Eddie Sutphin, sports coordinator for the town's recreational sports program. "He's not the player you would expect to break that record."
The 6-foot Shrewsbury broke a 10-year-old record held by Dennis Shrewsberry, who scored 66 points in one game in 1987. Shrewsberry, Pulaski's all-time leading scorer, is still playing in the league.
"We got to running that game, and I guess you could say I was in a zone," Shrewsbury said.
At halftime, Sutphin told Shrewsbury that he was just 23 points shy of setting the league record.
"Eddie told us at halftime that I had 44," Shrewsbury said. "I guess I had a stretch in there where I hit five or six 3s in a row. Then when we realized I had a chance at the record, my teammates kind of helped out. I wouldn't have been able to do it if they hadn't helped me out."
To put it in perspective, Shrewsbury's former high was 28 points, and he averages just 16 points per game.
Shrewsbury sees his role more as a floor leader than a scorer.
"I don't try to do as much scoring anymore," he said. "I score if it's necessary. I'm used to running the point."
Hudson's was playing a much smaller team that evening in Coca-Cola, and Shrewsbury was able to take advantage of it.
"Here's a game where they play a team with little height," Sutphin said. "He's a good penetrator. He had 44 points in the first half of the game, and things kind of just fell his way."
Shrewsbury has been in the league since 1990, and is a career 11 ppg scorer. He was a member of the No Names when that team defeated Dublin Express Stop for the league championship in 1991. That was the only time in the past 10 seasons that Express Stop has not been champion.
Unlike many players in the league, Shrewsbury does not have an extensive college or high school basketball resume. He played his freshman season at Pulaski County High School and did not play again.
"Joe's a good, solid player," Sutphin said. "He's well-respected and well-liked around the league. He hustles and plays defense, where a lot of the players in the league don't."
The lack of defense in the league was apparent when McDonald's smoked 84 Lumber last week, beating them by 101 points, setting numerous league records in the 179-78 romp.
McDonald's hit 29 3-pointers in the game, on its way to destroying the league's single-game scoring record of 154. McDonald's also set the record for most points in one half with 92.
"This league is mostly offensive," Shrewsbury said. "There are some real good teams in this league, and there are some like Coca-Cola that are just out for the exercise."
Shrewsbury says one of the reasons for his team's lack of success is simple.
"A lot of people are out of town during the week," he said. "We have a different lineup almost every game. That makes it tough."
If you have an idea for a story or note about recreational sports, call Chris Lang at 381-1664 in Montgomery County or Radford or (800)346-1234, ext. 664 elsewhere, or fax to 381-1656.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 linesby CNB