ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
Saturday, Jamar McNair of Pulaski County High's boys' basketball team was too lame to walk.
Monday, he laid down his crutches.
Tuesday, he laid out Franklin County.
McNair, the Cougars' whiz of a left-handed point guard, scored all 20 of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime as Pulaski County nipped Franklin County 59-58 in the opening round of the Roanoke Valley District tournament at Salem Civic Center.
Throbbing ankle and all, McNair was at his most spectacular in the last 12 seconds of overtime. Tony Wright of Franklin County had just provided the fourth lead change of the extra period when he finished a slickly-executed inbounds play for a layup with 12 seconds left. The Cougars then wasted no time delivering the ball to McNair, who in turn raced down the right side of the court as the Eagles tried in vain to slow him down.
McNair went straight to the hoop and put the ball up and in for the last lead change of the game. Franklin County didn't have time to get organized enough for a good last shot.
``That was a set play,'' Pulaski County coach Pat Burns said. ``We used to run the same play for [graduated] Eric Webb.''
Nobody ever ran it any better than McNair.
``Anything to help us win,'' said McNair, a 5-foot-9 senior. ``I was going to dish it off, shoot it, something. I wanted to make sure that this wasn't going to be my last game.''
The Cougars (6-12) take to the court again at 7 tonight at the civic center against top-seeded William Fleming. It will be the third game in as many nights for the Cougars, who lost 64-59 in another game with Franklin County on Monday.
``We'll be loosey-goosey,'' Burns said. ``Pressure's on Fleming. They're very good. We know what's ahead of us.''
McNair may have a hard time coaxing that bad ankle to cooperate with him.
``We had an early practice Friday to get ready for Cave Spring and I twisted it going up for a layup,'' he said. ``I iced it down so I could play against Cave Spring, but Saturday, I couldn't even walk. Sunday, I iced it all day and Monday I jumped rope trying to get it loosened up. I had [it] wrapped real tight so I thought I could play.
``It hurt worse tonight as the game went on. But there's no way I can let my teammates play a game without me at this time of the year.''
McNair scored 10 of the Cougars' last 12 points in regulation, including four-straight free throws in the last 1:01. The last two, with 20.2 seconds left, tied the score at 48-48. Pulaski County had to endure two Franklin County shots in the closing seconds to make it to overtime.
Freshman Dorian Hendricks scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Pulaski County. Sophomore Craig Hodge made all five of his shots for 10 points.
Wright led the Eagles with 14 points and K.C. Hancock added 13.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for statistics.
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB