THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 1, 1995 TAG: 9502010604
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Clutch free-throw shooting enabled Churchland to continue its all-winning ways this season on its home court as the Truckers edged past Oscar Smith, 62-55, Tuesday night.
Churchland (13-4, 8-2) has suffered all its setbacks on the road.
Oscar Smith (11-7, 6-4) nearly matched the Truckers basket for basket, but were outscored at the foul line, 18-12. Both teams had 20 field goals with Churchland hitting on four 3-pointers and the Tigers on three.
Ironically it was when team leader Kizzy Butler went to the bench with her fourth foul that Churchland, the area's No. 5 ranked team, locked up the victory.
In disputing a foul call, Butler was assessed with a technical. Smith guard Starr Parker connected on two free throws to cut the Tigers' deficit to 48-47 with 4:57 to play.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Summer Speidell and Nicole Council gave Churchland breathing room at 54-47. The Truckers then cashed in on eight of 10 free throws to lock up the win.
A pair of 3-pointers by Parker brought the Tigers within three at 58-55 with 1:35 left but Council then added four free throws.
Council finished with a game-high 27 points, including 14 in the last period. She connected on three 3-pointers and 8 of 12 foul shots. She was 8 of 19 from the field but nine of the misses came in the first half.
``I was shooting the ball too flat and not arching it enough,'' she said.
``I knew I was getting good shots and they weren't falling. But coach told me just to keep shooting and make that correction.
``When Kizzy went out I knew we had to pick it up a little, too. I stepped up my game a little.''
Churchland also got a 10-point effort from center Michele Jarman. Butler, limited to seven points, had seven steals and six assists.
Parker paced the Tigers with 17 points, 11 in the second half. Tonya Swain and Chavita Mathews each scored 13.
Oscar Smith's scoring leader, Kizzy Dunbar, was sick Monday and missed the team practice. She did not start and finished with a sub-par six points.
``The scoring difference came at the foul line,'' said Oscar Smith coach Patty Walsh. ``But it was those back-to back 3-pointers that really did us in. Overall I thought we played well.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
L. TODD SPENCER
Michele Jarman of Churchland, who finished the game with 10 points,
fires over Chavita Mathews of Oscar Smith.
by CNB