Luray falls to Central in district title game, 61-57

February 21, 2025 PVNPublisher 0

Luray High School boys basketball — LHS senior Blake Jenkins drives to the basket during the Bull Run championship at Central on Feb. 20. Jenkins finished the title game with 19 points.

Owens and Jenkins combine for 39 points; six locals earn All-District

By Randy Arrington

WOODSTOCK, Feb. 20 — The Bulldogs gave the No. 5 team in the state all they wanted on Thursday night, but Luray came up just short down the stretch in the Bull Run District championship at Central. On Tuesday, Luray will host rival Page County in their fourth meeting this season — third in 12 days — in the quarterfinals of the Region 2B tournament.

Luray’s three matchups with the top-ranked Falcons of Central have grown progressively more competitive. On Feb. 4 in Woodstock, the Bulldogs fell by 22 points. Four days later, Luray lost by only six at home. The margin in the district championship was four. In the final seconds of the title game, only one point separated the top two seeds.

The Bulldogs went on a 13-8 run in the first quarter behind seven points from junior Matthew Owens. Luray played flawless basketball and held Central to only five points in the first seven minutes of the game. The Falcons shot 27 percent from the floor, despite hitting two threes.

Luray built up a 10-point lead at 21-11 midway through the second quarter. Central then went on a 15-2 run in the final four minutes of the first half behind six points from junior Joseph Pan. The Falcons went to the half up 26-23.

The third quarter opened with two ties and two lead changes as Luray and Central traded baskets. Owens recorded back-to-back three-pointers, while Pan answered back with one of his own. The Falcons’ Dereck Batiz Lugo hit another three, and he and Pan went 4-for-4 at the line to build a 38-29 lead with 4:36 left in the third. Then it was Luray’s turn to go on a 11-4 run behind five points from senior Blake Jenkins. Central ended the third quarter up 44-40.

Pan put up eight points for Central in the first four minutes of the final frame, and the Falcons held a 54-50 lead with 4:05 left. Jenkins put up eight points of his own during the same period to keep Luray close. The championship bout was a one-possession game for most of the final four minutes. Each team seemed to trade baskets as Central’s margin fluctuated between one to three points. A bucket by Owens made the score 58-57 with just 35 seconds left. Luray had an opportunity to tie the game on their final possession, but turned the ball over with 4 seconds left on the clock. The Falcons finished off their claim to the Bull Run title at the foul line, winning 61-57.

Central was lead by Pan with 26 points, while junior Haiden Click had 11. Lugo, the Bull Run District Player of the Year, was held to just five points. Overall, the Falcons shot 40 percent from the floor, 76 percent from the line, and committed 13 turnovers.

Luray was led by Owens with 20 points and Jenkins with 19. Sophomore Ayden Haddock added 10. Overall, the Bulldogs shot 46 percent from the floor, 75 percent from the line, and committed nine turnovers (six in the second half, and four in the fourth quarter).

Following the championship game, All-District selections were announced with six locals earning recognition. Owens and Jenkins were named to the Bull Run first team, along with Caden Combs and Isaac Foltz of Page County. Second team selections included Luray’s Connor Hilliard and Page County’s Dawson Richards.

Central (22-3) will be the No. 1 seed heading into the Region 2B tournament. The Falcons will host No. 8 Riverheads (11-12).

No. 2 Luray (17-7) will face off again with No. 3 Page County (13-9) for the third time in 12 days during the quarterfinal round.

Region 2B Boys Basketball Tournament ~ Quarterfinals Tuesday, Feb. 25