By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The Goochland County High School Bulldogs came to Fluvanna on Jan. 21, and it looked like it would be a close contest though the first half. The Flucos led at the intermission by only one point 27-26. The second half was a completely different story, as the Flucos started driving successfully to the basket and bombing from the outside. They won the third quarter 22-8 and the outcome was no longer in doubt. The Flucos also outscored Goochland in the fourth quarter by four for a final score of 68-49.
Goochland got off to a good start in the first quarter running to a 6-0 lead. The Flucos responded quickly as senior guard Kobe Edmonds scored on a lay-up and then fed his back court mate junior Bobby Gardner for a thunderous dunk. Junior Lance Bruce then sank two free throws, and the score was tied. Fluco freshman forward Benjamin Denby then scored on a lay-in and Edmonds scored off a steal. Denby had a nice, blocked shot. Gardner scored on a lay-in and the Fluco’s twelve point run gave them a 12-6 lead. The Bulldogs bounced back with six points for a 12-12 tie at the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, Edmonds had six points and Gardner five as the Flucos took a one point lead at the half. The Flucos long range shooting was off in the first half as the team failed to hit a single three-point shot.
In the third quarter, the Flucos started to exert their superiority. Three-point baskets by Edmonds, Bruce and forward Blaise Silverman and several steals by Gardner took the Flucos to a 46-34 lead. Late in the quarter, Edmonds scored on a nice pass from Silverman and Gardner scored off a steal. Junior guard Tyler Coleman added three points at the end of the quarter for the 49-34 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Flucos coasted to the win with Bruce and Coleman both hitting three-point shots. The Flucos won the fourth quarter 19-15. The Flucos were led in scoring again by Edmonds, who had 20 points. Bruce and Gardner both finished with 16, as the Flucos again relied heavily on their talented guard corps to pile up points.
After the game, Coach Heath Bralley noted that his team was a little stale early, which he attributed to very little practice time as a result of school closures due to snow. The Flucos did get it together impressively in the second half. Bralley was happy with the play of his guard trio of Edmonds, Gardner and Bruce and he noted that Denby, his freshman big man, was tough on defense with several decisive blocks, and that Coleman has also been coming on strong of late. The Flucos, who are currently 8-4, have a tough path in front of them with seven games in the next ten school days.
