Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 25, 1992 TAG: 9201250206
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: RIDGEWAY LENGTH: Medium
FREE THROWS LIFT LANCERS
Of all the many talents Laurel Park brings to a basketball game, free-throw shooting may be one of the most overlooked.The Lancers converted 17 of 23 free throws in the fourth quarter to hold off a determined Magna Vista rally and win an important Piedmont District game 83-74.
"We practice free-throw shooting a lot," said Lancers' center Odell Hodge, who sank 12 of 13 overall and all eight of his foul shots in the final period. "What you practice is what you do in the game."
Laurel Park was good on 22 of 30 free throws for the evening in front of a large and noisy crowd at Magna Vista.
By winning for the second time over the Warriors (9-2 overall, 7-2 in the Piedmont), Laurel Park (11-2, 8-0) hung on to sole possession of first place.
"Great win for us," Lancers coach Frank Scott said. "The team played tremendously in a pressure situation on the road."
Magna Vista was trailing 73-65 after sophomore Rodney Redd nailed two free throws with 1:34 left following a technical foul on Laurel Park's Ron Wilson, who was caught hanging on the rim after a failed dunk attempt.
Then, Brian Taylor snared an offensive rebound and promptly drilled an apparent 3-pointer, but the shot was waved off because he had been guilty of traveling.
"He makes that and we're within five points," Magna Vista coach Jim Young said. "That hurt us."
Hodge answered with another couple of foul shots five seconds later and Laurel Park made 10 of its last 13 shots from the line. Ronnie Jackson made five of seven free throws for the game and finished with 22 points.
"We made them when it counted," Scott said.
Laurel Park played well, particularly in the first half when it was building a 13-point lead. Desean Hairston and Rodney Tanks each hit field goals in the last 17 seconds of the half to leave Magna Vista with a 39-30 deficit.
"We missed some easy shots early and that left us in the hole," said Young. "Plus, we worked on things all week that we did not do in the game. I felt fortunate to only be down nine at the half."
Hodge, the 6-foot-8 center, had been murder in the first half with 18 points and nine rebounds. He also made seven of nine field goal attempts as the team was going 16-for-26 from the floor.
Hodge finished with 26 points and 18 rebounds, but still, Laurel Park had only a 41-39 margin on the backboards.
Magna Vista hung in there thanks in large part to Redd, who had 16 of his 26 points after the intermission. Taylor and Derwin Hylton each had 15 points. Tanks added 10.
\ see microfilm for box score