VIRGINIA UNION OUTLASTS SAINT AUGUSTINE'S, REACH CIAA TITLE GAME FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR
March 2, 2007
CHARLOTTE - Top-seeded Virginia Union succeeded in slowing high-octane Saint Augustine's College, but still needed a late run to pull out a semifinal victory between two CIAA heavyweights.
Relying on a tricky zone defense, the Panthers were able to hold Antonio Fitzgerald, the Falcons' leading scorer, to 8 points. They limited the No. 5 seed Falcons to their second-lowest scoring output and second-lowest shooting percentage of the season.
Still, the Panthers (21-4 overall) needed a LaKeith Blanks' layup and Brad Byerson free throw in the final 19 seconds to outlast the determined Falcons 55-53 at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Friday. The win sent the Panthers, three-time defending CIAA champions, to Saturday's championship game for the fifth straight year.
"It is an honor," Panthers' Head Coach Dave Robbins said. "I guess when you've been in the league for a while, you will win some [titles]."
Another trip to the finals appeared in doubt after the Panthers blew a nine-point lead with 4:47 remaining in the game. Barry Jones drilled his third straight 3-pointer to give the Falcons a 52-51 lead with 1:54 remaining.
After a Byerson free throw tied the score, Nicholas King made one of two free throws for a 53-52 Falcons' lead. That's when the Panthers called timeout and designed a play for Blanks, who promptly drove to the basket and scored while he was fouled. Robbins called the play after Jeff Sullivan, who led the Falcons (19-9) with 15 points and 11 rebounds, had fouled out moments earlier.
Blanks (19 points) missed the free throw and Claude Neeley of the Falcons grabbed the rebound but was knocked loose of the ball which caused a mad scramble on the floor.
Byerson (19 points) grabbed the ball and was fouled. He made a free throw to put the Panthers ahead 55-53 with 11 seconds left. Then Jones, swarmed by two defenders, misfired an off-balanced three-pointer which would have given the Falcons the win.
"It was a tough game," said Jones, who scored 11 points. "Unfortunately, somebody had to lose."
The contest was physical and emotional, in other words, a typical CIAA game according to Falcons' Head Coach Thomas Hargrove, whose squad averages 76 points a game.
"Both teams left it on the floor," Hargrove said.
The semifinal contest was the rubber match between both teams, who split their two regular-season games. The Panthers won the first matchup 64-62 and the Falcons won the rematch 76-69.
In the third meeting, the Panthers set the tone with a zone defense that didn't give the Falcons many good looks at the basket. The Panthers limited the Falcons to 31 percent shooting, held Fitzgerald to a career-low and held Nicholas King, another Falcons' sharpshooter, to 7 points.
"It is a combined zone and man-to-man," Robbins said about his defense. "The kids deserve the credit."
The Panthers led 45-33 with 8:20 left but the Falcons' forced many of the Panthers' 21 turnovers down the stretch which set up a thrilling finish.
