Albemarle appeared to be in good shape and well within striking distance to pull out a big win at home Friday night against Charlottesville.
“I think it was a 50-50 game there at one time and the next thing I know I look up and we’re down 65-52,” said Albemarle coach Greg Maynard.
Charlottesville pulled away suddenly down the stretch, and in the third meeting of potentially four installments of Albemarle and Charlottesville’s rivalry, the pendulum swung back to the Black Knights as CHS picked up a 65-57 victory over Albemarle.
The squads split their previous meetings — early in the regular season and again in the Holiday Classic tournament. This time Charlottesville had to overcome a second quarter swoon, foul trouble in the post and a seemingly-random technical foul on head coach Mitch Minor in the second quarter to come out with a win.
The Black Knights pressed, scrapped and ran their way out to a 14-point lead in the first quarter, with Kendell Dennis stepping up as the front-man for the press while Mica Girstantas hit a pair of 3-pointers and Leon Straus scored six. Dennis’ length and quickness seemed to give the Patriots problems from the outset.
“I thought he played much better than he’s played in the past,” said Charlottesville coach Mitch Minor. “The only thing I got on him a little bit was he was letting the guy beat him to the spot. But he was big.”
Albemarle cut that lead to just two points by halftime though with Austin Katstra putting together a nine-point second quarter while Juwan Carter also got into a rhythm with six of his 16 total in the frame. Jake Hahn hit a bucket just before the buzzer and the momentum seemed to be on the Patriots’ side going into the break with CHS facing foul trouble in the post as Troy Hughes and Dennis both with three fouls.
“I always tell the guys if you’re in the game play smart but I’m not telling you to play any less aggressive,” Minor said. “I don’t want any silly fouls but I want us in the same type of mode throughout regardless. If you’re in the game, you’ve still got to play hard.”
The Black Knights did just that, but couldn’t pull away during a dismal offensive third quarter, and by the end CHS was up just three points at 47-44. Leon Straus took control for Charlottesville and scored all of the Black Knights’ field goals (they managed just four) in the second half as he finished with 25 points including a trio of 3-pointers.
With Charlottesville hitting enough of their free throws in the final quarter — they finished 28 of 38 on the night — CHS pulled away.
“A few entry passes go astray, some long rebounds that Straus turns into lay-ups or we foul him on the other end and game over,” Maynard said. “We can’t come out and chase them, they’re just too quick.”
Straus was the lone Charlottesville player in double figures, though Caleb Cage and Jordan Saylor each finished with nine. Isaiah Green went a perfect six-for-six from the line for his six points. Cage had several critical steals during the Black Knights’ big first quarter.
Katstra gave Albemarle another huge night with 19 points including a 5-for-6 night at the line. The freshman also showed off a slick hook shot as part of an increasingly impressive arsenal. Hahn finished with eight to help bolster the Patriots’ effort along with Carter’s 16.
Albemarle will get a chance to bounce back when it hosts Fluvanna County Tuesday night while Charlottesville will lock up with Powhatan at home the same night.
