ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 21, 1997 TAG: 9702210076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
Glenvar is going back to the Group A Region C tournament next week thanks to a 64-53 victory over hard-nosed Giles on Thursday night.
Certainly, somebody ought to find comfortable transportation for the Highlanders' Josh Williamson on his travels to the postseason. He carried all his teammates to get this far.
Williamson put on a show with 33 points and 15 rebounds as the Highlanders (12-10) stopped the hard-charging Spartans 64-53 and moved into Friday night's Three Rivers District championship match with Floyd County at Blacksburg High. The Buffaloes edged Radford 56-54 in the opener of Thursday night's semifinal doubleheader.
The championship will be at approximately 8 p.m., or whenever the 6:30 p.m. junior varsity title game is completed.
Glenvar looked as though it was going to make short work of Giles in the first quarter when it bolted to an 11-0 lead. Giles didn't give in and for that, its coach, John Howlett, was highly pleased.
"After we dug the hole we did, the players really responded and fought back,'' he said.
Ultimately, the game came down to free-throw shooting. Glenvar was better at it than Giles. Perhaps that was because the Highlanders had so much practice at it.
Glenvar shot 31 free throws, making 19. Williamson was 11-for-17.
"You know, usually, he can shoot them a little better than that,'' Glenvar coach Art Lawrence said.
Williamson put in a hard night of labor at everything he did.
"He was kind of a one-man wrecking crew inside,'' Lawrence said.
"Everything I got was in the paint,'' the left-handed Williamson said. "When they played the zone, I just cut to the high post and it was there.''
Guard Donnie Wimmer scored 11 and was the Highlanders' only other double-figures scorer.
Giles bounced back behind Jones and Claytor.
"If we could just take the lead, we could have gotten the surge we needed,'' Howlett said. "But it didn't happen. You have to like the effort we put forth to come back.''
Glenvar has played a great schedule and may just now be hitting a stride.
"I'm looking forward to the regionals and am happy for these players that we're in it after the kind of year we've had,'' Lawrence said.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB