Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 6, 1991 TAG: 9103060275
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Patriots played Woodbridge's game for better than a half, then got into a transition offense and ran off with a 65-57 victory in the first round of the Group AAA Northwestern Region boys' basketball tournament at the Salem Civic Center on Tuesday night.
The victory puts PH (20-4) in the semifinals at G.W. Danville on Thursday. A berth in the Group AAA tournament will be on the line.
Woodbridge came out looking to hold the Patriots' running game in check.
"We were very concerned about their quickness and their ability to get the ball up and down the floor," said Woodbridge coach Wil Robinson.
So the Vikings, with three 6-foot-6 starters, looked to go inside and not run with PH. The Patriots countered with defense. In the first quarter, PH frustrated the visitors by holding them for 1:19 without a shot as they forced a turnover.
"We played hard on defense and they had to work. They were patient on offense because we were working so hard on defense," said PH coach Woody Deans.
Patrick Henry's defensive handiwork showed up in the difference in shooting percentages. The Patriots connected on 22 of 45 shots (48.9 percent), and Woodbridge made only 22 of 51 (43.1 percent).
Deans said most of his team's defense was man-to-man, though the Patriots threw triangle-and-two and box-and-one combinations at the Vikings in the second half.
In the third quarter, PH started running. Spurred on by two 3-point field goals from Troy Johnson off the running game and a big block by Monty Anderson, PH outscored Woodbridge 16-6 to open a 42-34 lead.
"We didn't mind the pace of the game [to that point]," said Robinson. "Their quickness was very evident in the second half, especially in the third quarter."
The Vikings didn't come out timid, taking a 6-0 lead.
Tim Basham entered from the bench and quickly sank a 3-point shot to get the Patriots going.
"It was a wide open shot," said the 6-5 sophomore, who grabbed 11 rebounds as the Patriots controlled the rebounding 33-29 against their taller opponents.
"We played pretty good inside," Basham said. "We boxed out and played good pivot defense."
Troy Anderson's two free throws with 2:10 left in the first period gave PH the lead for good at 11-10. By then, Johnson, another non-starter, was in the game. He and Basham eventually combined for 30 points, with Johnson getting a game-high 19.
"Coach Deans had told us they weren't a running team, and we wanted to come out running," said Johnson. "I guess this was my best shooting game of the year. I was ready. I took some extra shooting today at sixth period and that really helped."
Despite being ahead by eight points after three quarters, PH wasn't safe. Woodbridge cut the Patriots' lead to 45-42 with 4:53 left on Wes Cooper's follow shot. Then PH went on a 9-2 spurt in the next 2:13 with Monty Anderson hitting a key jumper as PH moved in front 54-44.
A few minutes later, the Vikings hadn't cut into the lead and were forced to foul. Toby Webb connected on four straight free throws and Monty Anderson hit two in the final minute.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB