By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The Flying Fluco boys’ basketball team hosted a strong and athletic Albemarle Warriors squad Jan. 7. The unusual Monday game was a rescheduled game that was snowed out in December.
The Flucos under Coach Jason Davis played a tough and intense game. They were even with the Warriors 18-18 at halftime and only slipped slightly behind in the third quarter, trailing 26-30 with a quarter remaining.
Unfortunately, the Flucos simply ran out of steam and the Warriors ran up 24 points in the fourth quarter for a 33-54 win.
In the first quarter the Flucos got three-point baskets from sophomore forward John Boy Rittenhouse and freshman point guard Kobe Edmonds. Albemarle recorded the final basket of the quarter on rebound put back for a two-point lead at 10-12.
The second quarter started with Edmonds making a clean steal near mid-court and driving in for a lay-up. Albemarle recorded two free throws and another rebound basket to go up by four. The Flucos responded with a lay-in by junior center Malachi Hill, and a left-handed lay-in by Rittenhouse. Hill’s basket came off a nice pass from junior guard Emory Davis. Edmonds then scored a lay-up and the Flucos led 18-16. Two free throws by the Warriors tied the score with 1:40 left in the quarter. Neither team was able to score again as the clock wound down.
Albemarle opened the third quarter with a seven-point run. The Flucos could have let the game get away at that point, but they continued to compete hard and they made a mini-comeback. Senior forward Drew Pace made a steal and was fouled. He made both free throws. Albemarle made one of two from the line and Edmonds again made a steal and took the ball to the basket for a lay-in. The Warriors made one of two from the line and junior forward Leukas Koczan scored on a lay-up and the Flucos were within three. Albemarle followed with three of four from the line to stretch the lead back to six. Edmonds ended the quarter by making a driving lay-up to cut the deficit to four.
In the first two minutes of the final quarter, Albemarle only increased its lead by a point. However, in the last six minutes the roof fell in for the Flucos. Albemarle started getting steals and fast break lay-ins and the Flucos were outscored 2-18 in those final minutes.
After the game, Davis noted that he was pleased with the intensity of his team’s play. He commented that Albemarle is a very solid and athletic team. It would have been quite an upset if the Flucos had held on for a win.
Edmonds again led the Flucos in scoring. He had a well-balanced game with five in the first and fourth quarters and four in the second and third quarters. Rittenhouse contributed seven and Koczan had four. Davis said that junior center Walter Stribling, a strong rebounder, is out injured for the rest of the season.
