- By BILL MEADE For the News-Virginian
Stuarts Draft's Alexis Bridge dives for a loose ball against Amaya Lucas in the second quarter Monday night. Gap won 45-39.
BUFFALO GAP — On a night when the 2007-08 Buffalo Gap state champion team was honored, the Bison had to work hard to hold off a solid performance from Stuarts Draft on Monday.
The Bison won 45-39, but it was anything but easy in the Shenandoah District clash between county rivals.
"Whenever we play Draft, it's a tough game," said BGHS head coach Phillip Morgan, whose Gap team improved to 14-3 with only two losses in district play to date. "It's important because district games matter again. We made some timely shots."
Cougars' coach James Carter, despite the hard-fought loss, was pleased with the effort put forth by the young Draft squad.
"I was pleased with everything," Carter said. "Our defense was solid and I was proud of the girls...we fought. We are exponentially improved; light years better."
The Cougars took a brief lead near the end of the first quarter (8-6), but Gap senior Leah Calhoun drained a long three-pointer to give the hosts a 9-8 lead after one.
The game remained close through the second quarter, with Stuarts Draft's Lyndsay Harris dropping in a pair of free throws to tie the score at the intermission at 16-all.
An 8-0 run by the Bison allowed the Gap girls to pull away to a 27-19 lead, which would later prove decisive.
Still, the Cougars were very much alive after a two-pointer from Alexis Bridge and a free throw by Madi Armentrout put the visitors within five by the end of the third quarter.
Freshman McKinley Fitzgerald connected on a three-pointer to open the fourth period, but Calhoun matched that a short time later.
Fitzgerald came through again from behind the arc on an assist from Maggie Sorrells and suddenly the Bison lead was only two (39-37) with two minutes remaining in the game.
The contest was still a one-possession game after Draft freshman Hadley May scored on an assist from Fitzgerald.
But the Bison made a couple of crucial stops down the stretch and two free throws by senior Camille Ashby and a bucket by senior Leah Pultz sealed the victory.
The state championship team, including Bison junior varsity coach Holly Morgan was honored at halftime.
That Bison team went 25-5, defeating Franklin in the title game, 83-66.
After Monday night’s game, both coaches were quick to give credit to the play of their opponents.
"Gap is a tough team, Leah Calhoun is a good player, Camille Ashby has done a nice job at the point and Amaya Lucas is an athlete," Carter said.
Bison coach Morgan was impressed with how much the Cougars have improved this season.
"Coach Carter has done a great job with that team," Morgan said. "They are so much better now."
Calhoun led the Bison with 16 points, with Ashby dropping in 11 and Lucas nine.
For the Cougars, senior Monique Ayers led the way with a dozen points and Harris contributed eight.
