Don't let that score fool you, because the Gladiators were within six points early in the fourth quarter and seemed to have momentum on their side, before the Panthers pulled away to the 14 point win. Even though the loss is disappointing, I was actually quite impressed with the Big Red effort tonight.
They came out focused, energized, and played hard throughout the game. But in the end it came down to a case of Page's 14-man roster, half of whom are seniors, wearing down a team that only dressed nine tonight and started three freshmen. Not only that, but this was a crazy game in terms of lucky bounces. Every game has its share of ricochets, bad passes, etc. but this one had an unusual number of them and it seemed like Page came out on top in just about every case. At times it resembled a pinball machine out there.
Also I would not be a very good Gladiator if I didn't at least mention the officiating. And before I comment, remember last week I actually reported on a game in which I commended them on how GOOD a game they called. But tonight the plain and simple truth is that RHS got precious few chances to go to the foul line, even when it seemed obvious that they should. In one particular case, Elijah Dunlap was headed for a fast break lay-up and was practically drawn-and-quartered when he went up for the shot, yet nothing was called. Seconds later, Page was also awarded the ball on an out of bounds play in which they clearly touched it last.
RHS started out in a slower tempo, no doubt to keep the Panthers from turning it into a track meet. The score was tied at 2, 4, and 6 but when the Panthers hit again, RHS' Brett Hostetler broke that pattern with a triple to give RHS the lead at 9-8. As it turned out, that would be their only lead of the game as Page closed out the quarter on a 5-0 run.
The Panthers gained their working margin in the second quarter thanks to the efforts of a player that I assume is not their usual hero. Correct me if I am wrong, but usually we read about seniors Ryan Cave or Joel McKay leading the way for Page, but for my money tonight, the best Panther on the floor was junior Nathan Myers, all 5'7" of him. He was all over the place and if this basketball thing doesn't work out for him, he may have a career as a pickpocket.
In a stretch of about 30 seconds, he stole the ball at midcourt and took it in for a three point play. Then at the other end, the Gladiators had 6'6" Austin Craft on his way up for a wide-open lay-up but Myers hustled back and stripped him of the ball before he could score. That sequence helped Page to a 32-19 halftime lead.
The second half was then a see-saw affair of up 12, down to 8, up to 13, down to 10, and so on. Dunlap connected on a pair of threes for RHS and his classmate Braeson Fulton started to warm up as well. The third quarter ended with Riverheads having trimmed three points off the lead for a 46-36 score.
Things then got interesting as the visitors scored the first two buckets of the fourth quarter and suddenly it was a game again at 46-40. The Dunlap assault occurred around that time, and as the game got more physical, the Gladiator fans gave it to the refs that much louder.
The largest Panther margin was 16 and I was going to be annoyed if they were able to win by 20, because that would have totally belied what a good effort the Gladiators really gave. Fortunately it didn't come to that as Riverheads hit a couple more buckets down the stretch to keep it respectable.
Riverheads enjoyed balanced scoring as they have in just about every game this season as Fulton led the way with 17. Dunlap added 10, and Hostetler and Avery Schaefer, who was also manhandled a good bit inside tonight, each added nine points.
The loss drops RHS to a 7-10 mark but they have three games next week that they can quite realistically win (Wilson, Nelson, Stonewall), so hopefully the next team meetings will set a goal to reach that ten-win plateau and go into the playoffs on a roll. The Hornets will be first on Tuesday for Riverheads' Senior Night.
Page also won the JV game tonight by a 63-45 count but RHS was able to make that one interesting as well for a while. Kaden Welcher scored off the opening tip to give Riverheads a 2-0 lead just three seconds into the contest. The spunky eighth-grader later added a triple, as did classmate Adam Painter, and Zach Adams warmed up as well, as RHS led 15-14 after one quarter.
But the Panthers' beefy Tristan Gordon muscled his way inside the rest of the game to score what looked to be 30 points or more as he seemed determined to foul out the entire Gladiator front line. I don't keep individual scoring for our JVs, but looking down the roster I have in front of me, I think at least 11 of them, maybe all 12, dented the scoring column.
