Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 23, 1993 TAG: 9311230094
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Just remember the Villanova team that won the 1985 men's basketball championship. No one gave that squad a chance, yet the Wildcats shocked Georgetown in one of the greatest upsets in NCAA history.
Staunton River gets the same kind of respect. Leading scorer Tanya Nelms said after the Golden Eagles beat Lord Botetourt 51-43 that people keep telling her "we shouldn't be where we are."
In beating the Cavaliers, Staunton River kept Botetourt to its lowest point total of the year by using a matchup zone defense that Coach Linwood Roberts says has its origins from the one that Villanova used.
The Golden Eagles (23-2) go into the Group AA girls' state tournament tonight with a home game and a Region III championship tucked away as the spoils of playing strong basketball last week. They'll take on Gate City (19-5), which was shelled 67-41 at home by defending Group AA champion Blacksburg in the Region IV finals.
Five Timesland teams are in action as the Group A and AA state tournaments open at home sites tonight. The winners will advance to the semifinals Friday, Dec. 3, at the Salem Civic Center.
Blacksburg (23-2), which lost the opening game of the year to Lord Botetourt (23-2), gets a chance at revenge when it plays host to the Cavaliers in the other Group AA game involving Timesland teams. Botetourt has a major problem as freshman Sara Moore, the Cavaliers' top reserve, is out with a broken right hand suffered in the Region III championship game.
In Group A, Floyd County (26-1) welcomes Region D runner-up Hurley (19-5) as the Buffaloes press on to a state title that most people believe they'll win. Glenvar (18-6) hits the road for a game at Region D champion Thomas Walker (20-5).
Behind its matchup zone, the Golden Eagles have posted a 15-0 home record. Roberts said he studied the 1985 Villanova team after seeing the Wildcats' success with the same defense.
He and assistant Tom Karnes have changed the defense "to suit our needs. The girls do a lot of interpreting while they're in the games. They have to get a lot of credit for it. They've done a great job with it.
"We can adjust to whom we're playing. Against Botetourt, we dropped off more and tried to cover the lane."
Gate City is led by two sophomore guards, 5-foot-5 Lindsay Carter and 5-4 Beth Godsey, who will have to handle the matchup. Inside, 6-1 Kerri Beasley will be taller than any Staunton River defender. Nevertheless, the Golden Eagles are one of Timesland's strongest rebounding units.
Alan Cantrell's Floyd County team played Staunton River in a summer camp, but he doesn't remember seeing a matchup zone.
"That's very tough to teach and get across to kids. Whoever does play a great matchup has done a good teaching and coaching job," said Cantrell.
Botetourt coach David Wheat also has used a matchup at times this year, but never as a main defense. "Ours is different than Staunton River's because they run a 1-2-2 while we run a 1-1-3," said Wheat.
Blacksburg seems to have had an attitude readjustment after losing on its floor to Carroll County in the New River District tournament.
"On Saturday, we played our best basketball," said Blacksburg coach Mickey McGuigan. "We've wanted to play like that all year. We knew we were capable of that."
He noted his team will be motivated by getting another shot at Botetourt. "We didn't feel like we played our best basketball against them the first time."
Wheat says Moore broke her hand during the Staunton River game. "I had no idea she was hurt. She didn't come tell me until after the game," Wheat said.
Botetourt will have to keep Moore's older sister, Ashley, the Blue Ridge District player of the year, on the floor longer than she was against Staunton River. Ashley Moore was in foul trouble and played barely more than a quarter.
Cantrell is facing an up-tempo Hurley team that comes from the county where he coached at before he returned to Floyd County. Cantrell coached at Grundy and Whitewood. His boys' team was beaten by Hurley last spring in the boys' state tournament.
"Knowing a lot of people and having friends makes it extra special," said Cantrell. "But this is the game that gets us to Salem, so we'll go after it real hard."
Glenvar is not playing its best basketball now. The Highlanders are 3-3 their past six games and were blown away 78-35 by Floyd County in the Region C finals.
by CNB