The Jefferson District has provided many great basketball matchups already this season. Tuesday night was no exception, as Louisa’s Boys basketball team hosted Albemarle and picked up a 55-49 victory
“I believe this year the district is pretty even, on any given night, any team in the district can beat you home or away, so it feels good to get this win,” said Louisa coach Robert Shelton. “Both teams played last night and used a lot of energy tonight so I know we were tired toward the end of the game, but it was good to pull this out because it prepares you for later in the season and playoff time.”
Louisa was able to survive this battle with the Patriots because of huge contributions from Jarett and Buck Hunter as they combined for 38 points.
In the first quarter, it seemed like Louisa would take control of the game, playing some stifling defense and finding a lot of success driving the basketball. Buck Hunter was a near unstoppable force in the quarter, putting up 10 of his 18 points in the opening frame. The Lions built a 14-7 lead to the second. In the second quarter, the Patriots began to show some life, and at one point tied the game at 23 on the strength of their offense and their ability to convert at the foul line. They shot 7-9 from the line as a team in the quarter. But after tying it, the Lions nailed a couple of threes, and went to the break leading 29-24.
In the third after Louisa scored the opening bucket, the Patriots went on a 10-0 run. During that run, it was the Josh Morse show. Morse scored Albemarle’s first eight points of the run, and had 11 of his 20 in the quarter. This helped the Patriots take a lead, and they kept it for a while with the buckets they were getting off of offensive rebounds.
The Lions needed someone to step up to the plate and help them regain control of the game. That someone came in the form of Jarett Hunter.
“In past years, they’re a team that gets out early in the first quarter and build a big lead, and we’re usually fighting back, but recently we’ve built that lead and they fought back, so when they went on that run it was more normal than anything because that’s what we’re used to when playing those guys,” Hunter said.
The Patriots had their run, but Hunter brought his team back, scoring 9 of his 20 points in the third, ending with a buzzer-beating three that gave his squad a 42-39 lead going into the final frame.
The Patriots tried to rally late, getting a couple big threes from Chris Woods, who had 11 points in the game. However, the Lions never trailed again, and came away with a big District win once the final buzzer rang.
Both teams have another matchup Friday, as Louisa will travel to Fluvanna and the Patriots will hit the road to take on cross-county rival Western Albemarle.
