Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 14, 1993 TAG: 9311140169
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Still, when the Cavaliers are in sync, they look like potential state champions. On Saturday, Botetourt had one bad quarter, but followed it with a sizzling fourth period to beat William Byrd 58-48 in the Blue Ridge District tournament championship game on the Terriers' floor.
Both teams advance to the Region III tournament, which starts Tuesday night at Staunton River High School. Byrd will play Martinsville, and Botetourt receives a first-round bye. The Cavaliers will meet the winner of the Bassett-Brookville game on Thursday.
Botetourt (23-1) appeared to be on its way to an easy victory with a 32-23 lead at intermission. But the Cavaliers couldn't handle the Terriers' pressure, stopped going to the boards and went cold from the field as Byrd (15-7) went on an 18-2 run in the third quarter.
"That was my fault, because we switched to a 1-3-1 zone defense and ended up with a mismatch underneath of Marisa Michalski trying to guard [Jaclyn] Banks," said David Wheat, Botetourt's coach.
Banks had a couple of baskets as the Terriers' front line - which also included Cathy Smith, Kristi Dyer and Kelli Runyon - asserted itself.
"I didn't anticipate Banks running the baseline. It changed the whole momentum," Wheat said. "They like to change the momentum and run the press tough."
In the fourth quarter, Botetourt went with man-to-man defense as its most experienced players - Jenny Gates, Ashley Moore and Laurie Ottaway - took over. Gates' 3-point shot with 3 minutes, 41 seconds left, snapped a 44-44 tie and put Botetourt on top for good.
In the final 1:37, Moore hit a basket and three free throws as the Cavaliers pulled away. Ottaway had five of her nine assists in the fourth period.
"We were tired because it was a really intense game. It was mind over matter," said Gates, who finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds, four steals, four assists and two blocks.
"This was like a cap to this part of the season," she said. "If we lost tonight, we wouldn't have been ready for the region. This [trophy] shows how hard we've worked."
The Cavaliers hit 22 of 41 field-goal attempts and held a 34-26 rebounding edge. Byrd made only 21 of 52 shots from the field, and those numbers would have been worse without an 8-for-17 third quarter.
by CNB