ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 31, 1996 TAG: 9601310085
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
PULASKI COUNTY gets a pep talk from its coach and whips Blacksburg 46-30.
Pulaski County basketball coach Pat Burns was just the slightest bit sheepish when he conceded that he had really gotten after his team Tuesday.
Not that the veteran Cougars boss is opposed to stern words. He just likes to let players play a little before he fusses.
``They hadn't even dribbled or shot,'' he said.
The team then ventured forth and did both well while beating guest Blacksburg 46-30.
It was a coaches' game all the way, meaning lots of offense running, defense playing and fundamentals executing. That such a contest would involve these two teams is really no surprise considering that Burns and counterpart Bob Trear are moving up on a half-century combined coaching experience.
Even so, players have to play to win these games. Pulaski County's did, particularly point guard Jamar McNair with 14 points and lots of clever floor leadership, Ron Branch with 10 points and six rebounds, and freshman Dorian Hendricks with 10 points and five rebounds.
``Smartest game we've played all year,'' Burns said. ``I'm extremely pleased.''
Apparently, Burns got his players' attention before the game.
``Whew,'' McNair said. ``He was pointing at people and telling them, `This is what you have to do and this is what you have to do in order for us to win.'
``So tonight, we went out and took care of the ball and we didn't take any bad shots.''
The Cougars (4-8) didn't take many field-goal attempts, period. For the game, they went 14-for-27, and that was after taking 15 in the last three quarters.
When you're running that kind of clock, a lot of free-throw attempts usually result, and Pulaski County had 22 of those, making 18. McNair was 6-for-8, and Derrick Hunter, Jerome Thomas, Brett Chrisley, Hendricks and Branch were a combined 10-for-10.
``We missed 16 free throws Saturday,'' Burns said. ``All it is is concentration. We were in the game mentally all night tonight.''
Unlike the first time these teams played, when Pulaski County won in a breeze, Blacksburg stayed in this game most of the way. With Philip Klaus scoring 10 points and Jon Hutchins seven and the rest of the team contributing where they could, Blacksburg was down only 20-19 at halftime and 24-23 when Klaus stroked a short jumper with 3 minutes 39 seconds left in the third.
The Indians (5-6) then proceeded to turn the ball over on their next three possessions, opportunities thrice converted into points at the other end. McNair scored the last four points of the quarter as Pulaski County went up 30-23.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. Blacksburg's Jon Hutchins (left) andby CNBPulaski County's Brett Chrisley battle for a rebound during the
first quarter of Tuesday night's game in Dublin. Pulaski County won
46-30. color.