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Charlottesville boys top Western in wild third meeting

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One was trying to avoid a 3-game regular season sweep, the other looking to remain tied at the top of the Jefferson District standings. That’s what was on the line before you throw in the basic rival elements of Western Albemarle and Charlottesville meeting up on Thursday night. In game that yo-yoed back and forth, in the last two minutes of the game, the Black Knights were able to put together one last surge, and one that stood as the edged the Warriors 53-48.

 

“We didn’t panic, guys kept their composure — in fact, I think we played a real smart game tonight,” said Charlottesville coach Mitch Minor. “I was happy overall (with the defense) but one thing that bothered me was the amount of free throws we gave them… It’s tough to help on (Western) because they have such good shooters that if you help off, they’re going to kick it, and if you leave them open, they’re going to hit them.”

 

With two minutes and change left, the Warriors took their 1-pont lead and made it four when Chris McGahren knocked down a 3-pointer — Western’s only field goal of the fourth quarter. The Warriors got the ball back after a CHS turnover, but from their they went on to commit three straight turnovers of their own.

 

After the first Western miscue, an illegal screen Caleb Gage made it a 2-point game after his dribble and drive came through. Then after an errant Western pass, Gage worked inside, kicked out and Jaylen Hudson knocked down a 3-pointer to give CHS the lead by one with just over 30 seconds to go. The their third straight turnover, the Warriors were forced to foul. Gage hit a pair of free throws to make it a 3-point game. Western returned the favor with Ryan Ingram knocking down two foul shots on the ensuing possession. The Murray Hill went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe for Charlottesville, which set up Western’s last possession. Ingram’s 3-point attempt with less than 10-seconds to go just barely missed, and while the Warriors came up with the rebound and put-back attempt, it kicked out too and the Black Knights picked up the rebound and shot some more foul shots to wrap up the win.

 

“It was crazy,” Gage said. “This was big, we needed this win to get our confidence.”

 

Until the finish, the game was about Charlottesville’s start and Western’s finish to the second quarter. With their patented press in full effect, the Black Knights took a 10-2 advantage a little more than midway through the first quarter.

 

“We knew we had to come out strong because we’ve been coming out flat,” Gage said. “That gets us in too much of a hole and we just did not need that against Western. We knew we had to come out from the jump.”

 

With it’s outside shooting on point, Charlottesville led 17-10 in the second quarter before the Warriors mounted a 13-7 run to make it a 1-point game heading into the break, 24-23.

 

“I told my guys I was proud of their effort, I think you have to tip your hat to (Charlottesville) because they made some shots,” said Western coach Darren Maynard. “Sometimes that happens. I think it was a pretty darn good basketball game.”

 

The third saw the Warriors go up by as many as four before their host knotted things up at 34-34. It was back-and-forth with the lead changing multiple times before things were again tied up, this time at 41-41 with four minutes to go. That set up the furious finish.

 

“I thought we were in pretty good shape being up by four late their in the fourth,” Maynard said. “Before we got hit with the illegal screen, I thought they were going to have to foul us and put us on the line. But the momentum turned and they hit their shots.”

 

For Charlottesville, Gage led the way with his 13 points, four assists and two steals. Murray Hill, who battled foul trouble much of night, finished with 12 points. Tyreek Ragland had nine points. Hudson finished with six points. Kajuan Stinnie led CHS with five rebounds.

 

Western was paced by Ingram’s 19 points, 11 of which came on at his 13 free throw attempts. McGahren chipped in 10 points, all of which came in the second half and nine of which came from beyond the arc. Carrington Murphy had six points. The Warriors went 8-for-8 at the foul line in the fourth quarter and were 9-for-10 in the second half.

 

The Warriors

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