Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 2, 1993 TAG: 9303020208
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE SIMPSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
KNIGHTS STEAL RVD GIRLS' CROWN
With fewer than six seconds to go Monday night, William Fleming's girls' basketball team thought it had won the Roanoke Valley District tournament at the Salem Civic Center.Marqueetta Randolph had just scored to put the Colonels ahead 48-47. But Cave Spring wasn't conceding. When Allison Beightol sank a shot at the buzzer, the Knights had successfully defended their title, 49-48.
"It's the best feeling I've ever felt in my life," Beightol said. "It feels wonderful."
Both teams advance to regional action Wednesday night. William Fleming (13-7) will play at Gar-Field, and the Knights (21-3) entertain Hylton at home.
Cave Spring never could shake the pesky Colonels. In fact, Fleming led by eight points in the third quarter. Randolph, who finished with 20 points, led the surge, and Deon Russell added a 3-pointer to spark the Colonels.
The Knights closed the gap when Kelly Dierker scored, Aimee Beightol sank a free throw and Kim Stewart drilled a 3-pointer. But Fleming still led 33-31 at the end of three quarters.
Cave Spring took a 41-40 lead with 1:23 left to play when Cheryl Rhodes scored, but Randolph sank a pair of free throws to put Fleming back on top with 41 seconds remaining.
Dierker put Cave Spring in front 47-46, setting the stage the stage for Randolph's basket with six seconds left. Randolph fell to her knees, but her celebration was premature.
When Allison Beightol scored at the other end, Cave Spring had avoided an upset.
Dierker, Stewart and Aimee Beightol were voted to the all-tournament team for Cave Spring. Dierker won the most valuable player award.
"I'm still shaking," Dierker said. "We came together as a team and we pulled it all together because of our defense."
Cave Spring coach Linda Long said Dierker was a key element for the Knights.
"I think Kelly Dierker stepped up and scored some big baskets," Long said. "If she had not played well for us in the first half, we would've been in trouble."
Long said she had about "10 more gray hairs" after the game and gave the credit to the Colonels.
"We're fortunate we won," she said. "Fleming played a real ball game. Randolph had a great game. We outplayed them in the last six seconds. They won the rest on the game."
Roshida Abdul-Jabbar, who held Stewart to seven points, and Randolph earned all-tournament honors for William Fleming.
William Fleming coach Roland Lovelace said he thought "key turnovers in the last three minutes" and a lack of defense in the last minute were to blame for the loss. But he said he was proud of the overall effort his team displayed all year. "We're going to have to regroup tomorrow."
William Fleming was ahead 12-8 in the first quarter when Dierker scored and hit a free throw. The Colonels turned the ball over to the Knights and Dierker sank another shot as the buzzer sounded.
Dierker continued her aggressive play in the second quarter, helping the Knights lead 23-22 at halftime. Abdul-Jabbar had eight points in the first half for Fleming.
The Colonels fought back in the first minute of the third quarter. Randolph and Trussell sparked a surge that put Fleming in control.
After surviving the scare, Allison Beightol summed up Cave Spring's chances in the regional tournament.
"I hope we go all the way," she said.