ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 28, 1997 TAG: 9702280085
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
With one minute, 14 seconds remaining in the first half, the usually proper Pulaski County coach Buddy Farris removed his sportscoat and tossed it behind the Cougars' bench. He knew then, it was going to be a dogfight.
He was right.
George Washington-Danville recovered to cut its deficit to one point with 7:41 to play. But the Eagles didn't have enough to hang on. In fact, they never had enough for the lead.
The Cougars held the edge from start-to-finish, knocking down their free throws late in the game for a 65-48 win over the Eagles in a Northwest Region girls' basketball semifinal Thursday. Pulaski County, which assured itself of a berth to the Group AAA tournament with the win, will play host to Gar-Field Saturday for the regional title.
"We lost to Gar-Field in the regional finals last year, then we lost the first round of state," tournament, Farris said. "But last year we had to go there. This time, they have to come to us."
GW certainly wasn't about to make getting back to the finals easy for Pulaski County.
Behind a wave of emotion from the home crowd, the Cougars jumped to an early 14-2 lead with less than four minutes gone in the first quarter. The Eagles settled down late in the first, and the Cougars went cold. GW held Pulaski County scoreless from the field for the next 5:57.
The Eagles got as close as four in the first half, 14-10, on a driving layup from guard Shanna Price, who sliced through the defense at will most of the night. Mandy Sexton ended the scoring drought for Pulaski, fighting inside for the stickback and a 18-10 Cougar advantage.
The two teams traded baskets for a 27-19 Pulaski County lead at the half.
"We knew it was going to be a real physical game," Eagles' coach Wayne Shelton said. "We had some trouble with it early and got behind, but we got back in it and made it respectful by halftime."
Both teams turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, and numerous turnovers and numerous fouls resulted. Pulaski County, plagued by poor outside shooting throughout the contest, saw its eight-point half time lead cut to 38-35 on a 3-pointer from Price at the end of the third. Price paced the Eagles with a 18 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the field.
"She's outstanding," Shelton said. "She was by far the best player on the floor, and she's only a sophomore she'll only get better."
Leading 50-44 with 2:42 remaining, Pulaski County got back-to-back steals from guards Lisa Skeens and Katrina Williams. The duo converted both steals into short jumpers for a 54-44 lead - and loads of momentum.
The Cougars sank nine of 10 free throws in the game's final two minutes to seal the victory.
"The key down the stretch was not only the free throws, but the steals too," Farris said. "Lisa and Katrina got some key steals, and Jessica Cobbs had a big one late, too."
Skeens, a senior, scored a game-high 23 points and was 13-of-15 from the line. Williams, who hit eight of 10 free throws, added 16.
"Lisa Skeens played a heck of a ballgame," Farris said. "We weren't shooting well from the outside and I kept telling the girls to take it to the basket. Lisa was about the only one to do that, and when she did she either scored or got fouled and that's what the game of basketball is about.
"She was just excellent tonight." NOTE: please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM STAFF. Pulaski County's Lisa Skeens (right)by CNBsteals the ball from George Washington-Danville's Sherika Swann
during the second quarter of Thursday's Northwest Region semifinal.
color.