Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 13, 1993 TAG: 9302130264
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS BACHELDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
GLENVAR EDGES BLUES, CLINCHES PIONEER TITLE
This past fall, the Glenvar football team won its first district championship in 20 years.Highlanders basketball fans won't have to wait as long.
Brad Melton scored on a layup with eight seconds remaining Friday night as Glenvar edged Parry McCluer 64-63 to clinch the Pioneer District regular-season title.
Melton, who led all scorers with 22 points, was an infant when Glenvar won its last district title. The 1976 Highlanders, a Group AA team, were Blue Ridge District champions.
"Since we lost to Bath [last Friday], we wanted to come out and win the district tonight," said Melton, a junior. "We really wanted it."
However, the district clinch was no cinch. The Fighting Blues shadowed Glenvar (14-5 overall, 9-1 Pioneer) throughout the fourth quarter and took a 61-60 lead on Jason Baker's layup with 46 seconds remaining.
Both teams turned over the ball before Glenvar's David Robinson calmly sank two free throws to give the Highlanders a 62-61 lead with 26 seconds left.
The final seconds were bedlam, and the clock never stopped after Robinson's free throws.
Parry McCluer countered as Baker made a short bank shot to put his team back on top, 63-62, with 18 seconds left. Glenvar scurried upcourt and Jason Anderson passed to Melton for the winning layup.
"There was a lot of commotion," Melton said. "I was just lucky Jason saw me."
Parry McCluer hustled back but couldn't get off a good shot before the buzzer sounded and fans stormed the court.
"We've been a runner-up several years, and James River or Covington would knock us out each year," seventh-year Glenvar coach Art Lawrence said. "We've got a good program, and it's getting better. We just needed to get over the hump."
The Blues (12-6, 7-4) came out strong and used a 16-5 run to take a 26-15 lead midway through the second quarter. However, Glenvar closed the half with a 13-1 surge to grab a 28-27 lead.
Kris Carter hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to put the Blues up 31-30, then Glenvar scored 10 straight to open a 40-31 lead. The Highlanders scored eight points on third-quarter stickbacks, and eight of their nine field goals came in the lane.
"In the first half, we could see that they were a little tentative on their inside defense," Lawrence said. "We wanted to get three or four passes and get the ball inside and take it up strong. We've got some inside guys who can play."
Wes Jones scored 14 points for the Highlanders, and Anderson and Matt Woolwine had 12 each. Anderson scored seven points in the third quarter.
The Blues cut the lead to 49-45 at the end of three quarters on an Eric Carter spinner at the buzzer. Then Parry McCluer sliced its deficit to two points five times in the fourth quarter before finally, and briefly, seizing the lead.
Nathan Baker led Parry McCluer with 16 points. Jason Baker had 13, nine in the second half, and Brian Sizemore scored 10.
"When they went up 61-60, I was a little concerned, but I knew we had plenty of time," Lawrence said. "And this team hasn't folded against anybody, even [Group] AA teams.
"That's a characteristic a coach loves to see in his team. I knew we had a chance as long as there was time on the clock." \
see microfilm for box score