By Allan Kha / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
The semantics behind free throws are simple — they are the “charity” points and “free” opportunities that can determine games. Free throws ultimately determined the Jefferson District matchup between Monticello and Fluvanna Tuesday evening, which the host Mustangs won 28-27.
Sophomore guard Bridget Holleran hit the second of two free throws with 7.4 seconds remaining in the game to put Monticello up 28-27. Monticello (RECORD) had been down 27-21 to Fluvanna only five minutes earlier, but clawed back due to the heroic efforts of Holleran and freshman guard Kristin Histand.
The game had been square at 27-21 Fluvanna for around five minutes until Histand hit a contested three-pointer with 1:45 remaining in the game to close the Flucos’ lead to three points. Histand then hit another three-pointer 24 seconds later, tying the game at 27 a-piece.
The two teams alternated leads in the first and second quarters: Monticello led 4-2 at the end of the first quarter, while Fluvanna led 10-9 at the end of the second quarter.
“[Histand] really stepped up and made some amazing three-point shots. That got us back in the game,” Monticello coach Mike Mountjoy said. “It was a tough shooting night overall for both teams, but players like [senior forwards] Maggie Echols and Brittany Haun did all of the little things like screening that helped us win tonight.”
Holleran–who tied as Monticello’s leading scorer in the game with senior wing Taylor Paige and Histand, all with six points — added: “I come in ready to set up the offense and ready to score. We just had to step up in crucial situations and execute, and we did.”
Fluvanna head coach Chad White, on the other hand, was left rueing the missed opportunities his team gave up from the charity stripe. The Flucos took numerous trips to the free throw line in the last five minutes of the game, but made too few to win the Jefferson District game.
“In the beginning of the game, we were able to get ahead because we made shots. [Monticello] did well fronting our post players so we were contained to shooting and making shots,” White said. “We just didn’t make shots in the end, and I think it’s fair to say that we lost because we couldn’t shoot our free throws either.
Brianna Burruss led Fluvanna with 9 points.
