In their first match-up, Riverheads pounded the Chargers by 42 points. They came within a point tonight of matching that winning margin but to their credit, the home team put up a good fight in the first half and the Gladiators needed a 29-6 third quarter to assume full control of the game. They were then able to coast to the win and due to a short JV game, the crowd was filing out into the snow flurries by 8:15.
To say RHS shot well tonight would be an understatement as Henley Dunlap and Will Gardner combined for 55 of the 83 points, one of the best one-two punches we have seen in a long time. As you can imagine there were some three pointers in there, 11 to be exact, as Gardner hit all five of his in the first half and Dunlap hit four in the second after knocking down two in the first. Dunlap finished with (unofficially) a career high 31 points and Gardner matched the season-high 24 he hit Tuesday at Waynesboro. He has averaged 20 points per game over the last five games, four of which have been Big Red victories.
Two other players connected for one triple each, giving the Gladiators a team total of 13 on the night. Ironically it was in this same gym two years ago that the Big Red set a new school record with 14 threes. They later hit 15 in two other games that season to top their own record. So if this year's team, or any future one, has plans to set yet another record for three-pointers, the magic number will be 16.
All nine players scored for RHS tonight, which is always an accomplishment, but the only other one close to double figures was hard-working Joe George, who scored nine points on four shots in the lane plus a foul shot. A 10th Gladiator, J P Crawford, was out of action tonight nursing an injury. He of course was not needed in this one, but if he is unable to come back Monday and Tuesday for the next two games on the Big Red schedule (Stuarts Draft followed by Staunton), then the Gladiators will need more big nights from anyone willing to have one.
Despite the final score and eventual running clock, the Chargers made some noise of their own in the first half. They only have seven guys on the roster and even one of those went out in the first half with what appeared to be a nose injury. But despite Gardner's 21 point outburst in the first half, Bath only trailed 36-30 at the break. I can't name names but number 1 looked to be the quickest and best player tonight for them.
But in the second half, Dunlap exploded for more than 20 of his final total, and when he wasn't splashing down triples, he was running the fast break and earning chances at an old-fashioned three. George also did most of his damage in the second half and the outmanned Chargers were just too tired to keep up, as they only scored six in each of the final two periods.
In the JV game, the Junior Gladiators opened up an early lead, but the Chargers kept it close in the first half, even though they also have just a seven-player roster. But in the second half Riverheads got three pointers from five different players and pulled away to a 45-25 win.
As mentioned above the next game for RHS is a make-up trip to Stuarts Draft on Monday. But of course more snow is in the forecast for Sunday. So who knows, we may end up having to make up our make-up game!
While the Gladiator boys were taking care of business on the road, I believe I heard that the JV girls won their grudge match at home against the Chargers, who only have a JV girls team. If RHS did in fact win, they are 9-1 on the season. They too will face the SD/Staunton combination next week, weather-permitting, with the Lady Cougars coming to Greenville Monday night.
For right now, everyone do what you can to enjoy the nice Friday we are being promised and get ready for the extended deep freeze that appears to be headed our way. Open up those cabinet doors under the sink!
To say RHS shot well tonight would be an understatement as Henley Dunlap and Will Gardner combined for 55 of the 83 points, one of the best one-two punches we have seen in a long time. As you can imagine there were some three pointers in there, 11 to be exact, as Gardner hit all five of his in the first half and Dunlap hit four in the second after knocking down two in the first. Dunlap finished with (unofficially) a career high 31 points and Gardner matched the season-high 24 he hit Tuesday at Waynesboro. He has averaged 20 points per game over the last five games, four of which have been Big Red victories.
Two other players connected for one triple each, giving the Gladiators a team total of 13 on the night. Ironically it was in this same gym two years ago that the Big Red set a new school record with 14 threes. They later hit 15 in two other games that season to top their own record. So if this year's team, or any future one, has plans to set yet another record for three-pointers, the magic number will be 16.
All nine players scored for RHS tonight, which is always an accomplishment, but the only other one close to double figures was hard-working Joe George, who scored nine points on four shots in the lane plus a foul shot. A 10th Gladiator, J P Crawford, was out of action tonight nursing an injury. He of course was not needed in this one, but if he is unable to come back Monday and Tuesday for the next two games on the Big Red schedule (Stuarts Draft followed by Staunton), then the Gladiators will need more big nights from anyone willing to have one.
Despite the final score and eventual running clock, the Chargers made some noise of their own in the first half. They only have seven guys on the roster and even one of those went out in the first half with what appeared to be a nose injury. But despite Gardner's 21 point outburst in the first half, Bath only trailed 36-30 at the break. I can't name names but number 1 looked to be the quickest and best player tonight for them.
But in the second half, Dunlap exploded for more than 20 of his final total, and when he wasn't splashing down triples, he was running the fast break and earning chances at an old-fashioned three. George also did most of his damage in the second half and the outmanned Chargers were just too tired to keep up, as they only scored six in each of the final two periods.
In the JV game, the Junior Gladiators opened up an early lead, but the Chargers kept it close in the first half, even though they also have just a seven-player roster. But in the second half Riverheads got three pointers from five different players and pulled away to a 45-25 win.
As mentioned above the next game for RHS is a make-up trip to Stuarts Draft on Monday. But of course more snow is in the forecast for Sunday. So who knows, we may end up having to make up our make-up game!
While the Gladiator boys were taking care of business on the road, I believe I heard that the JV girls won their grudge match at home against the Chargers, who only have a JV girls team. If RHS did in fact win, they are 9-1 on the season. They too will face the SD/Staunton combination next week, weather-permitting, with the Lady Cougars coming to Greenville Monday night.
For right now, everyone do what you can to enjoy the nice Friday we are being promised and get ready for the extended deep freeze that appears to be headed our way. Open up those cabinet doors under the sink!
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