You have likely seen the score in the other thread, so you are aware that WC pulled out a 51-38 win, but it was certainly an odd game. You have heard the expression "two different halves" and that was certainly the case tonight.
In the first half, everything seemed to go the way of the visiting Gladiators. They controlled the tempo, they shot the ball well, especially from behind the arc, they seemed to get every loose ball, and the referees were calling just about everything in favor of RHS. At one point, the team fouls were 7-1.
Bennett Dunlap knocked down two triples in the first two minutes and neither of them appeared to even make the net move. Then after WC got a little bit of offense going and clawed back to within 17-13, the Gladiators' other sharpshooter, Ryan Farris, drained two from long range in the final minute of the first half to send Riverheads into the locker room with a 23-13 advantage. At that point, quite frankly the Generals had shown little or no signs of any real offensive rhythm and the Gladiators appeared to have things well under control.
But the second half was almost completely the opposite. WC came out of the locker room and promptly went on a 12-2 run to forge the first tie of the game at 25-25. They took their first lead of the game at 27-25 and quickly padded it to 29-25.
I can't give you any names because there was no program or play by play guy, but Number 12 suddenly came to life from behind the arc, and the big guy (0) started to assert himself inside. Riverheads however hung in there a little bit longer and scored six in a row to regain the lead at 31-29. Moments later RHS' Tye Morris became the third Gladiators to score from the bonusphere as he put the Gladiators on top for the last time at 34-32 to end the third period.
The fourth quarter was then All Generals and a nightmare for Riverheads. After tying the game at 34, the Generals banked in a triple (I think it was either number 2 or number 5 that did the honors) and the sheer luck of that shot told you that this was going to be their night.
They scored six more in a row to take a 43-34 lead as Riverheads went the first six minutes of the period without scoring. The referees who had been so kind to the guests in the first half completely reversed themselves as well in the second half, but in all honesty, they were pretty much on target because the two Gladiators that fouled out did so in desperation as they were trying to play catch-up.
I think Riverheads did get back to within 45-38 as the clock ticked inside the final minute, but the Generals were able to salt it away from the foul line. WC will now travel to Buffalo Gap Thursday night for the Region 1-B title game but more importantly a berth in the state tournament will go to the winner of that one.
As you may remember, Riverheads just spoiled the Bison's Senior Night Friday night with a 51-48 victory, so if WC plays the entire game the way they did the second half tonight, they will have a chance in that one. But playing that far away from home, and thinking about the Bison's overall record (I think they are something like 17-5) I will have to go with the home team in that one.
With tonight's disappointing loss, the Big Red finishes the season at 9-11. However, they had their moments as they also own a victory over defending state champion Parry McCluer. And as I have documented for you throughout the year, RHS was right in the middle of at least half a dozen other games in which they held the lead in the fourth quarter but could not get the job done. What do you want to bet that next fall the first words out of Coach Weller's mouth when practice starts will be "Guys, this year we need to focus on FINISHING games?"
For Gladiator fans, the season is not over yet as the Lady Gladiators earned the number two seed for the 1-B playoff and as such will swing into action tomorrow night against the third-seeded Lady Bison. The winner of that one advances to Friday's regional final and also to the state tournament.
The Gladiators swept both games from BG during the regular season, so the atmosphere in Greenville should be rocking. Since that one starts at 6:00, you can come out to the game and still get home for most of the Hoos/Hokies TV doubleheader.
