Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 23, 1991 TAG: 9102230331
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Under such difficult circumstances, the Colonels were forced to take drastic measures.
"We had to do something," Fleming's Dontel Arrington said.
The Colonels broke out the full-court pressure, turned up the intensity to blowtorch level, and smoked the Knights in the fourth quarter en route to a 61-57 boys' basketball victory that closed the Roanoke Valley District regular season Friday night.
Visitors to Cave Spring's postgame dressing quarters were greeted by the Knights' stern-faced coach, Joe Davis.
"Nobody here," he said. "We went home after the third quarter."
If not home, then Cave Spring (12-9 overall, 4-4 district) certainly went south. Nothing functioned as planned in the last eight minutes. The Knights coughed up seven of their 20 turnovers and took only five shots, of which they made one.
"Our full-court pressure turned it for us," Fleming forward Terrell Milam said. "We turned up the pressure and they couldn't handle it."
Fleming coach Burrall Paye appeared as if he could handle that sort of turnaround anytime.
"We played very well down the stretch," he said. "We also played with a lot of emotion and that helped. Basketball is an emotional game. We need more of that."
The Colonels (14-6, 5-3) finished second in the league and the Knights third. They play again next Friday in the semifinals of the district tournament. A berth in the Northwestern Region tournament will be at stake.
Cave Spring took a 47-37 lead after back-to-back 3-pointers by Andrew Shuck with 1:44 left in the third. Then William Fleming snapped to.
The Colonels took over with a 10-2 surge in the final 3:25 of the game.
"No way in the world we deserved to win that game after the third quarter," Davis said. "We just tightened up and gave it away. It was the most disappointing quarter all year for us. We did not have one person show any leadership or confidence.
"Fleming played with poise and confidence and we did not."
Arrington scored 18 points before fouling out with a minute left. Milam added 13 points and six rebounds as the Colonels won the rebounding battle 23-20. Post player David Williams scored 11 to go with five rebounds and point guard Tee Jennings had nine points and numerous big plays.
In the last 2:37, Jennings had a key steal and layup, called a smart timeout to avoid a turnover in a triple-team trap, and had a rebound and pair of free throws to ice the game with two seconds left.
The Colonels went 13-of-18 from the line, including 6-of-7 in the last 5:02.
Jeremy Blackstock led Cave Spring with 24 points, including a break-away dunk off a steal. Mike Fayed scored 16, but that was more than five points under his average. Fayed, who announced this week his intention to play for Division I Winthrop, is the third-leading scorer in Timesland.
"You have to hang tough and stick it out," Milam said. "The best team usually wins."
CAVE SPRING (61)
Whitt 1 0-0 2, Shuck 2 2-2 8, Fayed 5 4-7 16, Webb 1 0-0 2, Rosato 1 3-4 5, Blackstock 8 8-8 24. Totals 18 17-21 57. WILLIAM FLEMING (61)
Jennings 3 2-3 9, Arrington 7 3-4 18, Hubbard 0 2-3 2, Rhodes 4 0-0 8, Williams 4 3-4 11, Milam 5 3-4 13. Totals 23 13-18 61. Cave Spring 17121810-57 William Fleming 1714822-61 Three-point goals: Shuck 2, Fayed 2, Jennings, Arrington. Total fouls: Cave Spring 15, William Fleming 14. Fouled out: Arrington. JV: 58-48, Cave Spring.
by CNB