Bulldogs won the first half, but lost momentum in second
By Randy Arrington
STUARTS DRAFT, Feb. 28 — For the second time in four days, the Luray girls basketball team almost played the part of “giant killer.” With a record of 8-13 and only winning one of their previous five games, the sixth-seeded Bulldogs defeated No. 3 Strasburg (18-7) in a region quarterfinal on the road Tuesday night. In Friday’s semifinal, Luray was in a one-possession game with No. 2 Stuarts Draft (20-4) until the final 30 seconds.
The late season surge by the Bulldogs can not only be credited to the outstanding play of freshman sensation Caroline Donovan, Luray’s leading scorer, but also to the improved play of everyone around her, especially on defense. On Friday night, the Cougars were held to their lowest point total in 24 games this season… on their home court.
Luray held Draft to just three buckets and a total of nine points in the first half of Friday’s region semifinal. The Cougars shot a meager 16 percent from the floor and committed five of their eight turnovers of the game in the opening two frames. Luray’s stingy defense forced bad, hurried shots and did not allow Draft to get into a flow offensively.
The biggest lead of the game came midway through the second quarter when Luray was up 12-4. The Bulldogs only hit 24 percent from the floor themselves in the first half, but they dropped a trio of triples — including two from Donovan — and lead 12-9 at the half.
Luray would only hit two buckets in the third and lost the lead with 4:38 remaining in the quarter. Stuarts Draft went to the charity stripe four times and went six of eight from the line. Sophomore Ava Flippen scored five points during the period for the Cougars, including a three-pointer, while Luray committed five turnovers. Despite an 11-6 run by the home team, Draft only lead by two heading into the fourth, 20-18.
The final frame remained close the entire way, with the difference never exceeding five points. Despite two lead changes in the opening minute of the fourth — one prompted by Donovan’s third three-pointer of the night — the Cougars stayed just ahead of Luray and took advantage of five crucial turnovers by the Bulldogs in the final five minutes.
Stuarts Draft again went to the line four times in the fourth and hit five of eight from the stripe. Luray trailed by just one possession, 28-25, until Flippen hit two freebies with :29.5 left on the clock. The Cougars won the final quarter 10-7 and capped off a narrow, 30-25, win to advance to the Region 2B title game.
Donovan lead Luray with a game-high 10 points, followed by fellow freshman Emily Benson with six. Overall, the Bulldogs shot 27 percent from the floor and hit 33 percent from the line, while committing a total of 15 turnovers. Luray closes out an up-and-down season at 9-14 — and just one win, almost one possession, from a ticket to the state tournament.
The Cougars were lead by Flippen with nine points, followed by senior Brennan Drumheller with six. Overall, the home team shot just 16 percent from the floor and hit 72 percent at the line, while committing eight turnovers.
No. 2 Stuarts Draft (20-4) now faces off with top-ranked Clarke County (22-4) for the Region 2B championship at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Shenandoah University. The Eagles knocked off No. 4 Central (15-11) in Thursday’s semifinal, 63-36.
The boys Region 2B championship between No. 3 Luray (19-7) and No. 1 Central (24-3) will follow with an 8 p.m. scheduled tip-off.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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