By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Dec. 21 — The Luray boys basketball team got off to a sluggish start last Thursday at home against Madison, but then dominated the Mountaineers in the second half by a 2-to-1 margin. The comeback fell just short as the Bulldogs lost their second-straight district matchup, 45-44, after a single free throw went through the net with no time left on the clock.
Madison County senior William Acton Jr. lead all scorers with 22 points on the night — all in the first half. Acton scored 12 of Madison’s 19 points in the first quarter, and 10-of-13 in the second frame. The visitors would hit five of their seven three-pointers in the first half.
The Mountaineers jumped out to a 19-8 lead in the first quarter and hit 50 percent from the floor. Luray committed five turnovers in the first frame, while shooting 3-for-13 from the floor. The Bulldogs would only hit one-third of their shots in the second quarter, while Madison drilled a trio of three-pointers. The Mountaineers lead 32-18 at halftime.
After the break, the game completely flipped. Madison would only hit four field goals for the rest of the game, starting off the third quarter 0-for-7 from the floor and starting off the fourth quarter 0-for-9. Acton did not hit a single basket in the final 16 minutes of the game. Luray went from 28 percent shooting in the first half, to over 50 percent in the second.
Senior Ryder Liscomb and freshman Ayden Haddock lead the Bulldogs with 12 points each, and a combined 15 points in the second half. In the final two frames, Luray outscored Madison 13-6 and 13-7 to almost make up the 14-point deficit from halftime. Haddock hit the basket that tied the game at 38-38 with 5:20 left in the game. That basket was part of a 14-0 Luray run extending through a majority of the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs lead 44-41 with 2:30 left on the clock.
While Madison only scored its first basket of the fourth quarter with 2:53 left in the game, that three-pointer by junior Isaiah Humphrey (his only points of the game) brought the Mountaineers within one at 42-41. Luray quickly followed up with a basket by sophomore Matthew Owens to go up by three, but the Bulldogs would not score another point.
Madison senior Bryce Breeden hit one of two from the free throw line with 1:20 left on the clock to make it 44-42. Senior Maxwell Lohr hit the tying basket with 54 seconds remaining to knot things up at 44-44. Lohr then went to the line with :00.3 left on the clock and hit the first of two free throws to win the game.
Lohr finished the game with eights points, followed by Breeden with six. Madison’s 4-0 run in the final 80 seconds of the game would prove to be the difference — and they only scored a total of seven points in the fourth quarter.
Behind 12 points posted by Luray’s Liscomb and Haddock, senior Christian Lentz added eight points, while sophomore Connor Hilliard had six.
Next up, Luray (4-3, 0-2) will travel to Quicksburg to take on the Generals of Mt. View in its third Bull Run District matchup on Wednesday, Jan. 3. Madison (4-3, 2-0) travels to Spotswood on Thursday, Dec. 28 for a holiday tournament.
For full schedules, rosters and standings — check out the Bull Run District website.
•••
RELATED ARTICLES
Bulldogs tame Wildcats, 58-45, to earn fourth-straight win
Bulldogs put up solid fight against talented Eagles in season-opening loss, 66-60
Be the first to comment