Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 6, 1993 TAG: 9303060264
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
FLOYD COUNTY TRIPS GLENVAR
When the score got tied in the fourth quarter, Floyd County turned on the Light - Jason Light.The Buffaloes' 6-foot-6 center keyed an eight-point run that helped Floyd County down Glenvar 60-51 in the semifinals of the Region C high school boys' basketball tournament Friday night at Christiansburg High.
Floyd County (19-6), winners of six games in a row, will meet Covington (17-8) in tonight's 7:30 final.
The Buffaloes also qualified for the state Group A quarterfinals at Marion. It will be their first trip to the Group A tournament since they were runner-up in 1987.
Glenvar (15-8) finished its season with three losses in its final four games.
Floyd County clung to a 43-41 lead with just under four minutes to play. That's when Light, who sat out much of the second half in foul trouble, re-entered the game.
"I kept saying how long can I hold him out," said Floyd County coach Alan Cantrell. "When they got to within two, it was time. And it just seemed his presence when he went in provided a mental uplift to the team."
The Highlanders pulled even on a Jason Woolwine basket with 3:28 to go. Then Light went to work.
Phillip Marshall shot and missed. But Light was there for the stickback at the 3:10 mark. And the Buffaloes led the rest of the way.
"I don't know if they were waiting for me to come back in but I thought they played well while I was out and being double-teammed," said Light, who scored six points and pulled down a pair of rebounds in the final 3 1/2 minutes. "It had to have gotten everybody up a little bit. Of course, everybody played well and came through at the end."
One of the Buffaloes coming through was guard Monty Moran. After Marshall's basket put Floyd County back in front, Moran came up with a steal and fed Marshall for a layup that made the score to 47-41.
"The ball got knocked loose and I picked it up," said Moran. "Phillip filled the lane real well and I got it to him for the two. All I had to do was dribble it up court a little bit and pass it."
Mike Hylton and Light added layups after Glenvar miscued to close out the run and the Highlanders.
The Buffaloes' stampede turned around what had been a valiant Glenvar comeback. The Highlanders trailed 35-24 three minutes into the second half. Then Matt Woolwine had six points in the third quarter and Jason Woolwine and Brad Melton each tallied six in the final period.
The surge brought the Highlanders even but they never went ahead.
"That was pretty much it," said Melton, who scored a team-high 14 points. "We got even and then we had a couple of key turnovers."
The Buffaloes built their large lead on perimeter shooting. Their first three baskets and five of their first six were 3-pointers.
Overall, Floyd County had 24 points on regular field goals and 18 on 3-pointers.
"We knew with them keying on Jason the outside shot would be there," said Marshall, who scored 12 of his game-high 19 points on 3-pointers. "And that's what we did." \
see microfilm for box score