Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 19, 1992 TAG: 9202190238
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
CRAWFORD'S SHOT LIFTS FLOYD TO WILD VICTORY
Travis Crawford of Floyd County High wasn't much of a factor in the second half of the Buffaloes' basketball game with Auburn Tuesday night.But in the last seven seconds, he was just about the only factor.
Crawford's driving jumper from the lane was the difference in Floyd County's 70-68 Mountain Empire District victory before a deafening gallery in the Buffaloes' gym.
"That was the only two points I had in the second half," said Crawford, a senior point guard who seemed to find the irony amusing.
Floyd County dropped back quickly to defend and the best the no-luck Eagles could manage was Terry Millirons' last-second heave from near the top of the key.
"Every game we've lost has been just like this," said Auburn coach Kevin Harris, whose team is 11-8 overall, 10-7 in the district. "This [Floyd County] is the best team in the district and we were playing right with them. At some point, something is going to give."
The same may be said for the regular-season title chase in the Mountain Empire, but it hasn't happened yet. Both Floyd County (17-2, 15-2) and Grayson County are tied with one game to play. The Blue Devils beat Narrows 68-47 Tuesday.
If the deadlock holds after Friday's games, the teams will have a one-game playoff Saturday. The site will be determined at the district meeting Thursday.
That won't give the Buffaloes long to enjoy this victory, but they'll take what they can get.
"There's no rivalry like Floyd-Auburn," said Buffaloes' guard Fred Via, who scored 22 points Tuesday. "They are always more up for us than anybody in the MED."
The Buffs led by 13 in the first half and 59-51 with 6:29 left in the game, but they couldn't stick the Eagles.
"It seemed like every time we backed off to catch our breath, right back in it they came," Floyd County coach Alan Cantrell said.
In the first half, a lot of Auburn's tenacity came through the efforts of Millirons, a gifted freshman who had 20 of his game-high 28 points and nine of his 13 rebounds in the first 16 minutes.
In the second half, the Buffs had difficulty because Crawford was in foul trouble. Crawford, who hasn't fouled out of a game since the season opener, sat down with 3:22 left in the third and didn't return until the last couple of minutes.
"This was our last game at home and I wanted to win it," Crawford said. "I was too aggressive."
The Buffs were having other problems, particularly at the free-throw line. Floyd County missed 11 of 18 attempts, with Crawford going 1-of-5.
"That's terrible," Cantrell said. "But I think a lot of that was the guys feeling the pressure of the situation we're in."
Auburn got 14 points from center Brian Sale and 10 from reserve Andy Johnson, but the Eagles were hurt when point guard Ponch Linkous fouled out with 5:14 left.
"We could have used his experience," Harris said.
Nevertheless, the Eagles went on a four-minute, 15-7 tear to take a 68-66 lead with 1:53 left. Bradley Hudgins, another freshman, drilled a couple of 3-pointers and second-string point guard Gerald Reed made another during the Eagles' run.
After an exchange of turnovers, Floyd County forward John Hawley, who had 13 points and seven rebounds, wheeled in to tie it at 68 with 1:11 left. Auburn ran the clock to 21 seconds before calling a timeout.
On the inbounds play, Hudgins was fouled, but he missed the front end of the one-and-one. That set up Crawford's dash to the basket.
"We had the floor spread so I could go either way," said Crawford, who scored 19 points. "I got around [the defender], shot it and prayed."
It was textbook stuff.
Said Cantrell: "When it comes right down to it, I wouldn't want anybody - nobody in this district - to have the ball in his hands when we needed some points more than Travis." \
see microfilm for box score