Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: DALEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The Panthers qualified for their first Group A tournament in nine years as a school with a 55-36 victory in a semifinal of the Region C tournament at Lord Botetourt High School.
There had been six lead changes and four ties in a breakneck sequence that carried from the 2:11 mark of the second quarter through halftime and into the last lead swap, with 2:11 left in the third quarter. It was mostly Northwood the rest of the way
``We told them at halftime that they were playing well, but if they wanted to win, then that wasn't going to be good enough,'' said Northwood coach Jean Gillespie, who has won 323 games and was the coach of the 1983 state champion at old Rich Valley. ``If they wanted to win, then they were going to have to pick it up a notch.''
The Panthers (20-2), who will meet Floyd County on Saturday at Lord Botetourt for the Region C championship, scored 11 consecutive points to go up 35-24 with 7:55 left, but Galax wouldn't yield.
The Maroon Tide (20-2) twice had the deficit down to six, the last time on a on a running jumper by guard Tiffany Williams with 4:48 remaining. Northwood closed with a 15-2 charge fueled by eight Galax turnovers.
Those were the last of 27 for the fast and loose-playing Tide
``So many of them were unforced, too,'' said Ken Ross, Galax's coach. ``We got to this stage last year and couldn't get over the hump.''
Tammy Cox, the Tide's senior star in the low post finished a distinguished career with 15 points and 13 rebounds. She played the last 6:36 with four fouls.
``That was a big difference in the game, because once she got her fourth, she couldn't stop us when we went in there [inside],'' Gillespie said.
Northwood got an outstanding game out of a sophomore of its own, 5-foot-10 forward Jill Woodward, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jessica Prater, a four-year starter and the Hogoheegee District's player of the year, had 16 points and six rebounds.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB