Page girls fall to Madison, boys need win at Luray to host first round

By Randy Arrington

SHENANDOAH, Feb. 8 — The Page County High School girls basketball team suffered a tough Bull Run District loss at home Tuesday night to Madison County, 49-45. The loss drops the Panthers to 7-8 in the district and 9-11 overall.

Page County was lead by senior Caris Lucas, who posted a game-high 17 points. Sophomore Bailee Gaskins had a solid game with 10 points on the night, including the last six points for Page in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 45-45. Senior Gracie Mason scored seven points, including two three-pointers, while sophomore Adryn Martin had five.

Both teams came out of the gate strong shooting around 50 percent from the floor, but Madison was able to take a slight 16-13 lead after the first quarter. Page flipped the script and outscored the Mountaineers 10-5 over a sluggish eight minutes in the second frame. The Panthers held a narrow 23-21 lead at the half.

Madison again flipped the momentum and went on a 16-8 run in the third quarter as Page went cold from the floor, hitting only 14 percent of their shots. The game had been tied eight times before the Mountaineers began to build a lead late in the third. The visitors carried a 37-31 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Panthers made a great final push in the fourth, as Mason lead-off with a three-pointer and Lucas followed up with five more points. Gaskins would score the final six points for Page and hit the basket that tied the game at 45-45 with only 48 seconds on the clock.

As Madison drove down the court on the ensuing possession, senior Kate McLearen found the bottom of the net and gave the Mountaineers a two-point lead. Page then turned the ball over with 15 seconds left, and a late foul would allow McLearen to add two more to the margin for the 49-45 district win.

With the win, Madison moves to 8-5 in the district and 12-5 overall. The Mountaineers were lead by McLearen with 16 points, followed by senior Dy’Ehisa Tyler with 11 points and sophomore Ava Jenkins with 10. Madison has three games remaining — a home/away series with Rappahannock on Thursday and Friday, before hosting Luray in the regular-season finale on Saturday.

The Panthers have only one game remaining — a rematch with cross-county rival Luray on the road Friday night. On Jan. 14, Luray beat Page on its home court, 66-43. On Tuesday night, Luray went on the road and defeated Strasburg — the No. 2 team in the Bull Run and the No. 8 team in Virginia’s Class 2, according to MaxPreps.com — by a dominating score of 59-17.

Friday night’s rivalry games at Luray will offer a double-header, with the girls tipping off at 6 p.m. and the boys starting around 7:30 p.m.

For full schedules, rosters and standings — check out the Bull Run District website.

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The PVN Sports broadcast crew selected

Caris Lucas and Kate McLearen

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

Lucas lead the Panthers on Tuesday night with a game-high 17 points, while McLearen lead the Mountaineers with 16 points. Lucas, a senior, is headed to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg next year to study nursing and play women’s basketball for LHS alum Jenny Logan Posey, who is in her fourth season as the Royals’ head coach.

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Page boys need a win Friday at Luray to host first round in district tournament

SHENANDOAH, Feb. 9 — Since their 65-56 win at home over county-rival Luray on Feb. 2, the Page County High School boys basketball team has gone 3-1 and moved up in the Bull Run District rankings.

Last Thursday, the Panthers beat Clarke, 72-63, at home. The game was tied 33-33 at the half, but Page County put together a 23-point fourth quarter and pulled ahead for good. Senior Dylan Hensley lead the way with 23 points, followed by junior Hayden Plum with 13 and senior Caden Good with 12.

On Friday, Page County hosted Mt. View and took a 75-51 district win behind 18 points from senior Ricky Campbell, including a trio of three-pointers. Once again, the game was tied at the half, 24-24, but Page again finished strong with 30 points in the third and 22 in the fourth. Senior Caleb Knighton had a stellar game with 17 points on the night, including five three-pointers. Junior Jacob Williams had 12 points on the night.

On Monday night, the Panthers traveled to Clarke and dropped a district matchup, 78-64. Page lead 31-30 at the half, but trailed by seven at the end of the third. The Eagles were able to double that margin in the final frame with 21 fourth-quarter points and finished the night with four players in double figures. The Panthers also put four players in double-figures and were lead by Campbell with 18, Hensley with 14, Good with 13 and Knighton with 11.

On Tuesday night, Page County had more success at Madison County and picked up a low-scoring, 49-39, district win on the road. The Panthers lead 27-10 at the half and never looked back, including a 19-point fourth quarter. Campbell posted 21 points, followed by eight from Williams and six from Good.

Since starting the season at 0-7, the Panthers have gone 8-6 and currently sit on the bubble for hosting a quarterfinal Bull Run District tournament game on Monday. Page County is currently 7-8 in the Bull Run and 8-13 overall. If they beat Luray on the road Friday night, the Panthers will lock in fourth place and home court advantage for the first round of the district tournament. Tip time Friday in Luray is about 7:30 p.m. and will follow the girls varsity game at 6 p.m.

For full schedules, rosters and standings — check out the Bull Run District website.

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