By Logan Riddick / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
Culpeper opened its quarterfinal contest in the 2012 Daily Progress/NBC29 Holiday Classic at Charlottesville with a 21-9 run, and cleaned up on the glass in the fourth quarter to secure a 59-58 win and advance in the winner’s bracket.
“We came out a little flat,” said Charlottesville coach Mitch Minor. “I thought our guys did a good job [getting back into it]. I can’t knock the effort.”
Senior guard Nik Stewart paced the Blue Devils to their early lead with nine first-quarter points. The Black Knights finally woke up with a transition basket as the quarter ended, and CHS built momentum into a 17-2 run to take a 26-23 lead with 2:36 left in the first half. Isaiah Green and Jordan Saylor each converted three-point plays during the quarter and Green led the Knights at the break with nine points.
“We hadn’t touched the basketball since [the 21st],” said Culpeper coach James Thompson. “I think we just relaxed too much with that lead. Then we thought the same thing could happen anytime we wanted to turn it on and get another lead, and it didn’t. That’s hats off to Charlottesville; they made it tough to get the ball up court.”
Leading 31-29 to start the third, Charlottesville extended its margin with a fast-paced quarter. The Black Knights took their largest lead when, in the last minute, sophomore guard Mica Girstantas hit a three and followed up on defense by converting a steal-and-score to put CHS up 49-41.
“One of the guys gave him a good pass to get to the basket and make a layup,” said Minor. “Then they hit him on a three, wide-open, and he hit it and that was clutch for us.”
The Blue Devils flipped their switch on again, coming back with a 13-0 run over the first 5:10 of the fourth quarter. Senior forward Anthony Banks was huge on the boards with a handful of offensive rebounds that extended possessions or directly led to Culpeper scores. In a sequence with just under six minutes remaining, he grabbed two offensive misses, scored while being fouled, and completed the three-point play. He finished the scoring run to put the Blue Devils up 54-49 with a rebound and bucket with 3:10 to go.
“Coach tells me to get rebounds, and that’s all I do,” said Banks.
Over the next two minutes, Girstantas and Stewart (off another Banks rebound) traded threes. Down six, Charlottesville senior forward Darius Watson drew a foul attempting a three with 1:01 left. He hit the first two shots, but was whistled for a lane violation on the third. He then drained a three on the Knights’ next possession to close within one. Stewart missed the front end of a one-and-one for Culpeper with 31 seconds left, giving Charlottesville a chance.
With only four team fouls on the board, Culpeper gave one with 11.7 seconds left. They appeared willing to give another, but Charlottesville quickly moved into the paint. However, the Knights lost control of the ball, costing precious seconds until officials whistled a held ball with 1.2 on the clock. The arrow favored the Knights, who were out of timeouts; however, Culpeper gave CHS a break by calling one of their own. On the ensuing play, a lob pass intended for Watson was strongly contested, and the ball caromed off the left edge of the backboard as Culpeper escaped with the victory.
“We had what we wanted,” said Minor. “The set we had I thought was good. Unfortunately, it hit the side.”
Watson led Charlottesville with 15 points, while Girstantas added 14 off the bench. Stewart posted a game-high 21 for Culpeper, while Banks turned in a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards, the vast majority on the offensive end. Junior guard Henry Butler added 17 points, nine rebounds, and four steals, helping balance the Black Knights’ running style.
“We didn’t do a good job of boxing out, which is something that I’ve been preaching for the last four or five games,” said Minor. “I think that was the biggest difference in the game, again, tonight.”
In Friday’s games at Western Albemarle, Charlottesville (3-5) will face Heritage (Lynchburg) in the consolation bracket, while Culpeper (8-1) takes on William Monroe (8-1) in the semifinals. It’s a familiar path for Banks and the Blue Devils, and they are focused on bringing a title back up Route 29 to Culpeper in 2012.
“The past three years we went to Championship, so hopefully we can do that again and actually win this time, because last year we were runner-up,” said Banks.
