The Flucos trailed 21-20 at the end of a fast paced, high scoring, first period. Six Flucos scored in the period. Senior guard Ashleigh Harris had five points, as did sophomore guard Kianna Childress. In the second quarter, sophomore forecourt player Kierstan Allen was the Flucos answer to the Knights’ full court press. Allen scored 11 in the quarter, with four baskets and three free throws. Several of Allen’s baskets came on pinpoint passes from Harris. At half-time the Flucos led 35-32.
Unfortunately for the Flucos, the Knights abandoned their pressing defense in the second half and dropped back into a very tight zone defense. The Flucos worked the ball deliberately against this zone, but were unable to find many openings. In the second half, the Flucos recorded only eight points.
Fluco Coach Chad White knew that the Flucos were in for a tough fight in this season opener, as Spotsylvania came in with two very strong forecourt players. As a result, White went with a daring defensive alignment of a triangle and two. This means that two Fluco defenders guarded the Knights’ top players man to man, while the other three Fluco defenders played a three person zone defense. This defensive strategy almost worked. Of course, it created openings for the Spotsylvania players who were not being guarded man to man, but they did not hurt the Flucos.
Late in the third period and early in the fourth, the Flucos may have tired slightly, and the top players for Spotsylvania began to assert themselves. With 1:25 left in the third period the Flucos led 41-40. However, the Knights scored on a fast break and the shooter was fouled. A put back basket on the missed free throw gave the Knights a three point lead. Another fast break basket, just before the buzzer, gave the Knights a 46-41 lead going into the fourth quarter. The final stanza was very low scoring, as the Knights managed to outscore the Flucos 7-2 for the final ten point margin.
Kierstan Allen led the Flucos in scoring with 15 points, while freshman Kate Stutz put in eight points. Harris and Childress both had five, as neither scored after the first quarter. Eight players scored for the Flucos, as Coach White used his bench liberally. It appears that a number of young players will play a key role for the girls’ team this year.
The starting line-up for the season opener included one senior, three sophomores and a freshman.
The girls’ team played at Goochland High School on Nov. 29 and at Liberty-Bealton on Dec. 1. On Dec.4 they hosted Goochland High and on Dec. 5 they traveled to Cumberland High School. Their first Jefferson District game will be on Dec. 21 when they host, the always strong Western Albemarle team.
