Cougars keep on rolling
Patrick Hite,
phite@newsleader.comPublished 1:12 p.m. ET Jan. 27, 2018
TWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE
LEXINGTON - Apparently shooting 3s in the morning isn't any more difficult that doing it at night, at least for Stuarts Draft.
The Cougars knocked down 16 3s Saturday in its 92-72 win over Floyd County, the first game of day two in the Rock the Ribbon Roundball Shootout at Rockbridge County High School. The game tipped at 11 a.m., one of six games scheduled for Saturday after three games were played Friday night
The win was the sixth in a row for Stuarts Draft, and the ninth win in the last 10 games. Draft improved to 12-6 overall with only three games, all in the Shenandoah District and all at home, remaining in the regular season.
Draft coach Mike Gale feels good about that situation, but pointed out that they could lose to any of the teams — Wilson Memorial, Luray and Lee High — left on the schedule. Draft did lose to both Wilson and Lee earlier in the season.
As for the hot streak that his team is currently on, Gale said it takes a while for the players, especially the ones that are new to the varsity team, to buy into his system of a fast-paced offense that is heavy on 3-point shooting, and pressure defense that thrives on turnovers.
"We kind of have an idea of everybody's role now and they do as well," Gale said. "They know what they're capable of and what they're supposed to be doing to help this team. We're getting a contribution from everybody. We've gotten our legs under us and we're able to sustain longer shifts and not wear down as much."
Stuarts Draft's Colin Williams (3) shoots over Floyd County's Austin Gallimore (50) Saturday at Rockbridge County High School in the Rock the Ribbon Roundball Shootout. (Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
Draft led by eight after both the first and second quarters, but it was a 26-5 third-quarter run that allowed the Cougars to take control of the game.
"I was pleased with our second-half start there," said Gale. "We kind of ran them down a little bit. We hit some shots there, but we were offensively rebounding. That was the important part there, getting the boards."
Mark Rodgers led the way for Draft with 22 points, including nine in that third quarter. Antonio Ruiz-Haynes had 17 points and Tyler Goodwin finished with 11 points. Eleven different Cougars scored in the game.
It was the ninth time this season that Draft scored more than 90 points. They threatened the Rock the Ribbon scoring record of 103 points, which was set by Altavista against Stuarts Draft in 2014, the first year of the event.
It was a busy week for Draft, which also beat Buffalo Gap and Stonewall Jackson this past week.
Stuarts Draft's Antonio Ruiz-Haynes drives to the basket Saturday morning at the Rock the Ribbon Roundball Shootout at Rockbridge County High School. (Photo: Patrick Hite/The News Leader)
"We got a little sloppy there in the fourth quarter," Gale said. "I'm a little concerned about that, but we'll take this and move on to next week."
Draft returns to district play Tuesday, hosting Wilson Memorial. Draft is 10-3, tied with East Rockingham and a half game ahead of Wilson, which was at Luray Saturday night.
