By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
On Feb.17, the Flying Fluco girls’ basketball team traveled to Albemarle High for a Jefferson District play-off game. In a low scoring, hard fought game the Flucos took a two-point lead into the final quarter but could not prevail, as the Patriots outscored them by seven in the final quarter and the Flucos fell out of the Jefferson District play-offs, losing 35-30. Despite the loss, the Flucos qualified for the Region 3C play-offs as the number seven seed, out of eight. They had to play on the road at the number two seeded Charlottesville Black Knights. During the regular season, the Flucos fell to the Black Knights twice by double digit margins. Nevertheless, the Fluco put up quite a battle against Charlottesville.
The Flucos outscored the Black Knights 44-35, if you don’t count the first three minutes and the last three minutes of the game. The game started with Charlottesville making its first two shots, both from three-point range. Two free throws by the Black Knights upped their lead to 8-0 with five minutes to go in the quarter. The Flucos responded with three-point baskets by senior Nevaeh Ivory and junior Nevaeh Bishop. The Flucos trailed 13-9 at the end of the first period. The Flucos outscored Charlottesville by two in the second quarter for a half time score of 22-20. Ivory had six in the second quarter.
The third quarter saw the most offensive production of this very tightly played game. The Black Knights could not pull away as the Flucos fought hard on defense and managed some offensive production as well. The Flucos got three-point baskets in the quarter from Ivory and senior guard Mia Wright. Wright and junior post player Khyariah Davis-Heinrich both scored two baskets inside on some excellent passes. The third quarter ended with the Flucos still trailing 39-36.
The Flucos opened the fourth quarter strong with baskets by Davis-Heinrich and Ivory sandwiched around a Black Knight free throw for a tie score at 40. After a Fluvanna time out, Ivory scored inside on a pass from senior Jules Shepherd and the Flucos led for the first time 42-40. Charlottesville scored on a short jump shot and one for two at the line to regain the lead. Ivory passed to Davis-Heinrich inside for a basket and the Fluco were in the lead again 44-43 with three minutes remaining.
Unfortunately, the Flucos failed to score in the final three minutes and the Black Knights hit two free throws and a short jump shot for a 47-44 win. Ivory led the Flucos in scoring with 21 points. She also had ten rebounds for a double double. Wright finished with nine and Davis-Heinrich had eight. After the game, Coach Chad White was moved by the end of their Fluco careers for his seniors. However, he said that both Ivory and Wright will be continuing their basketball careers at the college level.
In their Jefferson District play-off game at Albemarle, the Flucos fell behind 8-0 at the outset. The first quarter ended with the Flucos trailing by six. The Flucos bounced back in the second quarter with Ivory scoring six and Wright hitting a three. The Flucos trailed by only one at half time 17-16. The third quarter was a grinding defensive struggle that saw the Flucos outscore the Patriots by 6-3. The Flucos led by two 22-20 going to the final quarter. Unfortunately, the Patriots came alive in the fourth quarter to outscore the Flucos 15-8 and record a five-point win. The Flucos were seriously hurt in this game by going only 7 for 24 from the free throw line. Ivory led the scoring for the Flucos with 13, while Wright had seven.
