ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 3, 1996 TAG: 9601030084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
The tobacco industry is a friend to a lot of people in Danville, but R.J. Reynolds was smoking Tuesday night, and the George Washington Eagles got a serious scare.
Undefeated GW weathered a 3-point barrage from Reynolds, William Fleming's shooting guard, and the Eagles narrowly averted an upset with a 77-70 boys' basketball victory over the Colonels at Fleming's gym.
``We played pretty well,'' said Burrall Paye, Fleming's coach. ``We had a lot of turnovers [26], and we missed some free throws [the Colonels made 17 of 29 attempts], or we'd have won this game.''
The Eagles (10-0), considered a strong contender for the Group AAA championship this season, played the entire game at a frantic pace and opened a 10-point lead (53-43) midway through the third period. Reynolds converted three 3-pointers in the last three minutes of the quarter, however, as Fleming closed to 58-54.
After the Eagles failed to score on their next possession, Reynolds launched another 3-point try at the end of the period, but missed.
``If that one had gone, they'd have been screaming in the rafters,'' Paye said. ``But it didn't.''
The Colonels were unable to get any closer in the final period.
GW coach Harry Johnson, who is retiring at the end of this season, his 19th at the school, expected the Colonels (7-4) to be competitive.
``We knew they'd be tough up here,'' Johnson said. ``We knew they'd come after us. That's why we substituted a lot. We thought our depth would allow us to keep the lead until our starters returned at the end to put it away. But we didn't protect the ball very well.''
Seven Eagles scored in the opening period as Johnson made wholesale substitutions. Sterling Tate gave Fleming its first lead, at 19-16, on a basket and a free throw with 2.9 seconds left in the period. Danville's Nathan Poole tied the score with a long 3-pointer at the buzzer.
The Eagles hit their first five shots and seven of their first eight in the second period, but couldn't shake Fleming. Charles Burnette scored nine points in the quarter, keeping the Colonels in the game.
Burnette and Reynolds finished with 22 points each, and Tate added 13, as no one beyond the starting five scored for Fleming. Center Bobby Wimbush led the Eagles with 20 points. Poole contributed 14.
Johnson acknowledged his team is hoping to present him with his first state championship. ``That would be a crown to some hard labor,'' he said.
``They've got a very good team, and we're so young,'' Paye said. ``But we'll be better by regional time.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB