varsity.roanoke.com

GALAX -- Four hours of basketball all boiled down to less than four seconds.

James River's Chris Ware made an off-balance shot with 3 seconds left to lift the Knights to a 74-72 win over Radford for the Region C Division 2 boys championship Saturday at Galax High School.

Radford's Pip Pattison hit a layup with 0.5 seconds remaining as the Bobcats claimed the girls title 56-54 over Floyd County.

With the girls game tied at 54 and time winding down, Floyd County's Brittany Bourne lost the ball in the lane while going up and Pattison came away with nothing but open court in front of her. The junior guard raced the length of the floor and put up the winning bucket as the horn sounded.

"It came down to a blocked shot and getting the ball, and going down thinking, 'Don't miss it,' " said Pattison, clutching the championship trophy and grinning ear to ear. "I looked at the clock once, but I don't know how much time was left. I just remember it was running out, and I was running as fast as I could."

Radford's win was its second in two weeks against the defending Group A Division 2 champions. A victory in the Three Rivers District title game was a factor in winning the region crown, Bobcats coach Kevin Connor said.

"I think the district finals, and I think the second time we played them helped," Connor said. "We played them tough at home, and it let our kids know that even if [Floyd] was to extend a lead on us that we could still battle back. They've got enough confidence now that I think they understand that."

Floyd County (24-3) led by as many as nine points early in the second half before the Bobcats (23-4) charged in front with 10 unanswered points, thanks to a 3-pointer and then a three-point play by Pattison followed by four Maryah Sydnor foul shots.

A 48-44 Bobcat lead early in the fourth was erased with seven straight points by the Buffaloes, who took a 51-48 lead on a layup and foul shot by Carmen Bolt.

Radford led 53-52 on a Sydnor trey. Floyd regained the lead with two Brittany Avancini foul shots, and Sara Hale's free throw knotted the score at 54 for the Bobcats with 19 seconds to play.

Radford remained in the box-and-one defense it had used most of the night, preventing Avancini from getting a final shot. The Floyd County senior finished with eight points.

"It worked well for us last time, and we were going to do it again until it didn't work for us," said Sydnor, who led all scorers with 25 points.

Bourne and Brandy Phillips scored 10 points each for the Buffaloes.

In the boys game, the final 10 possessions resulted in points scored, with Radford's Allen Dickerson hitting a jumper from the lane with 18 seconds to go, tying the game at 72.

The Knights' Ethan Humphries drove to the right, found Ware on the left wing and Ware put up a half-hook off the glass from 10 feet for the winner.

"I just didn't want it to go to overtime," said Ware, a sophomore forward who finished with 15 points.

All four teams advance to next weekend's state quarterfinals. James River and Radford's girls will face the Region D runners-up, while Floyd County and the Bobcat boys take on the Region D champions.

BOYS

JAMES RIVER (23-4)

Ross 9 1-3 19, Humphries 3 2-5 8, Ware 4 7-9 15, Bennett 7 3-5 17, Tucker 6 0-0 13, Sandidge 0 0-0 0, Talbott 1 0-0 2. Totals 30 13-22 74.

RADFORD (23-4)

Hendricks 2 0-0 5, Dickerson 5 0-0 12, Giesen 3 0-0 6, D.Thompson 2 0-0 6, J.Thompson 7 4-7 19, Carter 8 1-3 22, Martin 0 0-0 0, Alexander 1 0-0 2. Totals 28 5-10 72.

James River 19 21 20 14--74

Radford 17 15 28 12--72

3-point field goals -- James River 1-1 (Tucker), Radford 11-27 (Carter 5, D.Thompson 2, Dickerson 2, J.Thompson, Hendricks). Team fouls -- James River 10, Radford 20.

GIRLS

RADFORD (23-4)

Pattison 3 1-2 5, Donnelly 2 0-0 6, Wiley 2 5-7 10, Sydnor 8 7-8 25, Hale 2 1-2 5, Akers 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 14-19 56.

FLOYD COUNTY (24-3)

Avancini 3 2-2 8, Ingram 0 0-0 0, Gray 3 0-0 6, Thompson 0 0-0 0, Phillips 4 1-2 10, Miller 1 0-0 2, Bourne 4 0-0 10, Hartman 2 0-0 5, Quesenberry 2 0-0 4, Bolt 3 3-3 9. Totals 22 3-4 54.

Radford 6 16 19 15--56

Floyd County 11 16 11 16--54

3-point field goals -- Radford 6 (Donnelly 2, Sydnor 2, Pattison, Wiley), Floyd County 3 (Bourne 2, Phillips). Team fouls -- Radford 12, Floyd County 21.