ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601220110
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
One of the philosophies Salem basketball coach Charlie Morgan preaches is to never give up.
By that guideline, the Spartans did OK Saturday in the Crestar Classic at the Salem Civic Center. Salem took the best shot George Washington-Danville had to give, showed its pluck by rallying and then fell behind at the end in a 92-69 loss to the Eagles.
While Science Hill, the nation's No.3 team that beat William Fleming by three points prior to the Salem-GW game, was supposed to be the showpiece, many fans thought the Eagles might be stronger.
GW (13-0) leaped to a 22-4 lead with quickness and a devastating press.
Guard Nathan Poole, who did a job on several Roanoke teams during the football season as a running back for GW, ran the offense with 10 assists and 19 points.
By the half, though, Salem had learned to play with GW. It was 47-27 and right after intermission, the Spartans (5-6) scored seven straight points including five by sophomore Herschel Thomas.
That forced GW coach Harry Johnson to call a timeout and thereafter Salem continued to creep up on the more physically talented Eagles, but never came closer than 13 points.
``We were just outmanned. It started out at the tip because we were flat,'' said Morgan. ``Good teams will make that happen, but then I think we executed much better [after the first part of the game].''
Thomas wound up with 29 points and three steals. ``Herschel is just a competitor,'' said Morgan.
``We have some other guys who will run and hide. That's youth.''
Salem center Eric Grinnell also did well with 17 points. He was no match for GW on the boards as the Eagles had a commanding 54-32 edge in rebounds thanks to 11 by Tyron Robertson, who also had 23 points.
``I think we let them back in the game,'' said Johnson. ``They played well. When a team gets a big lead like we did, it needs to relax.''
Salem hit 25-of-59 shots, but GW was better with 38-of-74.
``I just hope this makes us grow and get a little bit better,'' said Morgan.
GW-DANVILLE (92)
Poole 7 3-3 19, Robertson 10 3-6 23, Wimbush 4 1-2 9, Cunningham 3 1-3 7, Graves 6 2-3 15, Morrison 3 0-0 7, Jones 3 0-0 6, Stephens 1 0-0 2, Brooks 1 0-0 2, Warren 0 2-2 2. Totals 38 12-19 92.
SALEM (69)
Lewis 4 1-2 9, Hall 0 3-4 3, Grinnell 7 3-3 17, Beach 2 1-2 6, Thomas 10 6-9 29, Wooldridge 2 1-2 5, Millard 0 0-1 0, Lazzaro 0 0-4 0. Totals 25 15-27 69.
GW-Danville 27--20--18--27-92
Salem 11--16--21--21-69
Three-point goals: Poole 2, Graves, Morrison, Thomas 3, Beach. Team fouls: GW-Danville 24, Salem 16. Fouled out: Wimbush, Lewis.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS/Staff. Nathan Poole (00) ofby CNBGW-Danville tries to prevent Marshall Wooldridge of Salem from
making a pass.