Panthers lead entire way, until Bulldogs’ 15-4 run in final frame
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Feb. 14 — Freshman phenom Caroline Donovan lead Luray to a fourth-quarter comeback in a 45-38 Bull Run District win over rival Page County on Friday night. Donovan scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the decisive final minutes, including three shots from beyond the arc.
“She played huge… She trusted her work and was continuing to shoot. She was struggling there for the first two-and-a-half quarters,” Luray High School girls basketball coach Joe Lucas said following Friday’s win. “When she scores, it seems to come in bunches…once she hits one, it’s huge momentum for us.”
The Bulldogs went on a 15-4 run in the final eight minutes. During that final frame, Page only hit two field goals, never made a trip to the foul line, and went scoreless for the final 4 minutes and 40 seconds. Luray got the visitors in foul trouble and took five trips to the charity stripe in the final two minutes. Even though they would only go 4-for-10 at the line, it was enough to secure the win.
“They hit some shots, and we had some shots that we didn’t hit,” Page County High School girls basketball coach E.J. Wyant said. “Our girls played really hard…that’s what we talked about in the locker room…I can’t fault their effort at all.”
The Panthers outscored the home team for three straight quarters, but Luray was never down by more than seven points. Page County junior Kahlei Shifflett recorded two buckets and senior Karleigh Austin hit from the floor and the line to give the Panthers a 9-7 edge after the first quarter. Freshman Emily Benson put up four points, while freshman Lakin Vile hit a triple in the first frame.
The freshman duo of Benson and Donovan combined for nine points in the second quarter, as Luray tied the score up twice at 14 and 17. However, Page was able to stay just ahead due to six points from sophomore Lindsay Babb and another five from Austin. The Panthers held a three-point lead at halftime, 22-19.
The third quarter was much of the same — Page held the lead throughout, but Luray was never down by more than seven. Benson added two “traditional” three-pointers for Luray in the third, while Page sophomore Adi Caton had eight points for the Panthers.
“We’ve been on her all year to try to look to score more, and over the last month she’s playing well on both ends of the court, which is what we needed from her,” Coach Wyant said of Caton after Friday’s game. “I think early on she was a little timid on offense, but now she’s looking to score on offense, which is what we need…and I think that showed over the last month.”
The Panthers carried a 34-30 lead into the fourth quarter, but could only manage two field goals in the final eight minutes. After only hitting one shot all game, Donovan scored 11 consecutive points for Luray during one stretch in the fourth quarter. The freshman ended the night with a game-high 19 points, with 14 coming in the fourth. Benson ended the night with 14 points. Four other Bulldogs had three each. Overall, the Bulldogs hit 44 percent from the floor, only 39 percent from the line, and committed 19 turnovers — 16 in the first half.
“We were able to get some stops and get out in transition a little bit which I think helps our offense, with our half-court offense we struggle sometimes,” Coach Lucas said of Friday night’s performance. “We took care of the basketball and got to the foul line a bunch, I think those were the keys. We were able to get to the foul line and get stops, and therefore be able to sorta speed them up on defense and sorta climb our way back into the game.”
Page County was lead with 10 points from both Austin and Caton. Junior Ali Purdham posted eight points, while Babb had six and Shifflett added four. Overall, the Panthers hit only 24 percent from the floor, while making 85 percent from the line. Page committed a dozen turnovers, with nine coming in the first half.
“I thought they really got after it,” Coach Wyant said of his team on Friday. “Maybe we ran out of gas toward the end, I don’t know…I think more than anything, [Luray] just made some plays.”
Both teams will sit out of the shortened Bull Run District tournament next week, but both should resume action the following week during the Region 2B tournament. The Bull Run only took the top four teams this year. Both of Tuesday’s semifinals will be held at Clarke County High School in Berryville, with the 6 p.m. tip-off featuring No. 2 Strasburg (17-5) versus No. 3 Central (14-8), and the 7:30 p.m. tip-off featuring No. 1 Clarke (17-4) versus No. 4 Rappahannock (14-7).
The district championship is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20 at the highest remaining seed, with the junior varsity championship at 6 p.m., and the varisty title game to follow at 7:30 p.m.
Given the most recent rankings in VHSL Class 2, it appears that Luray (8-13) may enter the Region 2B tournament as a No. 6 seed (TBD). Regardless of the specific seeding, the Bulldogs will be on the road in the region quarterfinals, and Coach Lucas feels Friday’s win came at a welcome time, ending a four-game losing streak.
“It’s big just for some confidence…probably the last game on our home court this year, so it’s big for our girls to be able to win one going into the playoffs,” Coach Lucas said. “Now, we’ll hopefully have a handful of practices before our next game…so, I think it’s really important for us to go into those practices with some momentum and some confidence.”
Page County (6-17) in on the bubble, but will likely get a No. 8 seed in the Region 2B tournament and have to travel to No. 1 Clarke County (17-4). It’s been a tough year for the Panthers, losing two seniors to injury before even the midway point of the season and trying to mold a lot of younger, inexperienced players.
During a close loss to Rapp, 57-50, last Friday, the Panthers honored their injured players on Senior Night with an uncontested basket for both to start the game. A great team effort came up just short that night and again this Friday night, but Coach Wyant feels his team has come a long way after enduring a lot.
“I’m just proud of ’em…our seniors have just been impressive all year,” Coach Wyant said. “Karleigh, our lone senior that can play… she really busted her butt and worked hard all year. Our two [seniors] that can’t physically play are still with us mentally. They are both on the bench, providing energy and talking to the girls, and I just really appreciate that …and that’s kinda what we want our program to be about, that type of mentality and attitude.”
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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