Sunday, December 28, 2008
Things falling into place for Spartans
Salem fends off the Vikings and surpasses its win total for the past two seasons combined.
Photos by Jeanna Duerscherl | The Roanoke Times
Northside's Morgan Allen fouls while trying to block a shot by Salem's Megan Davis during the fourth period at William Byrd High School. Salem defeated Northside 52-45.
Heritage High School's KaDedra Carter (left) and Kouri Tweedy struggle with Lord Botetourt's Kayla Flippen for a lose ball during the first period of their tournament game at William Byrd High School.
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The Salem girls basketball team won a total of four games the past two seasons combined.
This season, the Spartans are doing so well that even a 30-foot bank shot winds up in the basket.
Salem improved to 5-1 by fending off Northside 52-45 on Saturday in the opening game of the Lady Terriers Christmas Classic at William Byrd High School in Vinton.
The Spartans, who went 3-20 last season, led the entire second half.
"I'm just ecstatic," said sophomore guard Alexius Patterson, who had 10 points. "The more you play with somebody, the more you start to click together.
"It's just a wonderful thing, not to be down by one in the fourth quarter and have to throw it for 3 just to see if you can win the game. It's a beautiful thing."
Even Salem mistakes are paying off.
Patterson stole the ball and brought it up past half court at the end of the third quarter, but she didn't check the clock on the scoreboard. There was still five seconds left in the quarter, plenty of time for her to go in for a layup.
Patterson assumed she just had a second or two left, so she launched about a 30-footer. The shot banked in off the glass for an extra long 3-pointer.
"I was just gunning, and I threw it up," she said with a grin. "I was surprised I made it myself."
The shot brought Salem's fans to their feet, including WNBA forward Khadijah Whittington, who was at the game to cheer for her cousin, Salem guard Kenzie Poindexter.
Salem will face Lord Botetourt in a semifinal at 6 p.m. Monday. Salem opened the season with a 51-49 win over the Cavaliers.
Northside (1-6), which lost to Salem for the second time this season, will meet Heritage in a losers' bracket game at 2:30 p.m. Monday.
The Vikings opened the second half on a 12-6 run to cut the lead to 48-45 with 3:41 to go, but they had trouble with Salem's press and never scored again.
"We didn't take the right shots at the right times -- jumpers in the air, crazy shots, 3s [that were] unnecessary," said Northside's Morgan Allen, who had 12 points.
Salem's Megan Davis scored the final four points of the game.
Abby Thomas tallied 17 points for Northside. Carlye Garst scored 10 points for Salem.
NORTHSIDE (1-6)
Deacon 1 0-1 2, Thomas 7 2-4 17, Allen 4 1-2 12, Jones 3 3-6 9, Smith 0 3-4 3, Bell 0 0-2 2. Totals 15 9-19 45.
SALEM (5-1)
Patterson 4 1-2 10, Garst 3 3-3 10, Kawa 2 0-0 5, Poindexter 4 0-0 9, Richardson 3 3-4 9, Davis 3 3-5 9. Totals 19 10-14 52.
Northside 12 9 12 12--0
Salem 11 21 10 10--0
3-point-goals -- NHS (Thomas, Allen 3), SHS (Patterson, Garst, Kawa, Poindexter). Fouls -- NHS 13, SHS 16.
Lord Botetourt 76, Heritage 48
UNC Asheville recruit Grace Blaylock scored 15 points to lead the Cavaliers (6-4).
Lord Botetourt jumped to a 24-2 lead with 2:08 left in the first quarter. MacKenzie Tyree sank three 3-pointers in the run. Blaylock added two baskets, including a 3-pointer, in that span.
"We just came out with a lot of energy and intensity," Blaylock said. "We're capable of doing it; the problem sometimes is getting all of us ready to play, and coming out prepared. Today we were ready to play when we came out on the floor."
The Cavaliers scored five baskets off turnovers during their run.
"Our press was definitely more effective, and we were pushing the ball up the floor," Blaylock said.
Alisha Lyle scored 12 points for the Cavaliers.
Heritage "tried to trap and press a lot," Cavaliers coach Chuck Pound said. "We want to make them pay for pressing us. Today we made a lot of extra passes to get an easy shot."
Christina Phelps scored 21 points for Heritage (4-5).
HERITAGE (4-5)
Phelps 7 5-5 21, Jackson 5 0-0 10, Tweedy 1 0-0 3, Williams 2 2-2 6, Carter 4 0-0 8. Totals 19 7-7 48.
LORD BOTETOURT (6-4)
Caldwell 2 0-1 4, MacKenzie Tyree 3 0-0 9, Blaylock 5 2-2 15, Farmer 5 0-0 10, Macey Tyree 1 3-3 5, Ward 2 1-2 5, Flippen 2 0-0 4, Lewis 4 1-4 9, Alford 1 1-2 3, Lyle 5 2-2 12. Totals 30 10-16 76.
Heritage 8 16 8 16--48
Lord Botetourt 24 18 16 18--76
3-point-goals -- HHS (Phelps 2, Tweedy), LB (MacKenzie Tyree 3, Blaylock 3). Fouls -- HHS 15, LB 13.
Cave Spring's game with Brookville canceled
Brookville's game against Cave Spring was canceled because of the death Saturday of Brookville principal Jim Whorley.
According to the Web site of the Lynchburg News & Advance, Whorley died in a boating accident at Buggs Island Lake in Mecklenburg County.
Cave Spring was placed in the winners' bracket of the tournament. The Knights will face Staunton River at 7:45 p.m. Monday.
If Brookville opts to play Monday, the Bees will meet William Byrd in a losers' bracket game at 4:15 p.m.
Staunton River 49, William Byrd 39
Shaniesha Robinson and Laquaksha Robinson scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, to lead the Golden Eagles (5-2).
The turnover-plagued Terriers (1-7) fell behind 12-0 and trailed the rest of the way.
The Golden Eagles won their fifth straight game.
"We get after the ball," Staunton River coach Kim Jones said. "We're going to get in your face. Pressing is something we love to do."
Sammi Webster tallied 13 points for the Terriers.
Staunton River's best player, Kelly Jackson, missed her second straight game with an ankle injury.
STAUNTON RIVER (5-2)
Craghead 3 0-0 6, J. Salyer 3 0-0 6, Dearing 3 0-0 6, L. Robinson 5 1-2 11, Sublett 1 0-2 2, A. Salyer 3 0-0 6, S. Robinson 6 0-1 12. Totals 24 1-5 49.
WILLIAM BYRD (1-7)
Hanna 1 0-0 2, Moody 1 0-0 2, Mattox 4 0-0 10, Overstreet 1 0-0 3, Hagins 3 3-4 9, Webster 4 5-9 13. Totals 14 8-13 39.
Staunton River 12 10 14 13--49
William Byrd 3 18 7 11--39
3-point-goals -- WB (Mattox 2, Overstreet). Fouls -- SR 16, WB 10.
