Luray hosts Region A runner-up Greenville Tuesday in state quarterfinal
By Randy Arrington
WINCHESTER, March 1 — In this case, the fourth time proved to be a charm. Despite the early-season and pre-game naysayers that were ready to hand Central the regional crown…despite three previous losses this season to the Falcons (the first by 22 points)… the Bulldogs of Luray embraced their underdog status for a second-straight year and took down the No. 1 seed to claim back-to-back Region 2B championships.
“It feels unbelievable…this year when everybody doubted us, everybody thought we couldn’t do it…you can’t beat those guys, you’re not good enough, you don’t have enough…and to come out here tonight and win the way we did, basically from the start…it never really was a game… man, it just feels so good,” LHS head coach Matt Huff said at Shenandoah University on Saturday night.
Once again, the second quarter proved pivotal. However, instead of Central making a 15-2 run like they did in the second frame of the Bull Run District championship a week ago, this time it was Luray who would make a 22-9 run over eight minutes that created a separation the Falcons couldn’t overcome. While the district title bout last week remained close into the final minute, on Saturday night the Bulldogs held a 16-point lead at halftime, and maintained a 16- to 18-point lead throughout the second half.
“We found some things defensively, and we knew we could hold ’em defensively,” Coach Huff said after the game. “It was just about offensively…can we spread it and share it and get the open shots? We spread it, we shared it, and we got the open shots, and we made ’em…and that was the difference.”
Luray hit 52 percent of their shots from the floor, including nine three-pointers and went 8-for-9 from the line. Central only missed one free throw as well (11-for-12), but they only shot 39 percent from the floor and went 3-for-11 during Luray’s big second quarter run.
The Bulldogs opened up the game on a 7-0 run, but the Falcons quickly answered back with a 6-0 run of their own. The first frame was competitive. Both teams shot an identical 50 percent from the floor in the opening eight minutes. Both committed a pair of turnovers. Luray senior Matthew Owens posted 10 of his game-high 22 points in the first quarter. Central only trailed by three heading into the second, 16-13, after a three-pointer and five points from junior Haiden Click.
Luray junior Connor Hilliard put up seven points during the decisive second quarter run. The Bulldogs defense caused a few turnovers and at one point, Luray rattled off a 10-2 stretch that fueled the 22-9 quarter. The Bulldogs carried a 16-point lead into halftime, up 38-22. Central got seven of its nine points from Click, including another triple.
The only quarter that Central would win was the third, 16-13. The Falcons went to the line four times and hit 6-of-7. Senior Luke Williams and sophomore Derek Batiz Lugo combined for 11 points. Luray continued to do well outside the arc in the third, hitting three consecutive three-pointers by Owens, Hilliard and sophomore Ayden Haddock. Luray still lead by 13 heading into the fourth, 51-38.
Luray was able to maintain a sizable margin in the final frame, hitting two more three-pointers in the first three minutes, and hitting 6-of-7 from the line in the final three minutes. The Bulldogs won the fourth 20-17, despite a great effort by Central senior Maddox Davis, who scored 10 of his 14 points in the closing minutes.
Fittingly, senior Blake Jenkins finished off Luray’s scoring at the line, hitting both free throws and capping off a 71-55 win. Owens lead Luray with 22 points, followed by Hilliard with 18 and Jenkins with 17. The trio combined for 57 of Luray’s 71 points. Haddock and senior Jae Frye each added six.
Central was lead by Click with 16 points, followed by Davis with 14 and Williams with 12. Lugo, the Bull Run District Player of the Year, was held to just seven points in the title game.
“All year I subbed a lot of guys, I played all 11 guys pretty much every game…I think it’s kept us fresh,” Coach Huff said of his 20-win season. “We battled through the injuries, battled through the illness and now we’re healthy, and I feel like we’re playing our best basketball at the right time.”
On Tuesday, Luray (20-7) makes their second-straight trip to the VHSL Class 2 state quarterfinals hosting Region 2A runner-up Greenville County (time TBD). Coach Huff is focused on Tuesday night’s matchup, but knows that if they win, the Bulldogs would then face the legendary — and controversial — Justices of John Marshall.
“My goal coming in was to win [another region title] and win that first round of state, and we’re halfway there,” Huff said on Saturday in Winchester.
John Marshall defeated Greenville, 118-59, in the Region 2A championship. The Justices averaged 126.7 points per contest during the region tournament, which surpasses their 105.5 ppg from the 2024 regionals and 113.7 ppg from the 2023 Region 2A tournament.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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