With me keeping my usual late hours, I was sure someone would have already reported this, but since no one has, here is the news. Carver Academy earned what was announced as the school's first-ever regional title, and therefore their first state tournament appearance, with a hard-fought 54-42 win over RHS that was a closer game than the score might indicate.
The Gladiators took a two-point lead into the locker room, had another lead early in the third, and were still tied in the final minute of the third before Carver hit some timely threes and also used its height advantage to pull away. In fact, this game from start to finish was all about each team exploiting the other's weaknesses and each did a commendable job of doing just that.
The Wolverines (can we assume they are the only ones in Virginia?) made the first statement as they scored off the opening tip and then used their quick hands to grab a couple of steals that led to early transition buckets. As a result, they were ahead 11-0 before some of the fans even settled into their seats.
However, RHS adjusted and for the rest of the first half, the Gladiators did a masterful job of taking exactly what the Carver defense was giving them....... a wide-open path straight to the hoop. After that big opening lead, Riverheads drove the lane on four straight possessions, scoring on each one and even getting a couple of and-ones. So instead of the early runaway, the first period instead ended with Carver ahead only by 12-10.
The Wolves took early control of the second quarter and at one point led 22-16, but Riverheads was still having great success attacking the middle and one final lay-up by Drew Bond after a midcourt steal capped an 8-0 run and put the visitors ahead 24-22 at the break.
The teams traded buckets to open the third but Carver soon moved ahead for good, as they started to stroke it from outside as well as controlling the paint. Number 24 (never saw a program or roster) was especially hot and when he wasn't bombing away, 32 and 35 were working the inside. But Riverheads stayed with them and tied it one last time at 32 before Carver ended the third with a pair of buckets to lead 36-32.
The fourth quarter started out with an unfortunate play that we certainly hope was not intentional. The Big Red had the alternating possession arrow to start the period but before they could do anything with it, Elijah Dunlap took a hit to the mouth close to midcourt, which stunned him enough for the Carver defender to take it in for an uncontested lay-up and a six-point lead.
That kind of set the tone for the rest of the game and Carver soon had its biggest lead of the night at 47-34. To that point, Riverheads had enjoyed no success at all from behind the arc, another contributing factor to the loss. The Gladiators, who have hit as many as ten in a game this season, simply could not buy one tonight.
Adam Painter finally broke through around the four minute mark to cut the lead back to ten, and moments later Dunlap hit one to trim the lead to 7, but Carter was able to salt it away.
Both teams will advance to state play but I have not had time yet to research who and when they will play. However I am pretty sure that neither will play until about this same time next week, which is a period of rest both can likely use after playing on back to back nights.
Dunlap and Grant Painter tied for high scoring honors for RHS tonight with 11 each, and Bond was right behind with 9. Later in the evening, back in Greenville, the Lady Gladiators pounded Rappahannock County in their regional semi-final. RHS will now host Altavista tomorrow night for the regional title and the right to host a state quarterfinal. This is believed to be the first year in school history that the RHS boys and girls have advanced to state play in the same season, which should have Southern Augusta County buzzing this week.
The Gladiators took a two-point lead into the locker room, had another lead early in the third, and were still tied in the final minute of the third before Carver hit some timely threes and also used its height advantage to pull away. In fact, this game from start to finish was all about each team exploiting the other's weaknesses and each did a commendable job of doing just that.
The Wolverines (can we assume they are the only ones in Virginia?) made the first statement as they scored off the opening tip and then used their quick hands to grab a couple of steals that led to early transition buckets. As a result, they were ahead 11-0 before some of the fans even settled into their seats.
However, RHS adjusted and for the rest of the first half, the Gladiators did a masterful job of taking exactly what the Carver defense was giving them....... a wide-open path straight to the hoop. After that big opening lead, Riverheads drove the lane on four straight possessions, scoring on each one and even getting a couple of and-ones. So instead of the early runaway, the first period instead ended with Carver ahead only by 12-10.
The Wolves took early control of the second quarter and at one point led 22-16, but Riverheads was still having great success attacking the middle and one final lay-up by Drew Bond after a midcourt steal capped an 8-0 run and put the visitors ahead 24-22 at the break.
The teams traded buckets to open the third but Carver soon moved ahead for good, as they started to stroke it from outside as well as controlling the paint. Number 24 (never saw a program or roster) was especially hot and when he wasn't bombing away, 32 and 35 were working the inside. But Riverheads stayed with them and tied it one last time at 32 before Carver ended the third with a pair of buckets to lead 36-32.
The fourth quarter started out with an unfortunate play that we certainly hope was not intentional. The Big Red had the alternating possession arrow to start the period but before they could do anything with it, Elijah Dunlap took a hit to the mouth close to midcourt, which stunned him enough for the Carver defender to take it in for an uncontested lay-up and a six-point lead.
That kind of set the tone for the rest of the game and Carver soon had its biggest lead of the night at 47-34. To that point, Riverheads had enjoyed no success at all from behind the arc, another contributing factor to the loss. The Gladiators, who have hit as many as ten in a game this season, simply could not buy one tonight.
Adam Painter finally broke through around the four minute mark to cut the lead back to ten, and moments later Dunlap hit one to trim the lead to 7, but Carter was able to salt it away.
Both teams will advance to state play but I have not had time yet to research who and when they will play. However I am pretty sure that neither will play until about this same time next week, which is a period of rest both can likely use after playing on back to back nights.
Dunlap and Grant Painter tied for high scoring honors for RHS tonight with 11 each, and Bond was right behind with 9. Later in the evening, back in Greenville, the Lady Gladiators pounded Rappahannock County in their regional semi-final. RHS will now host Altavista tomorrow night for the regional title and the right to host a state quarterfinal. This is believed to be the first year in school history that the RHS boys and girls have advanced to state play in the same season, which should have Southern Augusta County buzzing this week.
