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Bulldogs headed to Bull Run title game after 68-44 win over Central

February 17, 2022 PVNPublisher 0

By Randy Arrington

LURAY, Feb . 16 — The Luray High School girls basketball team is headed to the Bull Run District championship on Friday, after a 68-44 win over Central of Woodstock in Wednesday’s semifinal.

Luray senior Emilee Weakley once again lead the way with a game-high 31 points, including a 10-for-12 effort at the free throw line. Senior Amber Tharpe started slow from beyond the arc, missing her first five shots — but the senior didn’t stop shooting the long ball and ended the night with 12 points on four three-pointers. Junior Jaidyn McClung posted 11 points on the night, while senior Lexi Vile added six.

The fourth-seeded Falcons hung tough in the opening quarter, only trailing 14-10 at the end of the first. Central sophomore Makenna Painter put up six points in the first, including 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.

After making only four field goals in the first, the Bulldogs caught some traction midway through the second period and went on a 15-3 run at one point. Luray carried a 34-22 lead into the half.

The Falcons could only muster three shots in the third, as the Bulldogs outscored them 28-8 over those eight minutes. Through the first three quarters, the Luray defense created most of Central’s 22 turnovers (10 in the first quarter). The No. 1 seed lead 62-30 heading into the fourth quarter and the starters were headed to the bench as they cruised to a 24-point victory.

The Falcons were lead by senior guard Emma Eberly with 16 points, followed by Painter with nine. With the loss, Central (10-8, 15-9) now awaits its seeding for next week’s Region B tournament, which kicks off on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

With the win, top-seeded Luray (17-1, 21-2) advances to the Bull Run District Tournament championship on Friday. As the higher seed, the Bulldogs will host the title game, which tips off at 7:30 p.m. [Please note the time, which was initially reported incorrectly.] The Bull Run District JV Championship will tip-off at 6 p.m. between Clarke and Strasburg.

On Friday night, Luray will face No. 3 Clarke (12-6, 15-7), who defeated No. 7 Rappahannock, 42-31, in Wednesday night’s other district semifinal. Rapp was able to upset No. 2 Strasburg in the quarterfinal round, and now awaits its seeding for the Region B tournament at the 1A level next week.

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The PVN Sports broadcast crew selected

Emilee Weakley and Emma Eberly

as the Blue Ridge Bank “Players of the Game“.

Weakley lead the Bulldogs on Wednesday night with a game-high 31 points, including a 10-for-12 effort at the free throw line. Eberly lead the way for the Falcons with 16 points.

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Bull Run District Tournaments

Quarterfinals (GIRLS) — Monday, Feb. 14