ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 28, 1997 TAG: 9703280052
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX
Selflessness, community service, the spirit of taking one for the team lives on at Radford High.
A hastily convened basketball squad of the school's coaches and teachers has been assembled here to play a benefit for the varsity program. The educators embody the essence of those willing to dive on a live grenade to save their comrades.
Men, Radford High owes you a debt of gratitude. To be more specific, the basketball team owes you its thanks. When the basketball Bobcats put on their glamorous new warm-up shirts and pants, it is hoped they'll remember the sacrifices of these soon-to-be martyrs.
All for the sake of new warm-ups, these teachers and coaches will be engaging in the basketball equivalent of trying to stop a bulldozer by lying in front of it.
The 1982-83 Radford High basketball team, which could be the greatest ever in a long tradition of fine teams here, will be reassembled for an exhibition game against the high school's coaches and staff 7:30 p.m. April 19 in the gym.
Allen Hall, one of the organizers of the benefit, has commitments from at least nine of the players on the squad that went 24-1 and lost to a terrific Martinsville team in the Group AA semifinals. Among those coming back are starters Philip Williams, Donald Wayne Snell, Randy Hall, Bill McCormick and Mike Blankenship, as well as Chris Dobbins, Richie Davis, Greg Ridpath, Scott Saunders and Eric Nicely. Even 14 years removed from its glory days, this is a formidable assembly of basketball talent.
Rick Cormany, the Bobcats' current coach and one of the players who will oppose the reunion team, is realistic about the possibilities for the upcoming game.
"We could get killed,'' he said.
Which is not to underestimate the abilities or desire of the faculty and staff team, the members of which are proven winners all. Men such as newly named girls basketball coach Larry Mannon, coaches Greg Canaday and Don Rice, assistant principal Kenny Alderman and Cormany are not the sort who take any sort of sport lightly. Football coach Norman Lineburg, who may also play in the basketball game, has been a competitor since before members of the reunion team were born.
But let's be realistic here. When you're talking about guys such as Williams, McCormick, Snell, Blankenship, Hall and associates, you're talking about fellows who can hoop. Williams, a federal probation officer, played for Virginia Tech. Snell was a Tech football player. McCormick, Hall, and Dobbins all played college basketball.
McCormick told Allen Hall he hasn't picked up a basketball in two or three years. Prediction: He won't take long to get the hang of it again.
Other members of the reunion team continue to play.
Randy Hall, who lives in Christiansburg, scored 60 points in a rec league game within the past couple of years.
"It's my understanding he likes to shoot,'' Cormany said.
Some things don't change. Williams is still going to be 6-foot-7. Donald Wayne will still be able to slash and jump. McCormick will still find the open man. Hall will bomb.
Bet on it.
Chip Craig from the city School Board is going to coach the reunion team. Presumably, the faculty team will coach itself. They'll play by slow-break rules so as to even things up a bit and avoid the danger of somebody being put in a wheelchair.
Joe Mannon will probably be on the scorebook and Guy Gilmore the clock, just as they were in the old days.
The faculty team may have one prayer. If Bill Nichols, Cormany's assistant coach, plays, it could be interesting. Nichols is no longer young, but he's still one of the best players in Radford at any age. However, he may not be able to play because of a prior engagement.
"That won't be good news at all for us,'' Cormany said.
Those who wish to see the spectacle and maybe relive some history may buy tickets in advance from any coach or player on the current Radford High team. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the game.
As for the participants, it is to be hoped everybody's health insurance is in order.
LENGTH: Medium: 79 linesby CNB