Coach Munro Rateau commented after the game that Western “made their three pointers this time” and that “they also made their free throws at the end.” Western also utilized its size advantage on the inside very well. Rateau felt his team played extremely well against a very tough foe noting “this may have been our best game of the season.” It was an intense and very well played game with few turnovers, and the outcome was in doubt most of the way. The Jefferson District semi-finals and finals were played this year at the districts’ newest facility, the Fluvanna County High School gym.
The game opened with the Warriors burying a three pointer from the side. They followed with two free throws and an inside lay up to jump into a 7-0 lead. Fluco senior guard Brad Bullock hit a jump shot to get the Flucos on the board, but the Warriors answered with another three pointer to make it 10-2. The Warriors biggest lead in the quarter was 11. Late in the quarter Fluco sophomore Vinnie Agee, the Jefferson District Player of the Year, got his game going and the Flucos pulled to within one on an Agee three pointer with 1:30 remaining. However, Western fought back every time the Flucos closed the gap. In this case, two quick baskets gave the Warriors a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The tempo picked up a little in the second quarter, as both teams scored 21 points. Agee had ten in the quarter for the Flucos, and sophomore Jalen Harrison converted six free throws. The Flucos actually inched into the lead late in the quarter when Agee hit a lay up to make the score 33-31 for Fluvanna. Unfortunately, the Warriors again ended the quarter strong, with a 9-2 run that made the score 40-35 at the half.
The third quarter was more of the same, with both teams battling for every point. A highlight for the Flucos was a nice pass from Dale Ludwig to Harrison for an impressive dunk, but the quarter ended with a three pointer by Western, a three pointer by Agee, and another three by Western for a score of 59-49 going to final stanza.
In the early minutes of the fourth quarter, the Flucos cut the lead in half. Then a three pointer by Ludwig and two free throws by Harrison brought the Flucos within two.
But, Western answered with a three point shot and a steal that resulted in an open lay up, and the Warriors had a lead they would not relinquish. In the final minutes the Flucos fouled to try to cut the gap, but the Warriors were up to the task and did not miss their free throws. The result was a final score of 83-77. Agee led the Flucos in scoring with an impressive 30 points. Harrison had 19 including 13 free throws. Bullock had 12 and seniors Ludwig and Dashon Tibbs had nine and seven respectively, coming off the bench.
Western Albemarle came into the game as the number one seed in the district, based on an 8-2 regular season record. The Flucos were the second seed with a 7-3 regular season record. Both teams will now move on to Region II tournament play. Coach Rateau said that the Flucos with play next on Tuesday (Feb. 19) in Winchester against the Handley High School Judges.
The Flucos reached the Jefferson District final by beating the Monticello
Mustangs in the semi-final on Feb.12 by a score of 65-55. In a game that went back and forth most of the way, Rateau noted that in the fourth quarter “Harrison really took over.” The Flucos trailed by one after three quarters, but won the final quarter 26-15. Harrison led the way with 27 points including 11 in the final quarter. He took the ball to hoop relentlessly and either scored or was fouled. When he went to the line he converted, making five free throws in the quarter. Agee also had his usual outstanding game, contributing 24, including four three pointers, and Rateau noted he was very pleased with the point guard play of junior Dorian Butler who “handled the defensive pressure very well.”
