ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 2, 1997 TAG: 9703040017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
MEMO: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.
There were kisses all around at Pulaski County High School on Saturday night, and the recipient of all the adulation was a trophy. After knocking off Cardinal District champion Gar-Field 65-50 in front of a packed house of screaming Cougars fans, Pulaski County celebrated its Northwest Region girls' basketball crown.
The victory avenged a loss to Gar-Field in the regional final last season on the Indians' court.
``This win is just great for our program and great for Pulaski County,'' said coach Buddy Farris, barely audible above the mass celebration at midcourt. ``It's a really great feeling to beat a team that was 26-0 and has only allowed 50 points in its last two games. I'm so proud to be a part of this group of girls.''
Tied 6-6at the end of the first quarter, both teams put the big-game jitters behind them and got moving. The Cougars shot a mere 8 percent from the field through the opening eight minutes of play, but canned 50 percent of their shots in the second .
Leading the Indians 16-14 with 4:44 remaining in the half, guard Katrina Williams and forward Robyn Bower knocked in back-to-back layups high off the glass for a 20-14 edge.
Seconds later, Williams collided with Indians' guard Dishawn King while going for a steal. The collision sent both players to the hardwood with blood pouring. Williams was taken off the floor and treated for a severe cut above her right eye; King above her left.
Both returned to action in the second half.
``Again tonight our bench was a big part of the win,'' Farris said. ``When Katrina went down, they stepped right in there without losing a step.''
Trailing by as many as seven in the first half, Gar-Field closed to 25-20 at the buzzer on a back-door layup by Shannon Segres. Segres, averaging 18.8 points per game, led the Indians with 20.
Gar-Field cut the lead to one early in the third quarter, 29-28, on a 3-point goal from Segres and a layup by Christy Moore, but would get no closer.
Pulaski rattled off a 13-4 run during the next 3 1/2 minutes, grabbing a 10-point edge with 2:15 to play in the third.
``Our defensive press just really hurt them the whole game,'' Farris said. ``We got a number of steals and it took them out of their offense. They were all the time having to look over their shoulders.''
Pulaski County sealed the victory at the foul line, connecting on 32 of 39 attempts. Gar-Field hit 13 of its 27 attempts from the line.
``This is the most we've fouled anybody,'' Indians' coach Fred Milbert said. ``We've had games where we didn't have anyone taking a foul shot against us. That tells the story right there.''
Williams paced the Cougars with 24 points, including sinking 12 of 14 free throws. Seniors Lisa Skeens and Bower added 12 and 10, respectively.
``We just really wanted this game tonight,'' Skeens said. ``It seems like whenever we get to the regions we're always travelling. Last year Gar-Field had all their fans there ... this year I think playing at home made the difference for us.'' NOTE: please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 linesby CNB