Arch-rivals Riverheads and Buffalo Gap traded butt-ugly quarters tonight in Greenville, but when the tackling, holding, personal fouls, interceptions, fumbles, and other such football moves were finally over, the visiting Bison walked off with a hard-fought victory that much more resembled something we would have expected to see outside in the fall instead of inside in a gym.
In fact, as you can probably tell from that score, the two teams went after each other so intensely on defense, that neither one ever established anything even remotely resembling a rhythm, and baskets when they were scored at all were sometimes almost accidental. There were also frequent trips to the foul line and neither team had the best of success there either. In other words, if you like offensive precision, this was NOT your game to watch.
The first half was pretty close as the biggest separation by either team was five points. The Bison went to the locker room nursing a three point lead at 19-16. That set the stage for the final two quarters that were a night and day difference.
The third period was so ugly it set the sport back 20 years, as it quite literally featured more fouls (11) than it did total points (10.) Believe it or not the Bison only scored ONE point the entire period, and even that foul shot touched every part of the rim before it fell through. Riverheads therefore scored nine points in the quarter, including a brisk 5-0 run to close out the period and at that point, with the score now standing at 25-20, it appeared as if the home team had the momentum and might move on out to its first district win of the season.
But whatever Bison mentor Chad Ward said to his team between the quarters, he should bottle it because the Bison were a TOTALLY different team in the fourth quarter, scoring three more points than they had managed in the first three put together. They did it with a punishing defense that seemed to anticipate and cut off every Riverheads pass. I don't count turnovers but I would say the Big Red easily had a dozen in that quarter alone.
Foul trouble also reared its ugly head as RHS ended the game with one starter fouling out and two others saddled with four fouls each. That situation forced the Gladiators to use their bench more than usual, but sadly the four extra guys that saw action failed to score at all, despite significantly more playing time. The Gladiator starters scored all 35 of their points with leading scorer Ryan Farris the only one in double figures with 12.
As for the Bison, leading scorer Bennett Bowers was certainly a factor but not to the extent he has apparently been in many of their previous games. Maybe the Gladiator defense had something to do with that or maybe it was just that this particular game was destined to be an "off night" for just about anybody that is accustomed to scoring big.
For Coach Weller and the Gladiators, the hectic schedule with its many adjustments is adding to their frustration. Earlier in the week, games were postponed against Waynesboro and Mountain View. Those two games would arguably have been "winnable" ones for Riverheads and if they had in fact picked up those wins, they could have come into tonight's action with a 5-4 record and more confidence on their side.
Instead they have to turn around and play Staunton Saturday afternoon, hit the road to William Monroe Monday, and then host Fort Defiance on Tuesday. If they have any legs left after that marathon, they will have the rest of January off, at least as of the moment. February should then have those winnable make up dates, as well as some others that might also result in victory. So the Big Red may be 3-5 after tonight, but a break-even or better season is still within their reach if they can keep their confidence level up.
But one team that certainly does not need a confidence boost is the Riverheads JVs. Their two big guns (Will Gardner and Jackson Brammer) each canned a three in the opening two minutes of the game tonight and the Gladiators never looked back as they absolutely throttled the Baby Bison 63-22. They were especially dominant in a 21-2 fourth quarter that saw the rare "running clock" put into play. So even if this season is not going as well as the varsity team would like, this younger bunch is starting to make people take notice.
No news yet from the girls doubleheader out at the Gap tonight, but the smart money would be to bet that some bodies hit the floor in those two games as well. These two schools just DO that, no matter what the sport or what is at stake, and we wouldn't have it any other way!
In fact, as you can probably tell from that score, the two teams went after each other so intensely on defense, that neither one ever established anything even remotely resembling a rhythm, and baskets when they were scored at all were sometimes almost accidental. There were also frequent trips to the foul line and neither team had the best of success there either. In other words, if you like offensive precision, this was NOT your game to watch.
The first half was pretty close as the biggest separation by either team was five points. The Bison went to the locker room nursing a three point lead at 19-16. That set the stage for the final two quarters that were a night and day difference.
The third period was so ugly it set the sport back 20 years, as it quite literally featured more fouls (11) than it did total points (10.) Believe it or not the Bison only scored ONE point the entire period, and even that foul shot touched every part of the rim before it fell through. Riverheads therefore scored nine points in the quarter, including a brisk 5-0 run to close out the period and at that point, with the score now standing at 25-20, it appeared as if the home team had the momentum and might move on out to its first district win of the season.
But whatever Bison mentor Chad Ward said to his team between the quarters, he should bottle it because the Bison were a TOTALLY different team in the fourth quarter, scoring three more points than they had managed in the first three put together. They did it with a punishing defense that seemed to anticipate and cut off every Riverheads pass. I don't count turnovers but I would say the Big Red easily had a dozen in that quarter alone.
Foul trouble also reared its ugly head as RHS ended the game with one starter fouling out and two others saddled with four fouls each. That situation forced the Gladiators to use their bench more than usual, but sadly the four extra guys that saw action failed to score at all, despite significantly more playing time. The Gladiator starters scored all 35 of their points with leading scorer Ryan Farris the only one in double figures with 12.
As for the Bison, leading scorer Bennett Bowers was certainly a factor but not to the extent he has apparently been in many of their previous games. Maybe the Gladiator defense had something to do with that or maybe it was just that this particular game was destined to be an "off night" for just about anybody that is accustomed to scoring big.
For Coach Weller and the Gladiators, the hectic schedule with its many adjustments is adding to their frustration. Earlier in the week, games were postponed against Waynesboro and Mountain View. Those two games would arguably have been "winnable" ones for Riverheads and if they had in fact picked up those wins, they could have come into tonight's action with a 5-4 record and more confidence on their side.
Instead they have to turn around and play Staunton Saturday afternoon, hit the road to William Monroe Monday, and then host Fort Defiance on Tuesday. If they have any legs left after that marathon, they will have the rest of January off, at least as of the moment. February should then have those winnable make up dates, as well as some others that might also result in victory. So the Big Red may be 3-5 after tonight, but a break-even or better season is still within their reach if they can keep their confidence level up.
But one team that certainly does not need a confidence boost is the Riverheads JVs. Their two big guns (Will Gardner and Jackson Brammer) each canned a three in the opening two minutes of the game tonight and the Gladiators never looked back as they absolutely throttled the Baby Bison 63-22. They were especially dominant in a 21-2 fourth quarter that saw the rare "running clock" put into play. So even if this season is not going as well as the varsity team would like, this younger bunch is starting to make people take notice.
No news yet from the girls doubleheader out at the Gap tonight, but the smart money would be to bet that some bodies hit the floor in those two games as well. These two schools just DO that, no matter what the sport or what is at stake, and we wouldn't have it any other way!
