By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The Fluvanna boys’ basketball team topped the Western Albemarle Warriors in Crozet on Saturday (Jan.16) in a close battle by a score of 65-61. Unfortunately, it was a different story when the Flucos hosted the Warriors on Jan. 22. The Warriors are tall and strong and they proved to be too much for the Flucos this time, as they won all four quarters and gradually pulled away to a 57-44 win.
The first quarter of the game was a seesaw affair. Fluco junior guard Maurice D’Alessandra had an early three-point basket and scored eight in the quarter. Senior forward John Rittenhouse had five. Those were all the points the Flucos scored in the quarter. The Flucos took a 13-12 lead late in the quarter when junior guard Kobe Edmonds hit D’Alessandra with an excellent pass for an easy lay-in. Unfortunately, the Warriors ended the quarter with five quick points for a 17-13 lead, that they never relinquished.
In the second quarter the Flucos got three-point baskets from Rittenhouse and Edmonds. D’Alessandra was fouled on a three-point shot and made all three free throws. Xavier Copeland made a strong drive for a lay-up. The Flucos cut the lead to one on several occasions, but the Warriors again ended the quarter strong outscoring the Flucos 9-2 in the final minutes, for a 36-27 half time lead.
The third quarter was a low scoring affair as the Warriors outscored the Flucos 10-8. Rittenhouse and Daniel Campbell made three point baskets for the Flucos and D’Alessandra made two free throws. The Warriors used their height to jam up the middle and the Flucos were unable to score a single basket in the quarter from in close.
The fourth quarter was much like the third as the Fluco offence was unable to get into gear and the Warriors again outscored the Flucos by two 11-9, for a final score of 57-44. Edmonds had a three-point basket, but the Flucos missed eight free throws in the quarter.
The Flucos were led in scoring in this game by D’Alessandra and Rittenhouse who contributed 14 and 13 respectively. Edmonds chipped in with seven. The Fluco boys are now 5-2. After the game, Coach Heath Bralley noted that his team was a little beat up, but acknowledged that it also did not play its best. He noted that “you can’t take a day off in District competition.”
On Saturday (Jan. 23) the boys’ team ran its record to 6-2 by topping Goochland County for the second time this year, by a score of 62-45. The Flucos were scheduled to host Monticello on Jan. 26., and travel to Albemarle High on Jan. 27. On Jan. 29 they are scheduled to host Orange County. The abbreviated regular season is scheduled to end on Feb. 1 at Charlottesville High. In light of the COVID-19 situation, it is hoped, but not certain that all these games can be played. The attendance at games is still strictly limited and few but the players parents are allowed in.
