ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 31, 1996 TAG: 9601310083
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on February 1, 1996.
Lord Botetourt High School's Wesley Cox was incorrectly identified in a
photo caption in Wednesday's Sports section.
THE JUNIOR forward scores 19 points as the Spartans whip Lord Botetourt 68-50.
Salem's Kwam Lewis might be one of the least-heralded players in the Blue Ridge District, but Lord Botetourt may have gotten its fill of the junior forward on Tuesday.
Lewis had a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds at Salem as the Spartans kept pace with Northside in the Blue Ridge District race by posting a 68-50 victory over the Cavaliers.
Salem (8-6 overall, 4-1 district) is one game behind the Vikings in the league standings.
Lewis spread his points out over four quarters as the Spartans led all the way, starting with a 3-pointer by Herschel Thomas on the game's first possession.
``Salem runs the floor so well,'' Lord Botetourt coach Ed Purdy said. ``They make you get back on defense.''
That was especially true of Lewis, who likes to get down court on fast breaks. He and Thomas, who added 18 points, constantly beat the Cavaliers (3-8, 1-3) for easy baskets.
``Kwam is coming around. I like his effort,'' Salem coach Charlie Morgan said. ``He's a full-court player who likes the up-and-down game.''
Lewis said: ``I think my moves are better. I've been working hard in practice. I felt good tonight, and I was running, getting easy shots.''
Offensively, Salem was sharp, as the seven players who see action when the game is on the line hit 24 of 52 field-goal attempts.
Sam Lazarro, who dealt out eight assists, was part of the reason Lewis and others got easy shots.
The Cavaliers had a tougher time from the field, making 21-of-50 field-goal attempts, but they got a top performance from junior forward Wesley Cox with 18 points and nine rebounds.
While Botetourt struggled at times offensively, the Cavaliers' coach felt defense was his team's downfall.
``Our defense was weak because we didn't get back on the fast break,'' Purdy said. ``Our post defenders played behind their post players. Usually we want them to play in front or three-quarters behind [and on the side]. We found out that when you play behind them bad things happen. You either foul them or they score.''
Jason Hunt, one of Botetourt's sophomores who starts at center, was in foul trouble most of the game. He saw little time and had one blocked shot compared to five he made against William Byrd last week.
``We have to play defense with our feet and not our hands,'' Purdy said. ``Jason tried to block everything tonight after the other night, and when that happens, you end up on the bench with me because you have fouls.''
Morgan had fewer problems with his team's defense.
``We played good defense in spurts,'' he said. ``I told the guys, you want to get better each game. We gave up too many easy baskets. At least it was one of those games where everyone got to play.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: CINDY PINKSTON/Staff. Lord Botetourt's Jason Johnsonby CNB(left) tries to strip the ball from Salem's Scott Hall. color. KEYWORDS: BASKETBALL