Panthers drop district opener to Madison, 56-45

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Page County High School
PCHS junior Isaac Foltz is guarded by Madison senior Isaiah Humphrey during Friday's Buill Run District opener. Foltz posted a game-high 21 points, while Humphrey lead Madison with 17.

Foltz puts up 21 points in losing effort

SHENANDOAH, Dec. 20 — The Page County Panthers lost their early momentum on Friday night and dropped their Bull Run District opener to Madison County, 56-45. Despite a game-high 21 points from junior Isaac Foltz, including 13 in the second half, the Mountaineers outscored the Panthers in each of the final three quarters.

Page County shot 55 percent from the floor in an 18-6 run over the opening eight minutes. Five different Panthers scored, including a pair of three-pointers and a 4-for-4 effort at the line. Madison senior Isaiah Humphrey hit the Mountaineers only field goal in the first quarter (a triple), while senior Laham Carpenter went 3-for-4 from the line.

The second quarter flipped the script, as the Mountaineers went on an 18-6 run behind a trio of triples. After hitting a triple of his own in the first quarter, Page County sophomore Thomas Louderback went down with an injury in the second frame, leaving an already thin Page bench with only two players to rotate into the game. Both teams committed eight turnovers in the first half, and the score was knotted up at 24-24 at halftime.

Madison exploded for a 15-7 run in the third quarter, once again behind a trio of triples, including two from Humphrey. The Panthers went cold — 1-for-9 from the floor — and committed five turnovers in eight minutes. Foltz scored all seven of Page County’s points in the frame and went 5-of-6 from the line. The Mountaineers carried an eight-point, 39-31, advantage into the fourth quarter.

Most of the shooting in the final frame was done from the charity stripe. Madison went 8-for-12 in free throws in the fourth, while Page hit 40 percent at 4-for-10. The Panthers got some momentum back in the fourth, but it was too little too late. Madison won the quarter, 17-14, and capped off a 56-45 win to open play in the Bull Run.

The game shifted between the second and third quarters, where the visiting Mountaineers outscored the Panthers 33-13 over those 16 minutes. Turnovers were fairly even during the game, and both teams had a player foul out. When junior Dawson Richards fouled out with 1:05 left in the game, Page was down to six players and Foltz had four fouls.

Foltz lead all scorers with 21 points. Junior guard Caden Combs put up 13 points for the Panthers, while senior Ace Campbell added eight. Heading into Friday night’s game, Page County was averaging 53.8 points per game. Overall, the Panthers shot 59 percent from the line (13-of-22) and 36 percent from the floor (15-of-42).

Humphrey lead Madison with 17 points, including four triples, while junior Jacob McLearen had 10. Seniors Alex van de Graaff and Carpenter both added eight points, and junior Aidan Foster had a solid night at point guard with seven points. The Mountaineers put put 14 points more than their previous season average of 42 points per game. Madison hit 40 percent (16-of-40) from the floor and 70 percent from the line (16-of-23).

Up next, Page County (0-1, 4-3) faces Skyline and Fort Defiance in a holiday invitational on Dec. 21, 28 and 30; before returning to district play and traveling to Stonewall Jackson on Friday, Jan. 3.

Madison County (1-0, 2-7) resumes play after the holidays by hosting Luray on Friday, Jan. 3.

For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.

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