Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 20, 1995 TAG: 9510200068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Blacksburg defeated visiting Carroll County 46-38 in a sloppy New River District girls' high school basketball game Thursday night.
The Indians and Cavaliers combined for 53 turnovers. Carroll County committed 29, and Blacksburg had 24.
``Most of our turnovers didn't come against their press,'' Carroll County coach Howard Mayo said. ``Our turnovers came more because we didn't execute our plays properly.''
Said McGuigan: ``The turnovers had a lot to do with our kids being nervous tonight. We just weren't very sharp.''
Blacksburg improved to 6-11 overall and 1-1 in the New River District. Carroll County dropped to 11-6 and 0-1.
``We're right where I thought we'd be in the district race,'' McGuigan said. ``I thought from Day One that we could win the district, and we still can.''
Karly Geller paced the Indians with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Andrea Feret chipped in 11, and April Rogers, the district's leading scorer, tossed in nine points, all in the second half.
The Cavaliers were led by guard India Easter's seven points.
Blacksburg never trailed but didn't put the game away until a 6-0 run that began at the 2:45 mark of the fourth quarter.
The run gave the Indians an 11-point lead they did not relinquish.
Leading 40-35, Rogers converted a layup off a backdoor pass from Geller to give the Indians a seven-point advantage.
The next possession, Geller drove the length of the court and hit a layup between three defenders.
Blacksburg's Maggie Kohler then stole the ensuing inbound pass to give her team a 46-35 lead with 2:16 remaining.
``One of the keys to the game was that some of us stepped up early in the game when they were shutting April [Rogers] down,'' Geller said.
The Cavaliers held Rogers in check for the first half with a 2-3 zone, keeping her scoreless on three field-goal attempts.
``They played her tough tonight,'' McGuigan said. ``But she really got it going in the second half.''
The first half was a parade of turnovers.
Carroll County committed 14 and converted only two of nine shots from the free-throw line.
Blacksburg also struggled with ball handling. The Indians had 13 turnovers.
Blacksburg built a 19-10 advantage at the half on the strength of its inside play. The Indians sank eight field goals in the first half, all in the paint.
Geller led all players with eight points and five rebounds in the first half. Feret chipped in five first-half points.
``Tonight we were able to do what we always want to do,'' McGuigan said. ``We want to play the game down on the blocks and on the free-throw line, and this game we did that.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB