Combs puts up game-high 19 points in district loss
By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, Jan. 16 — The Page County Panthers outplayed Strasburg on Thursday night…for one quarter. The Rams won the other three periods, including complete dominance over the home team in the second half. Behind a game-high 19 points from sophomore Gavin Dellinger, Strasburg captured the district road win, 60-43.
After falling behind 15-11 in the first eight minutes, Page County shot 80 percent from the floor (8-for-10) in the second quarter, hitting five three-pointers and only committing one turnover. However, the Panthers would turn the ball over 14 times during the game and only hit three field goals in the second half.
Sophomore Thomas Louderback and junior Dawson Richards each hit a pair of triples in the second quarter that fueled a 21-10 run. The Panthers built up a seven-point advantage, 32-25, at the half. Up to that point in the game, Page County was hitting 57 percent of their shots and only committed five turnovers. In the second half, however, Page turned the ball over nine times and only hit 18 percent of their shots, including an 0-for-7 drought in the fourth quarter.
Page County’s Caden Combs matched Dellinger with a game-high 19 points to lead the Panthers, with 15 of those points coming in the first half. The junior started the game by scoring eight of the Panthers’ 11 points in the first quarter. While Page County’s overall shooting for the game leveled out at 40 percent, the Panthers did well at the line all night, hitting 7-of-8. Combs went 6-for-6 from the stripe.
Strasburg outpaced the Panthers 20-8 in the third quarter and 15-3 in the fourth. Behind Dellinger’s 19 points, the Rams got 15 from senior guard Takhi Coates. Overall, the Rams shot 53 percent from the floor and went 16-of-23 (70 percent) at the foul line. Strasburg only turned the ball over five times all night, and only once in the second half.
Behind Combs’ 19 points, the Panthers were also lead by Richards with nine and Louderback with six. The Panthers finished nearly nine points below their previous season scoring average of 51.6 points per game. Prior to the Strasburg game, Page was allowing opponents 57.2 ppg. The 43 points posted on Thursday was the Panthers’ lowest point total of the season.
Next up, Page County (2-2, 6-6) will travel to Luray (3-0, 7-2) on Wednesday, Jan. 22 for a 6 p.m. tip-off. The boys kick-off Wednesday’s cross-county rivalry double-header, with the girls scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
Strasburg (2-1, 5-4) will next play the Bulldogs as well, at home this Saturday, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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