The Stuarts Draft Cougars and Riverheads Gladiators, Augusta County rivals located only seven miles apart, took turns tonight with scoring surges but the homestanding Cougars had the one that mattered most when they scored nine points in a row early in the fourth quarter to snap a 42-42 tie as they held on to win 58-51. With the win, the Cougars climbed into a fifth-place tie with Riverheads as each finished 3-7 in the highly-competitive Shenandoah District.
Riverheads actually held the upper hand for major parts of the game and at times looked as if they would sweep the season series. They led 12-9 after the first quarter, put together a 10-point string of their own to grab their largest lead of the game at 24-17, and still led 31-27 at the break.
As the third quarter unfolded, the Gladiators scored first to go up 33-27 but then SD started to make its move. The home team went on to outscore RHS 15-6 to lead 42-37 after three. At that point it might have looked as if the Cougars would run away with things but the Big Red scored the first five points of the final period to forge one final deadlock at 42.
The Cougars' decisive 9-point run seemed to happen in a matter of about 60-90 seconds and ironically once they moved out to their 51-42 advantage, each team went stone cold and the score stayed there for about three minutes of clock time. Finally a D'ante Gray steal and lay-up broke the ice and gave RHS a glimmer of hope at 51-44 but a quick Cougar triple registered the first and only double digit lead of the game for either team.
Even though time was not on their side, the visitors did not give up and scored five in a row to make it 54-49 with roughly 30 seconds left. (The clock on the livestream was never accurate tonight and would only change a few seconds at a time.) SD was then able to salt the game away with four final foul shots.
I have not seen a media report on the game yet but my unofficial scoring had Gray and teammate Adam Painter each with around 16 for RHS and point guard Ryan Farris in the 8 point range. No idea about Cougar scoring since there was no PA announcer keeping up informed. However, the Cougar season has been basically defined by games won with Jo'el Howard in the line-up, but a number of frustrating losses while he was out injured. So clearly the senior was the glue that held them together.
I don't have anything official on this but I assume the Cougars are out of the post-season discussion due to that string of losses suffered midway through the season. Riverheads however does make the field for the 1-B playoffs, although this loss tonight drops them down a notch to the number three seed. They will now travel to Rappahannock County on Tuesday.
The Cougar JVs won the prelim but the Lady Gladiators evened things up by taking both games in the girls doubleheader played in Greenville. The Riverheads girls hold down the number one seed in Region B and are likely considered the favorites to take the title and advance to state play.
Elsewhere in the Shenandoah tonight, the Fort Defiance boys took a surprisingly easy 12-point win at Wilson to clinch the regular season title, but both those teams will advance to the Class 3, Region C playoffs. Their season series was just one of several in the district this year where winning on the road was easier to achieve than defending one's home court.
Also Buffalo Gap tamed Staunton tonight and last I heard the Bison were still in the running for the Class 2, Region B playoffs. The Storm might be as well. So even though the regular season is over and football is just around the corner, there is still some unfinished basketball business for just about every school in the district with their boys or girls team and in some cases both still in action next week. Stay tuned as we wrap up what has been a very wacky but memorable season!
Riverheads actually held the upper hand for major parts of the game and at times looked as if they would sweep the season series. They led 12-9 after the first quarter, put together a 10-point string of their own to grab their largest lead of the game at 24-17, and still led 31-27 at the break.
As the third quarter unfolded, the Gladiators scored first to go up 33-27 but then SD started to make its move. The home team went on to outscore RHS 15-6 to lead 42-37 after three. At that point it might have looked as if the Cougars would run away with things but the Big Red scored the first five points of the final period to forge one final deadlock at 42.
The Cougars' decisive 9-point run seemed to happen in a matter of about 60-90 seconds and ironically once they moved out to their 51-42 advantage, each team went stone cold and the score stayed there for about three minutes of clock time. Finally a D'ante Gray steal and lay-up broke the ice and gave RHS a glimmer of hope at 51-44 but a quick Cougar triple registered the first and only double digit lead of the game for either team.
Even though time was not on their side, the visitors did not give up and scored five in a row to make it 54-49 with roughly 30 seconds left. (The clock on the livestream was never accurate tonight and would only change a few seconds at a time.) SD was then able to salt the game away with four final foul shots.
I have not seen a media report on the game yet but my unofficial scoring had Gray and teammate Adam Painter each with around 16 for RHS and point guard Ryan Farris in the 8 point range. No idea about Cougar scoring since there was no PA announcer keeping up informed. However, the Cougar season has been basically defined by games won with Jo'el Howard in the line-up, but a number of frustrating losses while he was out injured. So clearly the senior was the glue that held them together.
I don't have anything official on this but I assume the Cougars are out of the post-season discussion due to that string of losses suffered midway through the season. Riverheads however does make the field for the 1-B playoffs, although this loss tonight drops them down a notch to the number three seed. They will now travel to Rappahannock County on Tuesday.
The Cougar JVs won the prelim but the Lady Gladiators evened things up by taking both games in the girls doubleheader played in Greenville. The Riverheads girls hold down the number one seed in Region B and are likely considered the favorites to take the title and advance to state play.
Elsewhere in the Shenandoah tonight, the Fort Defiance boys took a surprisingly easy 12-point win at Wilson to clinch the regular season title, but both those teams will advance to the Class 3, Region C playoffs. Their season series was just one of several in the district this year where winning on the road was easier to achieve than defending one's home court.
Also Buffalo Gap tamed Staunton tonight and last I heard the Bison were still in the running for the Class 2, Region B playoffs. The Storm might be as well. So even though the regular season is over and football is just around the corner, there is still some unfinished basketball business for just about every school in the district with their boys or girls team and in some cases both still in action next week. Stay tuned as we wrap up what has been a very wacky but memorable season!
