This game was closely contested throughout. Neither team ever gained a decisive advantage. In the first quarter, the Flucos opened a quick 7-2 lead, as Childress made a lay-up, two free throws and a three point shot. Charlottesville came back with two baskets to make it 7-6, but Childress answered with another three point shot and finished the quarter with one of two from the line. The quarter ended with score: Childress 11, Charlottesville 10. No one can be expected to keep up that pace of scoring, and of course Childress did not.
In the second quarter, Charlottesville’s pressing defense and overall size advantage started to take their toll. Late in the quarter, the Black Knights had edged into a 21-16 lead. However, sophomore Fluco guard Bri Harris drained a three point shot from the left side, and Childress converted on both ends of a one and one, to bring the Flucos back to a 21-21 tie at halftime.
The third quarter turned out to be the Flucos undoing. The Black Knights opened with a rebound and put back, followed by a three point basket and they were up by five. A free throw made it a six point run. Fluco sophomore forward Kate Stutz answered with a lay-up and free throw for a traditional three point play, and the score was 27-24 for the Black Knights halfway through the quarter.
Another three point shot, a put back basket and a driving lay-up gave Charlottesville a ten point lead. At that point, the Black Knights had outscored the Flucos 13-3 in the quarter. Fortunately, Childress responded for the Flucos with a three point basket and a coast to coast drive for a lay-up to cut the lead in half. The third quarter ended with the Black Knights on top 34-29.
In the fourth quarter the Black Knights scored the first four points to stretch their lead to nine. However, Fluco forward Morgan Symmers responded with a three point basket and Stutz scored off a steal to bring the margin down to four. Unfortunately, the Flucos could not put together a run, and Charlottesville bumped the lead back to eight.
However, the Flucos did not fold. Two free throws by junior forward J. P. Elliot and another three point shot by Childress got the Flucos to within two at 42-40 with 1:34 remaining. The Black Knights then converted two clutch free throws to make it a two possession game. Symmers got to the free throw line, and made one of two to make the score 44-41.
The Black Knights tried to hold the ball, but Childress, playing fierce defense, forced a five second violation. The Flucos brought the ball down and tried to set Childress up for a three point shot that could tie the game. Unfortunately, Charlottesville defended well, and Childress was forced to take an off-balance shot at the buzzer that failed to drop.
The Fluco girls’ team is now 5-7 overall and 2-4 in Jefferson District play. On Jan. 14 they traveled to Waynesboro and on Jan. 16 they play at Orange County. Their next home game will be on Jan. 21 when they will host Albemarle High School.
