Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 29, 1992 TAG: 9201290159
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
BLACKSBURG CLIPS EAGLES
A little vigor went a long way for Blacksburg on Tuesday night.After doing their zombie imitation on the way to scoring a season-low 41 points in a boys' basketball loss to Franklin County a couple of weeks ago, the Indians were vastly more chipper for the rematch.
Blacksburg was at its strongest late and beat the Eagles 69-60 on Tuesday night in a non-district game on the Indians' floor.
"Tonight, we were ready to play," said Blacksburg forward Jon Maher, who pounded Franklin County for 19 points and 14 rebounds. "Last time, we had the long bus ride and we just weren't ready to play.
"We don't like to lose. When we do, we're always up for the rematch."
That the Indians (9-4) were. Blacksburg shot 63.6 percent (14-for-22) in the second half and shot 57.1 percent for the game. They also dominated the rebounding 38-24.
"I think Blacksburg was pretty much the same team when we played them down at our place and up here," Franklin County coach Calvin Preston said. "The difference was that we did not play as well defensively as we did the first time."
That was particularly true late in the game when Indians reserve Matt Smith was driving upcourt to burn the Eagles' pressure defense for 12 of his career-high 19 points.
"I was open and [point guard] Darren [Morton] was throwing it right to me," said Smith, a senior who during the past two years has been an All-Timesland football receiver and quarterback but has never played varsity basketball. "We basically said to each other to get the ball to Darren and let him get that ball down the court."
The ultra-quick Eagles trapped and forced 21 Blacksburg turnovers, but few of those came when the deft Morton was in charge of the ball. His contributions also included 11 points and 3-for-3 3-point shooting.
Travis Bishop added two more 3-pointers and finished with 10 points for Blacksburg.
Franklin County (2-11) led by six points in the first half before Blacksburg recovered for a 31-30 lead at halftime. The Eagles were slowed because two of their better players - center Alessandra Lima and point guard Brian Davis - were playing with injuries.
Lima came off the bench to score 14 points and collect seven rebounds while also blocking two shots and hurling down a breakaway dunk. Chris Mattox chipped in 14 points.
Blacksburg closed with a 12-4 run to finish off the Eagles.
"That's when some of the kids' heads got down and I think they gave up a little," said Preston, who emptied his bench. "It may have looked like I gave up, but I believe that if these kids who come to practice but don't get a chance to play a lot ought to be allowed to play as much as possible." \
see microfilm for box score