Charlottesville’s boys basketball team has a little more height this season and on Tuesday night in the Black Knights’ season opener against Covenant, CHS leaned on those new additions to pick up a 64-51 win.
“We’re a tad bigger than last year but still pretty small,” said CHS coach Mitch Minor. “But when we get opportunities to score like that around the basket we have to finish.”
The Black Knights got 16 points out of 6-foot-3 junior Khalil Vest and another eight points from 6-foot-4 Kajuan Stinnie against the Eagles. Combined with solid backcourt play from Murray Hill and Caleb Gage as well as an early long-range assault from Jaylen Hudson who had four first half 3-pointers, the Black Knights appear primed for another strong season.
Murray had 11 first half points for Charlottesville while Gage distributed nicely throughout and hit four of six free throw attempts in the fourth quarter to help Charlottesville seal the win and keep Covenant at bay.
“I thought we played pretty well,” Minor said. “We have two points guards and they both handle well and they both defend pretty well. Either one can penetrate and shoot. When we spread the floor it’s awfully hard for (the defense) to stop them one on one.”
Throw in the fact that DeAndre Bryant should be back soon for the Black Knights, giving CHS an experienced, versatile post threat, and things can get interesting quickly. Charlottesville’s temporary lack of depth was apparent against Covenant as the Eagles clawed out of a 41-22 hole at the break to get within three possessions in the fourth quarter.
Matt Shobe led that second half surge, scoring 13 of his 14 points for Covenant after the break. Sam Walkup set the pace for the Eagles with 15 points on the night. Devan McAuley had nine points for the Eagles.
Charlottesville will jump into Jefferson District play next week as the Black Knights hit the road to take on Powhatan. Covenant will play at the Western Albemarle High tip-off tournament Friday night against Jefferson Forest.
