Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 5, 1994 TAG: 9403050188
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RIDGEWAY LENGTH: Medium
After watching his team squander most of an 11-point lead just before halftime, Salem's Mark Byington made a quick statement after intermission Friday.
The 6-foot-3 guard hit a 3-point shot with 10 seconds gone in the third quarter, and the Spartans methodically pulled away from Jefferson Forest for a 77-59 victory in a Region III boys' basketball semifinal at Magna Vista High School.
The victory gives Salem its first state tournament berth. But before the Spartans can begin pursuing the Group AA title, there is a fifth meeting this season with Blue Ridge District rival Northside. Salem meets the Vikings at 7:30 p.m. today at Lord Botetourt High School in the Region III championship game.
The Spartans (21-1) own four victories over Northside, but this one will be the most important. The winner will get a first-round game in the state tournament Monday night against either Blacksburg or Graham at the Salem Civic Center.
Byington's 3-point shot was not the only statement he made in the second half. The senior scored 16 of his game-high 25 points and wiped away a 4-of-12 shooting performance in the first half. He also dealt out eight assists and came up with three steals.
"I didn't feel I shot very well the first half and I wanted to come out and get the team going. They were playing a gambling defense, so I was shooting the pull-up [jumper]," said Byington, who was 5-of-7 after intermission.
Jefferson Forest (17-5) challenged Salem with two of the finest athletes in this part of the state: Anthony Poindexter, who scored 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting; and Ryan Gilleland, who buried five 3-point shots, including four in the first half.
Jim Hawley, the Cavaliers' coach, knew that two players weren't likely to overcome a team as strong as Salem.
"It was their defense, because they have such great balance," Hawley said. "They're quick and really smooth. On offense, they hit Byington and he made his shots. But in the third quarter, their defense really smothered us."
Jefferson Forest missed seven of 11 shots in the third quarter, and Gilleland was 1-of-8 from the field in the second half.
"The scouting report I got said they [Gilleland and Poindexter] were the club," said Charlie Morgan, the Spartans' coach. "I told the guys we had to contain them. Poindexter got into foul trouble and that was a key."
What didn't please Morgan was the way Salem lost most of a big lead just before halftime. It was 34-23 with 1 minute, 51 seconds left after Matt Woolwine cashed in two free throws for the Spartans. The Cavaliers finished with a flourish by scoring the final seven points, including a 3-point shot by Gilleland with four seconds remaining.
"We lost concentration," Morgan said. "The guys looked up and saw we were leading by 11 points and thought the game was over. You can't do that. I think we learned a valuable lesson."
Byington's shot took care of Jefferson Forest's rally. It sparked an 11-2 run as the Spartans took a 45-32 lead. After that, the Cavaliers never got closer than 11 points, and Hawley surrendered by sending in his reserves with 1:33 left and Salem leading 72-57.
The Spartans hit 25 of 51 field-goal attempts, and four of five starters scored in double figures.
Nathan Routt, who had eight points in the first quarter to help Salem start quickly, and Woolwine each scored 15. Kevin Garst added 12 and made four free throws in the final quarter to keep the Cavaliers from getting another rally started.
This game was in marked contrast to what happened to Salem a year ago, when the Spartans - on the brink of a state tournament appearance - lost a four-overtime thriller to Laurel Park in a Region III semifinal.
"I didn't think about that," Byington said. "This is a whole new team, but we've learned from the mistakes of last year. This team relies more on its defense."
by CNB