By Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
Radford High School continues to find a way to make it to the state boys’ basketball final four. Friday, the Bobcats slipped by Central-Wise 58-52 in overtime in the quarterfinals.
But it didn’t come easy.
Everything seemed to go against the Bobcats as a traffic backup on Interstate 81 delayed the start of the game for over an hour. Then Central-Wise would not go away.
CW led 21-17 at the break and then had a run in the third quarter while holding the top-seeded Bobcats to four points. That continued in the final period as the visitors ftook lead after lead. A late rally and some clutch free throws sent the game into overtime, where the Bobcats finally took control.
Radford Coach Rick Cormany said Friday’s contest was a really hard-fought game against a very good, well coached team
“It could have gone either way, but we made just enough plays to move on,” he said.
A familiar foe, Gate City, stands in front of his team’s return to the state championship, where they have won six of the last seven in both Class 1 and 2. Gate City has been the Bobcats’ final four opponent in four of those years.
“Gate City has such a strong basketball tradition, and I feel fortunate to be in the position to play them again with a trip to Richmond on the line,” Cormany said.
