As well as Western Albemarle’s defense looked with Sam Chisholm and Will Mason cleaning up underneath the basket in the first half, it wasn’t satisfied with the result. The Warriors only dialed it up to a different level to open up the second half on the road against Monticello. Surrenduring just two points in the third quarter, Western took it’s solid lead into the break and turned it into a runaway victory, 59-33.
“I thought we played pretty good defense, especially in that third quarter,” said Warriors coach Darren Maynard. “I was impressed with that win, couldn’t ask for more than that.”
Setting up the big third quarter was a tremendous start in the second. The Warriors went up 8-2 in the first and saw Monticello stay within three possessions of the lead. A 7-0 run led by Chase Stokes changed that and gave his team a 14-point lead to play with just two minutes into the frame. Western went into the break up 31-18.
“We talked about wanting to get off to a good start and then again at halftime for sure, that we felt the first four minutes of the third quarter would be huge,” Maynard said.
It was. What offense Monticello was able to muster up in the first half — much of it thanks to Sam Colusuonno off the bench — all but evaporated after halftime. The Warriors forced turnovers on the wing and saw it’s big men block shots and own the glass. With Stokes firing on all cylinders and Ryan Ingram and Jake Maynard chipping in, Western outscored its host 17-2 in the third.
“We were a little upset that we gave a couple of easy put backs and just buckled — that’s where the third came from,” Stokes said. “(Offensively), sometimes it’s Sam’s night, sometimes it’s Jake’s or mine. It’s really whoever has the hot hand and who’s open. It just happened to be my turn tonight.”
Western’s bench was able to finish out the game and keep the Warriors first place standing in the Jefferson District in shape with it’s third straight victory since falling to Fluvanna County two weeks ago.
Stokes led all scorers with 19 points. Michael Vale came off the bench and put in nine points, the bulk of those at the free throw line in the fourth. Ingram, Mason, Maynard and Chisholm each finished with six points.
For the Mustangs, Colusuonno had a team best seven points. Jordan Spry put up six points.
Western hosts Louisa County on Tuesday before heading for a big showdown at Charlottesville on Friday.
Monticello will look to bounce back by hosting Orange County on Tuesday and then traveling to Albemarle on Friday.
