In sports they say "A win is a win." Well Riverheads got one tonight over the inspired James River Knights but they had to overcome a horrible shooting slump in the first quarter, some consistent foul trouble, and even a Joe George bloody nose to finally escape with a 58-48 win over their guests from down the road.
On paper this was not expected to be much of a challenge for the Big Red because they had earlier won in Buchanan by 16 points, after holding as much as a 26 point lead that night. But that was JR's first game of the season and they came in tonight much more relaxed and gave RHS all it could handle.
The first quarter in fact was just about all Knights as they knocked down three triples and successfully worked the ball inside to take their biggest lead of the night at 15-7. The quarter would have ended with that score if not for Riverheads' Jackson Brammer beating the buzzer with a three-pointer. In fact he was the only Gladiator to score in that period as he logged all 10 home-team points on the way to a game-high 16. Others got open looks in that first quarter but the shots just did not fall for anyone but Brammer.
Trailing 15-10, the Gladiators stepped up their defense and Henley Dunlap scored on a couple of fast break lay-ups to start their comeback. They finally tied things up at 17 and then eased out to a six-point lead at 25-19 before JR scored the final bucket of the half.
The Gladiators then had their most productive quarter in the third as they finally started to find the range. Actually quite a few guys contributed as they outscored the Knights 19-9 in the third to take a double digit lead. However, playing the aggressive defense that was needed to take control of the game was resulting in some foul trouble, so the Big Red coaching staff had to utilize the entire bench when some key starters picked up a third foul.
Because of that situation and perhaps also because the starting unit was not quite itself tonight, the "blue team", meaning the five non-starters, opened and closed the fourth quarter, with the starters only playing about three minutes in the middle. That somewhat explains the final score because the lead had reached as much as 18, and had the starters finished out the game, the margin might have gone well into the 20s. Instead JR was able to end the game with a flurry and cut the final down to 10.
Although the Gladiators struggled at times, tonight's game did have its moments. For example in the second half Dunlap scored on a rare four-point play as he went on to finish as the Big Red's second-high scorer with 11. But the most interesting stat would be that six different Gladiators hit from behind the arc, and remember there are only 10 guys on the team.
Some of those sharpshooters were not among the ones the fans are used to seeing. Grayson Ward, who is usually our top rebounder and inside enforcer, stepped outside and drained two of them on the way to a 10-point night. Also the last two guys off the bench, Gabe Miller and Chris Dotson, hit from opposite corners as the Big Red as a team hit eight of them. Dotson's especially was surprising as he is one of the tallest Gladiators and is supposed to be known for his football-style battling inside. But he saw his chance and rattled it in for one of the final Big Red baskets.
So it wasn't the prettiest win Riverheads will ever have and hats off to James River for making them earn it. There was no JV game tonight, so maybe that change in routine had something to do with the Gladiators' early focusing issues. But the win is in the books and the Big Red will now get ready to host their annual tournament next Friday and Saturday. Buffalo Gap, Stonewall Jackson, and Rappahannock County will all take part, with four games each day, including the JV teams.
The JVs will start the action each day, with 2:30 and 4:00 games. On the varsity level, BG will play Rapp Co at 6:00 Friday night, followed by Riverheads hosting Stonewall. The two losers will then play in a consolation game at 6:00 Saturday followed by the tournament championship game at 7:30. Riverheads is the defending champ after squeezing out a one-point win over the Bison in last year's event.
Shenandoah District play will then begin on January 3rd. Riverheads will host Fort Defiance that night, a team that for the moment at least is unbeaten, although they have had several close calls. From the scores they have been putting it up, it appears that the Indians have abandoned their racehorse style game and are more focused on a slower tempo this year. That should make for an interesting game on the 3rd.
