ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997 TAG: 9703040016
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RADFORD
SOURCE: CHRIS LANG STAFF WRITER
A STRONG DEFENSE holds the Buffaloes to four points in the decisive quarter as Glenvar wins 57-54.
Glenvar and Floyd County already had proven the best teams in the Three Rivers District also were the best teams in Region C.
Both teams already had advanced to the Group A tournament, which starts Friday night at the Dedmon Center. And that venue is just fine with Glenvar coach Art Lawrence.
Playing Saturday night on the Radford University Highlanders' home floor, the Glenvar Highlanders put on a defensive show in the fourth quarter and won the Region C title with a 57-54 victory over the Buffaloes.
``Maybe it was just something that was meant to be,'' Lawrence said.
Glenvar will meet J.I. Burton, the Region D runner-up, in a Group A quarterfinal at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Floyd County will meet the Region D champion, Haysi, in the second game of the doubleheader.
With the Buffaloes leading 50-44 going into the fourth quarter, Chris Evans lit up the scoreboard. The junior forward, who was coming off a one-game suspension after being ejected from a quarterfinal, scored Glenvar's first seven points of the period.
``I told the team that I owed them a little something,'' Evans said.
Floyd County's high-powered offense was held to four points in the final quarter. Glenvar held the Buffaloes to three shots in the period while forcing five turnovers.
``It was a well-played ballgame that came right down to the end,'' said Alan Cantrell, Floyd County's coach. ``A couple of turnovers caught us at the end. They picked it up a notch there.''
Even with their offensive woes, the Buffaloes held a 54-53 edge with 2:52 remaining. Guard Travis Cantrell drove to the basket along the left baseline, but found Glenvar defender Donnie Wimmer instead of the hoop and was called for a charge - his fifth foul.
``We knew [Adam] Harris was their next perimeter threat,'' Lawrence said, ``so we were sagging off everyone else'' after Cantrell fouled out.
Floyd committed two critical turnovers late in the game. The first came with 1:34 left, when Evans stole the ball from Harris and drove to the basket and gave Glenvar a 55-54 lead.
With Floyd County trying to hold for a potential winning shot in the final minute, Wimmer stole the ball from Alan Underwood and ran the floor. Underwood caught Wimmer at the baseline, but Wimmer managed to turn around and get the ball to center Seth Noonkester, who laid it in and gave the Highlanders a 57-54 lead with 13 seconds left.
Glenvar pressed the Buffaloes on the ensuing possession and Floyd County could only get one crack at a tying shot, a Harris desperation 3-pointer that hit the glass as time expired.
``We'll have to regroup,'' Alan Cantrell said. ``This is nothing to be ashamed of, though. We hope this game will help us down the road on Friday.'' NOTE: please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB