Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 8, 1995 TAG: 9501100031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWIGHT FOXX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Pulaski County power forward Jodie Hallett says she and teammate Kim Cruise are still perfecting their high post-low post game.
Don't tell that to Cave Spring.
Hallett and Cruise dominated play in the paint by combining for 27 points and 21 rebounds to lead the Cougars to a 53-45 win over the Knights in a Roanoke Valley District girls' basketball contest Saturday night at Cave Spring.
The victory gives Pulaski County (9-1 overall, 4-0 RVD) sole possession of first place in the district.
Hallett and Cruise combined for 21 points and 13 rebounds in the first half as Pulaski County took a 30-23 lead. Hallett had 14 points and seven rebounds at the break.
"We feel that if we take advantage of our high post-low post offense, it's going to be tough on our opponents," Hallett said. "We've been working on it in practice and we still need to work on it."
You couldn't tell from the way they dominated play in the first half with their two-woman version of basketball volleyball. One of them would get the ball at the top of the key and pass down low to the other and it worked to perfection in giving the Cougars their halftime lead.
"Jodie and Kim really did a nice job for us," Cougars coach Rod Reedy said. "Defensively, they did a good job on the boards, too."
Pulaski County point guard Carrie McConnell dominated play in the third period as the Cougars extended their lead to 45-31.
McConnell did a good job of making sure the Cougars got good spacing on the offensive end and she dominated the flow of the game in the period with her ballhandling and leadership.
She also hit a 3-pointer in the period that gave her team a 41-29 lead with 3 minutes, 13 seconds remaining in the third period. Her assist total of five would have been higher if teammates had converted on easy opportunities she created with either passing or penetration.
But Hallett and Cruise were there to turn the rebounds into second-chance points. Cave Spring cut the Pulaski County lead to 50-45 with 32 seconds remaining in the game. But Kara Buckner hit 3-of-4 free throws to end any hopes Cave Spring had of stealing the game.
Knights coach Linda Long said she told her squad that the team that rebounded the best would win and that her team could not let Hallett and Cruise have big games. They failed on both accounts.
"I need to find players who are going to step up and play big in the big games," Long said. "They [Cave Spring players] didn't step up and play big in a big game like they needed to."
by CNB