Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 25, 1995 TAG: 9510250097
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NARROWS LENGTH: Medium
Galax, behind a player-of-the-year caliber performance from Tammy Cox and key contributions from her supporting cast, pounded Narrows 66-54 in a battle of the last undefeated teams in Timesland.
In a marquee matchup that was essentially over by halftime, Cox scored a game-high 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds as the Maroon Tide improved to 17-0 overall and took the lead in the Mountain Empire District race with a 6-0 record.
``This is big, real big,'' Galax coach Ken Ross said. ``This shows me something, the way we played tonight.''
Playing in front of a sizeable throng, Galax took the Green Wave faithful out of the game early by taking a 10-point lead barely 6 minutes into the proceedings.
Cox wound up with numbers that demonstrate why she's considered among the district's premier players and did so against mostly junk defenses. Most of the night Narrows shadowed her with a box-and-one, in which there is a man-to-man chaser while the other four defenders play zone.
``I have confidence in everyone,'' Cox said. ``I just try not to get frustrated when I'm not getting the ball. I have to be more patient. I know we have players who can shoot it.''
The box-and-Cox strategy, unfortunately for the Wave, left sophomore forward Erin Kyle open. Kyle, who had 14 points and a dozen boards, hit two baseline jumpers to polish off a 12-0 first-quarter run that gave the Tide a 12-2 lead.
``Those [baseline] shots are my favorite,'' Kyle said. ``When other teams try to stop Tammy, I know I have to shoot the ball well. We all have to step up.''
Candi Owen scored 11 for the Tide, which upped its lead to 25 points in the fourth quarter before a late rally brought Narrows closer.
Performances like that left Narrows coach Todd Lusk with this summation:
``We had no answer for Cox. Then, their other kids killed us.''
As if being unable to stop Cox and company wasn't trouble enough, Narrows (15-1, 5-1) assured itself of becoming the next-to-last unbeaten team in Timesland with a woeful first half of shooting in which it probably couldn't have hit the nearby New River.
The Green Wave made just four of its 28 first-half field goal attempts (14.3 percent), including just 2-of-16 shooting in the first quarter.
``I just think the atmosphere threw us off,'' said Suzanne Webb, who led Narrows with 22 points. ``Our adrenaline was pumping. I don't think this [loss] hurts us. We'll get over it. We're looking forward to playing them again.''
The teams play next on Nov. 1 at Galax.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
Memo: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.