Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 27, 1995 TAG: 9510270072
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
Floyd County put a stranglehold on the rest of the Three Rivers District girls' basketball race with a 56-45 victory Thursday over Radford.
The Buffaloes (15-5 overall, 6-0 district) took a 11/2-game lead over the Bobcats (12-6, 5-2) in the district standings.
Floyd County's task Thursday was made tougher because of an injury to forward Melissa Cantrell, the Buffaloes' top scorer and rebounder.
Cantrell was sidelined with a severely sprained ankle suffered in Tuesday's victory over Auburn.
``We knew that things were going to be tougher tonight without Melissa,'' said Alan Cantrell, Floyd County's coach and Melissa's father. ``I just told the girls that some people were going to have to step up in her absence.''
Guards Jill Quesenberry and Amy Vest provided the Buffaloes with more than enough offensive spark.
Quesenberry paced Floyd County with 16 points. Vest tossed in 11, including three goals from beyond the 3-point arc.
Radford was led by forward Jenny Benjamin, who scored a game-high 20 points and hauled down 13 rebounds.
``Benjamin had a career night,'' said Brenda King, the Bobcats' coach. ``I don't think she had scored 20 points combined on the season thus far.''
Guard Charlee Taylor added nine points for Radford.
Floyd County used a 15-0 run in the third quarter to extend its lead to 39-20. The Buffaloes forced five Radford turnovers during the two-minute burst.
``We did an excellent job of pressuring the ball at times tonight,'' Cantrell said. ``We were able to force some turnovers and get some easy points.''
With Floyd County leading 28-20, the Buffaloes forced Taylor into a 10-second violation in the Bobcats' backcourt.
Floyd County guard Sara Conner took the inbounds pass at midcourt and drove through the Radford defense for a layup, giving her team a 10-point advantage.
Following a Radford timeout with 4:23 remaining, the Buffaloes once again forced a turnover, this time resulting in a Vest 3-pointer from the left wing.
Another Floyd County 3-point shot, by Julie Sowers, made it 39-20 lead with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Radford battled back in the fourth quarter on Benjamin's nine fourth-quarter points, cutting the lead to 50-41 with 3:30 to play.
The Buffaloes went into a four-corners offense for the last three minutes, allowing the Bobcats just two more possessions down the stretch.
NOTE: Please see micofilm for scores.
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.