Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9511010076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
This would be the day that Lord Botetourt would avenge a two-point loss at William Byrd. And the win would set up a title-clinching game against Salem on Thursday and decide the top seed in the Blue Ridge District tournament next week.
One problem - William Byrd didn't let it happen.
Byrd's Kristi Dyer hit a pair of free throws with 25 seconds left, and the Cavaliers missed two close-range baskets in the final seconds as the Terriers defeated Lord Botetourt 43-42 on Tuesday.
``Botetourt is a very good basketball team,'' Byrd coach Richard Thrasher said. ``Anytime you beat Botetourt here, you come away with a big victory.''
Dyer only scored three points, but Byrd couldn't have wished for a better candidate to shoot the late free throws.
Dyer was tied for fifth with Botetourt's Sara Moore in Timesland free-throw percentage (72.3) going into the game and shot 75 percent in her four attempts on Tuesday.
``I was so nervous my insides went to Jell-O,'' Dyer said.
But once the second attempt dropped through the net, her insides were turning cartwheels of joy.
``I was thinking `Yes!' I felt so good,'' the senior forward said. ``With the defensive players we had, I knew we could hold on.''
Tuesday's game was the second contest decided on the game's final play between the two teams in the past month.
On Oct.12, Brandy Allen hit a turn-around jumper with no time remaining in overtime as Byrd (18-2 overall, 7-2 district) handed Botetourt its first loss of the season 59-57.
Despite the losses, Botetourt coach David Wheat has been impressed with the team's play against Byrd.
``As far as I am concerned, [the Terriers] came away with two victories, but we beat them,'' Wheat said. ``I know we outplayed them.''
The Cavaliers (17-3, 6-3) were all but finished midway through the third quarter. Byrd had a 39-25 lead. However, Botetourt charged back to avoid the blowout.
Botetourt went on a 13-0 run and held the Terriers scoreless until midway through the final period when Kelli Runyon but Byrd up 41-38 with a pair of free throws with 3:42 left.
Marisa Michalski and Sara Moore scored on consecutive layups to give Botetourt a 42-41 lead, its first of the second half.
But Dyer's free throws and the Terriers final rebound were enough to give Byrd a season sweep of the Cavaliers.
In the teams' first meeting, Botetourt's two big scorers did damage against Byrd. Forward Sarah Hicks and guard Moore combined for 40 points. However, the two totaled 21 this time around, and only six came from Hicks, who was Timesland's leading scorer (22.2 points per game) going into Tuesday's game. All off her points came from the free-throw line. She was 0-for-12 from the field.
``We did a great job on her,'' Thrasher said. ``We wanted to stop her. If you keep Sarah Hicks without a field goal, your defense did a great job.''
Hicks, who grabbed five rebounds, did block seven shots.
The loss by Botetourt now puts the Cavaliers in the spoilers' role.
If Botetourt beats Salem (15-3, 8-1) and Byrd beats Alleghany on Thursday, Salem and Byrd will finish as district co-champions. Salem would earn top seed in the district tournament, though, by virtue of two wins against the Terriers.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB