Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, December 11, 1993 TAG: 9312110197
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As an all-state high school football quarterback, Patrick Henry's Shannon Taylor is familiar with running a two-minute drill.
On Friday night in the Patriots' gym, Taylor helped show Lord Botetourt that the two-minute drill also has basketball applications, as PH posted a 79-64 non-district victory.
The Patriots (3-1) can equal last year's win total with a victory Tuesday night against Alleghany. The Cavaliers fell to 1-1.
In the final two minutes of Friday night's first half, Taylor scored four points and delivered an important assist, keying an 8-0 run that gave PH the lead and changed the tone of the game.
Botetourt point guard Ryan Salvi had extended his team's advantage to 31-26 after converting a free throw on a three-point play. Then the Patriots began their surge.
Taylor scored a basket and two free throws, Quinton Twine made two of three free throws, and Taylor fed sophomore David Barker for a jumper at the buzzer.
"We let it slip away in a two-minute span," Botetourt coach Don Meredith said. "We had them doing what we wanted. We were up five, and I turned to my assistant and said it's real important that when you're playing a AAA team on the road early in the season that you have the lead at the half."
By the time Meredith finished his thought, the Cavaliers had turned the ball over, missed the front end of a one-and-one free-throw situation, lost a couple of rebounds and watched their lead dissipate.
In the second half, PH repeatedly worked the ball into center Vince McGhee and opened a 66-49 lead with 5 minutes, 52 seconds left in the game. Botetourt's offensive troubles were compounded when Salvi picked up his fourth foul with 6:15 left in the third quarter and was sent to the bench.
"Our team didn't communicate well in its zone defense," Meredith said. "You could have driven a diesel truck down the baseline."
"We responded well as the game went on," said Patriots coach Woody Deans. "Our guys get along well with each other and look for each other."
Deans noted that five Patriots scored in double figures. McGhee led his team with a career-high 16 points, while Twine and Taylor scored 15 and 14, respectively. Chris Combs added 12.
The Patriots scored baskets at the close of each of the first three periods, giving them additional momentum.
"We did a good job at the end of the quarters," Dean said.
Salvi and Shannon Williams each scored 17 for the Cavaliers.
by CNB