Carlisle took advantage of several Timberlake Christian turnovers in the final two minutes to break a tied game and pick up a Virginia Independent Conference win in Martinsville. Carlisle, ranked No. 1 in the Division II state independent poll and coached by Martinsville native Jeff Adkins, improved to 8-1 (5-0 VIC) behind 16 points each from Bryan Reed and Marty Stanley and 15 from Chad Martin. Timberlake, now 4-3 (2-2), was led by Wyatt Craig's 15 points, with Steve Glass and Paul Fitzgerald each adding 14. The Tornadoes were set for a rematch with Carlisle at home the following Monday.

Source: The News & Advance

Carlisle hadn't practiced in an organized fashion in 13 days because of snow, and it showed Tuesday night. The Chiefs, ranked first in the state among Division II private schools, still managed a 69-62 home win over 10th-ranked Timberlake Christian, but it wasn't pretty.

Carlisle needs to play every day to play well, and that showed in this game, coach Jeff Adkins said afterward. "It hurts us a lot not to practice," he said, pointing to defense and timing as things his team relies on that just weren't there that night.

Timberlake actually led by three points midway through the fourth quarter, and the score was still tied at 61 with just over a minute and a half remaining. But Carlisle turned up its defensive pressure a notch, forcing two straight Timberlake turnovers that the Chiefs converted into baskets.

Lamont Franklin's driving basket with 1:12 left made it 63-61, and Marty Stanley's leaner from the lane with 33 seconds left put Carlisle up by four. Two Chad Martin free throws and a Stanley layup at the buzzer, sandwiched around a Timberlake free throw, provided the final margin.

Timberlake coach Charlie Williams said his team got a little rattled once it looked up and saw the game tied with a minute and a half to go — he sensed his players felt somewhat intimidated by Carlisle's quickness in that moment. But he credited Carlisle for the win, said Timberlake was looking forward to a rematch at its own gym, and said he was proud of his team's effort that night.

Carlisle (5-0 VIC, 8-1 overall) outscored Timberlake (2-2 VIC, 4-3 overall) 22-11 in the second quarter to take an 11-point lead into halftime, with guards Chad Martin and Joseph McClinton each scoring six points in the stretch.

Timberlake refused to fold, reeling off a 10-0 run in the final 1:12 of the third quarter to tie the game at 47. Forwards Jason Spear and Steve Glass and guard Clint Dodson spurred the rally, combining for 14 points over the period's final three minutes.

Williams said the rally came from sending his guards downcourt as soon as a shot went up, to cut down on Carlisle's fast breaks — otherwise, he said, the team didn't change much beyond moving the ball better and taking better shots.

After that rally, neither team led by more than three points until the final minute.

Adkins said his players responded well after falling behind by three points late, noting that this group tends to play its best with its back against the wall. He called Timberlake a solid, good-shooting team that gave Carlisle trouble, but said the win should help a Carlisle squad that's essentially starting over and knows it will have to work hard for everything the rest of the way.

Stanley and forward Bryant Redd, who scored six of his points in the fourth quarter, tied for game-high honors with 16 points apiece. Martin added 15 points on three 3-pointers and a game-high 11 rebounds, and McClinton was Carlisle's fourth double-figure scorer with 12.

Diminutive guard Wyatt Craig led four Timberlake players in double figures with 15 points. The game marked the first of three in three days for the Chiefs, who were set to travel to Holy Cross that same night before hosting North Cross of Roanoke two days later.