Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 17, 1993 TAG: 9311170150
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MONETA LENGTH: Medium
The last two times Martinsville played William Byrd, they came up short, losing both times. Tuesday night, the Bulldogs used a tenacious pressure defense to stop the Terriers 73-67 in the opening round of the Group AA Region III girls' basketball tournament at Staunton River High School.
The Bulldogs (19-5) will play Seminole District champion Staunton River at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.
In the opener, Piedmont District champion Bassett rolled over Seminole District tournament runner-up Brookville 73-58. The Bengals (23-0) play Blue Ridge District champ Lord Botetourt here at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Byrd (15-8), the Blue Ridge district runner-up, trailed 34-30 after a physical first half, but stormed back with six straight points after intermission.
Terriers center Jackie Banks scored all those points on the inside. But instead of pressing its inside advantage, Byrd started playing Martinsville's run and gun game.
The Bulldogs went on a 22-6 run to take a 56-42 lead with 14 seconds remaining in the third. Byrd turned the ball over six times in that span.
"We got too much involved in their game," said Byrd head coach Richard Thrasher. `We hit a stretch there where we tried to play too quick, and their quickness gave us a lot of problems."
Martinsville, led by Erica Brandon's 22 points and guard Samantha Ferguson's 18, swarmed the Terriers all night, stealing the ball and harassing their opponents into bad decisions. Byrd finished with 31 turnovers.
"I was very pleased with the intensity," said Martinsville head coach Carla Giles. `I think overall, it was one of our better defensive games. We knew we had to play good defense to win."
After Ferguson made one of two free throws to give the Bulldogs a 71-64 lead with 34 seconds remaining, it appeared the game was over.
That wasn't the case.
Ferguson fouled Byrd guard Nanda Channaiah, then was called for a technical foul after she responded to the referee's decision by using profanity. Channaiah made both of her free throws, then Kelli Runyon made one of her two to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 71-67.
But Martinsville forward Keenya Hairston stole the inbounds pass, took the ball the length of the court, and converted on the layup to ice the game for Martinsville.
by CNB