Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 2, 1994 TAG: 9403020098
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Colonels, who have won 10 of their past 11 games, used a strong second half and several big runs to whip visiting Hylton 89-64 in the opening round of the Group AAA Northwestern Region tournament.
"We're playing as well as we have all year long," said Fleming coach Burrall Paye, whose teams have been in 15 consecutive regional tournaments. "If they play at this level every time, we can go on a long, long run."
It was Fleming's strong inside play - and Hylton's inability to stop it - that won it for the Colonels, who play host to Cardinal District champion Woodbridge in a regional semifinal at 7 p.m. Thursday, with a state berth on the line. Woodbridge beat Albemarle 56-45 on Tuesday night.
Hylton (13-10), another Woodbridge school, stayed with Fleming for a half in its first regional tournament, but the Colonels (16-5) took control in the second half with several key runs to put away the game.
"We tried everything on them," said Hylton coach Eric Brent, who used various zone defenses. "They're an excellent team. Probably too good for us right now. I'm familiar with Fleming's tradition. My family is from Roanoke. To play at this level, it's tough."
The Bulldogs led 11-8 after five minutes, but Fleming went on a 10-0 run in 1 minute, 15 seconds to take an 18-11 lead. Hylton, the Cardinal District runner-up, never led again.
The Colonels began the second quarter with a 12-2 run, taking a 30-18 lead with 5:35 to go in the half, but Hylton cut the deficit to five by the end of the quarter.
Fleming, the Roanoke Valley District runner-up, went on another run two minutes into the second half to seize control. The Colonels outscored Hylton 13-2 in the next three minutes to take their biggest lead to that point, 53-37.
"The spurts come because we're so young," Paye said. "I have to motivate them to go out and play like that all the time."
William Fitzgerald, a 6-foot-5 center, led William Fleming with 23 points and eight rebounds. Many of the Bulldogs' defenses were designed to stop Fitzgerald inside, but to no avail. James Stokes, Reggie Reynolds and Derrick Hines added 16 points apiece for the Colonels.
Forward Robert Gee led Hylton with a game-high 26 points and seven rebounds.
Fleming connected on 36 of 67 (54 percent) shots from the floor, while the Bulldogs shot 24-of-55 (44 percent). The Colonels enjoyed a 34-19 advantage in rebounding, 21-8 in the second half.
Fleming turned over the ball but two times in the first 3 1/2 quarters, then committed five more as reserves came into the game. Hylton turned over the ball 12 times.
"That's a great stat," Fitzgerald said of the two turnovers. "We can play like that all the time if we put our minds to it."
by CNB