ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on February 17, 1996.
Shaunarey Walker of William Fleming High girls' basketball team was
incorrectly identified in a story in Thursday's paper about the
Colonels' 51-48 loss to Pulaski County. Walker scored 15 points in the
game.
How Pulaski County High School managed to find a way to beat William Fleming 51-48 on Wednesday is a question both teams could spend weeks trying to answer.
Unfortunately, neither of them has that kind of time to reflect as the regular season in the Roanoke Valley District winds down.
From among the trio of Cave Spring, Fleming, and Pulaski County, a district regular-season champion will be crowned in the next few days. By early next week, we'll know which team that is. Meanwhile, a lot of basketball is to be played.
The Cougars' victory, which seemed impossible until the last minute of the game, leaves their record at 12-6 overall, 8-2 in the district and tied in the loss column with Cave Spring. William Fleming (12-5, 6-3) plays Cave Spring on Saturday and Monday. Pulaski County will be favored as it closes the season against Franklin County and Patrick Henry.
``The way Fleming is playing, I don't think Cave Spring can beat them twice,'' said Buddy Farris, Pulaski County's coach. ``At least I hope not.''
Pulaski County trailed nearly the entire game and was down 46-33 when the Colonels' Elizabeth Lawrence hit a shot with 5:23 left. Then, the Cougars started to press and foul and Fleming started to miss free throws.
In the fourth quarter alone, the Colonels missed 11 freebies. They finished 11-for-27 from the stripe for the game.
``We hit our free throws and we never would have lost that game,'' said Roland Lovelace, Fleming's coach. ``Usually, we hit at least half of them.''
The Cougars had the deficit whittled to 48-41 when freshman Katrina Williams sank a pair of free throws with 2:10 left, but the big break came on the Fleming turnover that followed. Lisa Skeens buried a 3-pointer with 1:49 left and the lead was down to four.
Another steal and another trip to the line for Williams, who made a couple more, and the Colonels clearly were beginning to sense the Cougars closing in. Then came yet another turnover.
Williams hurried a 3-pointer the Cougars didn't particularly need - ``A freshman mistake'' Farris said - but reserve Jessica Cobbs was there to grab the rebound and put it back in to knot the score at 48 while being fouled. She completed the three-point play with 55 seconds left, then raced down the floor to snag the a rebound of a missed Fleming shot.
Williams was fouled again and she made the last two free throws in a 10-for-12 night to seal the victory with 12 seconds left.
``I don't know how we won that game,'' Farris said. ``Fleming outplayed us for 31/2 quarters. This team just never gives up.''
Skeens and Williams each finished with 10 points. The key for Pulaski County was making 21 of 28 free throws. Seven different players scored from the line. Mandy Sexton and Cobbs were a combined 5-for-5 from the line and teamed for 17 points.
Carla Wallace, who missed a 3-pointer for the victory in the closing seconds for Fleming, had 15 points and Kiann Trent added 10.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 linesby CNB