Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 26, 1992 TAG: 9202260219
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
EAGLES GET SHOT AT PH
Franklin County started slowly but finished quickly because of Alessandro Lima, and the Eagles eliminated Cave Spring 73-67 in the first round of the Roanoke Valley District boys' basketball tournament Tuesday night at the Salem Civic Center.Until the last few minutes, Franklin County never led except for a few seconds in the first half. In the final quarter, though, Lima scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds and had a blocked shot as he guided his team's rally.
The Eagles (5-16) trailed by 11 points right after halftime and were down 67-59 with 3:15 left. Then Franklin County scored the last 14 points with Lima getting five.
"We just needed to play together. Whenever we play together, things happen,' said Lima. "They [the team] made me play by setting screens and I set screens for them."
In tonight's semifinal games at the civic center, Franklin County will face Patrick Henry at 7 and Pulaski County will play William Fleming at 8:30.
Lima, an exchange student from Brazil, didn't start Tuesday night's game, but he finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Asked what got him and Franklin County going, Lima said: "When you think this could be your last game, you get energy from inside yourself. You say you don't want this to be your last game."
Franklin County pulled even on Lima's 10-footer from the side, then Tim Witcher, who hadn't scored, hit two free throws with 1:15 left to put the Eagles on top 69-67.
On the Knights' possession, Lima blocked Chris Webster's shot, then the Eagles' Chris Mattox drove for a layup that made it 71-67 with 44 seconds left. Both teams missed free throws before Webster missed a field-goal attempt that Witcher rebounded with 10 seconds left to sew up the victory.
"The press, that was it," Cave Spring coach Rick Crotts said in explaining his team's loss of the lead. "They took it right away from us."
Crotts said Lima got loose when Baker Doughty fouled out. Doughty sat out much of the third quarter with four personal fouls, and he left for good with 4:19 left, a minute before the Eagles' rally began.
"As far as individual stats, I don't know," Franklin County coach Calvin Preston said when asked about Lima. "I know he did good things, but mainly we got five kids on the floor who played together as a team."
Those five were Charles Muse, Stevie Reynolds, Chris Mattox, Jamie Warren and Lima.
"I think the kids realized Cave Spring came out to beat them. They were playing more aggressive, and we got away from our game plan," said Preston.
It was a strange game of spurts. The Knights (10-11) clearly dominated in the second quarter and much of the third period, and Franklin County controlled the first and fourth quarters.
Cave Spring had a 39-36 rebounding edge despite Lima's play for the Eagles.
Franklin County connected on 25 of 59 field-goal attempts, including seven 3-point shots. The Knights hit 24 of 54 field-goal attempts after going 2-of-9 in the final quarter.
Kerry Whitt led the Knights with 17 points, three steals and two assists, but Cave Spring never could get him any consistent help. Chris Webster scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half and was the Knights' only other double-figure scorer. \
see microfilm for box score