Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 27, 1994 TAG: 9412280026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Those two Salem players became unlikely heroes as the Spartans edged Franklin County 53-52 in the last game of the opening session of the NationsBank Holiday Hoops Tournament at the Salem Civic Center.
Monroe, battling what may be a severe case of food poisoning, got his sixth assist with a bounce pass to Pendleton, who nailed a 12-footer with 0.6 seconds left to give the defending champion Spartans the victory. Moments before, Monroe had to leave the game twice because he was so sick.
The Eagles had taken the lead when Chad Foutz hit one of two free throws with 6.9 seconds left.
Today's semifinals are a repeat of last year's tournament with the Spartans playing Cave Spring at 7:45 p.m. after Byrd and Northside meet at 6 p.m. for the first of at least three games between the Blue Ridge District rivals. Salem (2-1) already has lost a regular season game at Cave Spring by one point in overtime.
When Salem raced down court in the closing seconds, Pendleton never thought he'd get the last shot.
``I figured Bryan would shoot it or try to get the foul,'' Pendleton said. ``But it was the exact same play we had in a game at camp last summer, and I hit it.''
Pendleton, who admits he hasn't shot well lately, said he didn't see the ball go in.
``It was a good pass, but as I let the ball go, someone jumped in my face,'' he said.
Franklin County (4-2) twice kept Salem from getting the ball down the court in the Spartans' two previous possessions. The Eagles didn't produce points out of one Salem turnover but sent Foutz to the line after forcing Salem's other miscue.
Still, Salem was able to beat the Eagles for the game-winning shot.
``I told them [during a Salem timeout after Foutz missed the first free throw] what defense we were in. They just relaxed,'' said Calvin Preston, Franklin County's coach.
During the same timeout, Salem coach Charlie Morgan told his team to attack the basket.
``I wanted us to penetrate, force them to foul or something,'' Morgan said. ``In the last few seconds, everything can easily be disorganized at this level.''
Salem led most of the game, thanks to a 22-point effort from Kevin Garst, who hit 9 of 16 field-goal attempts. Franklin County, trying to pound the ball inside, got 17 points from Carlos Holland, who hit 7 of 12 field-goal attempts and collected 17 rebounds, two more than the Spartans' Matt Woolwine.
Salem had control until the final quarter, when Franklin County's defense forced eight miscues. The Spartans made eight turnovers total in the first three quarters.
Franklin County (52)
Conklin 0 2-2 2, Hancock 5 0-0 10, Holland 7 3-7 17, Foutz 4 0-2 8, McCall 2 0-0 5, Nance 4 2-4 10. Totals 22 7-15 52.
Salem (53)
Pendleton 2 2-2 6, Garst 9 2-2 22, Woolwine 4 3-3 11, Monroe 3 0-0 7, Beach 0 2-4 2, Millard 1 0-0 2, Reeves 1 1-2 3. Totals 20 10-13 53.
Franklin County 10--11--14--17-52
Salem 13--15--13--12-53
Three-point goals: McCall, Garst 2, Monroe. Team fouls: Franklin County 13, Salem 15. Technical Foul: McCall.
by CNB