The Radford Bobcats had some bounce in their step Saturday evening at the Cave Spring gym.
Entering a weekend with record-setting performances in the headlights, Radford’s scheduled game Friday night against Floyd County, and VHSL career point chaser Caleb Tanner, was postponed due to problems with cold weather affecting the diesel fuel in the small fleet of Radford school buses. It also put Bobcat forward Isaiah Phillips on hold on reaching the 1,000 point career scoring mark at Radford.
Eager to return to the hardwood, the Bobcat bus reached Roanoke Saturday afternoon and Phillips likewise achieved his milestone as Radford used a big second quarter to knock off the Knights 62-48.
The Bobcats’ energy was evident from the outset. Radford jumped out to 10-5 lead and led by as many as nine points in the opening quarter before a late 3-pointer by Cave Spring left the Knights trailing 21-15 after 8 minutes.
Radford took control in the second quarter, scoring the first 14 points of the quarter to lead by 20, before Cave Spring center Adam Sledd finally got the Knights first points with 2:33 left. Cave Spring was held to 5 points in the decisive second as Radford went to the break with a comfortable 39-20 lead.
“We had trouble scoring all night,” Cave Spring head coach Billy Hicks noted. “In the first half they had more energy and laid out for loose balls. Radford is an experienced, tough team that knows how to win.”
“The second quarter was the big turnaround,” Radford head coach Rick Carmony agreed. “Our bench was huge tonight and it let us expand the lead. I told our guys at halftime to be prepared. Great programs like Cave Spring don’t lay down. But, even with championship programs it (the Cave Spring deficit) can be too much to overcome.”
Cave Spring fought back to start the second half, and when Brody Hicks converted an old fashion 3-point play with a layup and harm midway through the third quarter, the Knights had cut the deficit to 10 courtesy of a 15-6 run.
The Knights got to within single digits at 47-38 late in the third before heading to the final 8 minutes down 48-38.
Radford’s lead stayed between 10 and15 the rest of the way as the Bobcats were content to milk the clock from the perimeter and made 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch with Cave Spring being forced to foul.
“That’s the best team on our schedule,” Hicks added of the 14-1 Bobcats. “We have six River Ridge games left, 2 at home and four on the road. We need to be ready for a tough run.”
Nate Jones had a game-high 19 points for Radford, while Phillips and center Zachary Bradley each scored 13 for the Bobcats. Phillips hit the 1,000 mark early in the second half and was presented the game ball by Carmony after a stoppage in play to honor the feat.
Sledd led the Cave Spring attack with 14 points, while brothers Brody and Cager Hicks followed with 11 and 19 points, respectfully.
– Bill Turner
