Albemarle’s boys basketball team knew it was going to rely on freshmen Austin Katstra and Jake Hahn in a significant way this year.
“We have trouble scoring without them,” said Albemarle coach Greg Maynard. “I think maybe one game one scored eight, but every other game they’ve both been in double figures.”
Hahn carried the load before the break and Katstra took control in the final frame as Albemarle pulled away in the fourth quarter with a 62-53 win over Monticello. The freshmen tandem ended with eerily similar stat lines as Katstra finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks while Hahn checked in with 21 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
The Patriots, who lean on several other young players, struggled in the third quarter after building a 10-point halftime lead. Monticello got the ball into transition and with Jordan Spry and Jayden Nixon back-to-back buckets, pulled to within one point at 42-41 at the end of the third quarter.
“We got caught up in playing their game, taking everything to the hole and getting our shots blocked and up and down, up and down,” Maynard said. “That’s not our game, we don’t have the athletes to play the way and we’ve got to learn that.”
Albemarle settled down and reeled off a 14-0 run to start the fourth that put the game out of reach for Monticello. Hahn and Katstra steadied the ship, scoring 17 of the 20 points in the frame for the Patriots.
“A lot of teams would melt there, especially young teams,” Maynard said. “I’m really proud that they came out in the fourth quarter and re-established control of the game.”
Cory Lesher finished with eight points on the night to go with his four steals while Jawan Carter checked in with six points, four assists and four steals.
The game could potentially serve as a preview of future classics between several of the area’s most promising freshmen. Monticello’s Nixon, also a ninth grader, led the Mustangs with 15 points in a breakout performance and showed that he and the Katstra/Hahn combination could be in for a series of battles over the next few years.
Savion Thomas also got into double figures for the Mustangs with 12 points on the night, including a 6 for 8 night at the charity stripe. During Monticello’s third quarter run, six different Mustangs contributed to the scoring outburst.
Monticello has a quick turnaround as they take on Spotswood Saturday at 3 p.m. while Albemarle will take a week off before entering holiday tournament play with a clash against Amelia.