They came out focused, energized, and played hard throughout the game. But in the end it came down to a case of Page's 14-man roster, half of whom are seniors, wearing down a team that only dressed nine tonight and started three freshmen. Not only that, but this was a crazy game in terms of lucky bounces. Every game has its share of ricochets, bad passes, etc. but this one had an unusual number of them and it seemed like Page came out on top in just about every case. At times it resembled a pinball machine out there.
Also I would not be a very good Gladiator if I didn't at least mention the officiating. And before I comment, remember last week I actually reported on a game in which I commended them on how GOOD a game they called. But tonight the plain and simple truth is that RHS got precious few chances to go to the foul line, even when it seemed obvious that they should. In one particular case, Elijah Dunlap was headed for a fast break lay-up and was practically drawn-and-quartered when he went up for the shot, yet nothing was called. Seconds later, Page was also awarded the ball on an out of bounds play in which they clearly touched it last.
RHS started out in a slower tempo, no doubt to keep the Panthers from turning it into a track meet. The score was tied at 2, 4, and 6 but when the Panthers hit again, RHS' Brett Hostetler broke that pattern with a triple to give RHS the lead at 9-8. As it turned out, that would be their only lead of the game as Page closed out the quarter on a 5-0 run.
The Panthers gained their working margin in the second quarter thanks to the efforts of a player that I assume is not their usual hero. Correct me if I am wrong, but usually we read about seniors Ryan Cave or Joel McKay leading the way for Page, but for my money tonight, the best Panther on the floor was junior Nathan Myers, all 5'7" of him. He was all over the place and if this basketball thing doesn't work out for him, he may have a career as a pickpocket.
In a stretch of about 30 seconds, he stole the ball at midcourt and took it in for a three point play. Then at the other end, the Gladiators had 6'6" Austin Craft on his way up for a wide-open lay-up but Myers hustled back and stripped him of the ball before he could score. That sequence helped Page to a 32-19 halftime lead.
The second half was then a see-saw affair of up 12, down to 8, up to 13, down to 10, and so on. Dunlap connected on a pair of threes for RHS and his classmate Braeson Fulton started to warm up as well. The third quarter ended with Riverheads having trimmed three points off the lead for a 46-36 score.
Things then got interesting as the visitors scored the first two buckets of the fourth quarter and suddenly it was a game again at 46-40. The Dunlap assault occurred around that time, and as the game got more physical, the Gladiator fans gave it to the refs that much louder.
The largest Panther margin was 16 and I was going to be annoyed if they were able to win by 20, because that would have totally belied what a good effort the Gladiators really gave. Fortunately it didn't come to that as Riverheads hit a couple more buckets down the stretch to keep it respectable.
Riverheads enjoyed balanced scoring as they have in just about every game this season as Fulton led the way with 17. Dunlap added 10, and Hostetler and Avery Schaefer, who was also manhandled a good bit inside tonight, each added nine points.
The loss drops RHS to a 7-10 mark but they have three games next week that they can quite realistically win (Wilson, Nelson, Stonewall), so hopefully the next team meetings will set a goal to reach that ten-win plateau and go into the playoffs on a roll. The Hornets will be first on Tuesday for Riverheads' Senior Night.
Page also won the JV game tonight by a 63-45 count but RHS was able to make that one interesting as well for a while. Kaden Welcher scored off the opening tip to give Riverheads a 2-0 lead just three seconds into the contest. The spunky eighth-grader later added a triple, as did classmate Adam Painter, and Zach Adams warmed up as well, as RHS led 15-14 after one quarter.
But the Panthers' beefy Tristan Gordon muscled his way inside the rest of the game to score what looked to be 30 points or more as he seemed determined to foul out the entire Gladiator front line. I don't keep individual scoring for our JVs, but looking down the roster I have in front of me, I think at least 11 of them, maybe all 12, dented the scoring column.
