The Gladiators spotted Nelson the first score of the game here tonight, but then reeled off 13 points in a row and coasted from there. For the most part, it was kind of a ragged game with so many fouls called that it kept either team from getting into much of a rhythm.
But RHS Coach Chad Coffey had to be pleased to use his entire rotation as much as he did, and 9 out of 10 scored on the evening. In fact there were some surprises in the scoring totals. For the first time this season, the Big Red was not led by one of its freshmen phenoms, Grant Painter or Braeson Fulton. They each had their usual fine floor game, but Painter only tied for second in scoring with 9 and Fulton finished with only 4.
Instead the only Gladiator in double digits was senior floor general Brett Hostetler. He had been a little rusty so far this season (football jet lag maybe?) and this was his best overall game. I had him for 16 tonight, although the local paper says 15. Whatever the case, if he can come along as a third scoring threat to go along with the other two, that will only make the Gladiators more versatile on offense.
Because of the frequent subbing and extra playing time, some crowd favorites also enjoyed a big night. Jalen Brown, a quick junior point guard, opened the fourth quarter with an old-fashioned three-point play and added another pair of foul shots to finish with five; and reserve center Forrest Shuey almost single-handedly finished out the game for RHS as he scored all nine of his points in the latter half of the fourth quarter, including a 7 out of 8 effort from the foul line.
Drew Bond and Elijah Dunlap also had nice games with 7 and 6 respectively. As for three-pointers, the Gladiators did not need them tonight, but came up with four, as Hostetler hit a pair, and Painter and Bond each hit one.
With the victory, the Gladiators end 2016 with a more than respectable 4-2 mark, and next week will have three crucial Shenandoah District tilts, as they host Page Tuesday, and then travel to Stuarts Draft and Wilson for Wednesday and Friday night games.
Riverheads also won the JV game tonight 47-30 and the Junior Gladiators are now 3-3 on the season. And if we heard the PA announcer correctly, the Lady Gladiators won 44-3 at Nelson.
But RHS Coach Chad Coffey had to be pleased to use his entire rotation as much as he did, and 9 out of 10 scored on the evening. In fact there were some surprises in the scoring totals. For the first time this season, the Big Red was not led by one of its freshmen phenoms, Grant Painter or Braeson Fulton. They each had their usual fine floor game, but Painter only tied for second in scoring with 9 and Fulton finished with only 4.
Instead the only Gladiator in double digits was senior floor general Brett Hostetler. He had been a little rusty so far this season (football jet lag maybe?) and this was his best overall game. I had him for 16 tonight, although the local paper says 15. Whatever the case, if he can come along as a third scoring threat to go along with the other two, that will only make the Gladiators more versatile on offense.
Because of the frequent subbing and extra playing time, some crowd favorites also enjoyed a big night. Jalen Brown, a quick junior point guard, opened the fourth quarter with an old-fashioned three-point play and added another pair of foul shots to finish with five; and reserve center Forrest Shuey almost single-handedly finished out the game for RHS as he scored all nine of his points in the latter half of the fourth quarter, including a 7 out of 8 effort from the foul line.
Drew Bond and Elijah Dunlap also had nice games with 7 and 6 respectively. As for three-pointers, the Gladiators did not need them tonight, but came up with four, as Hostetler hit a pair, and Painter and Bond each hit one.
With the victory, the Gladiators end 2016 with a more than respectable 4-2 mark, and next week will have three crucial Shenandoah District tilts, as they host Page Tuesday, and then travel to Stuarts Draft and Wilson for Wednesday and Friday night games.
Riverheads also won the JV game tonight 47-30 and the Junior Gladiators are now 3-3 on the season. And if we heard the PA announcer correctly, the Lady Gladiators won 44-3 at Nelson.
