Non-district rivalry went wire-to-wire with 21 lead changes
By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, Dec. 5 — Halfway through a six-game, non-district schedule to open the 2024-25 season, the Page County Panthers sit at 2-1 and seem to have the talent to be a contender in the Bull Run District. The Panthers took their first loss on Thursday night to the visiting Eagles of East Rockingham, 53-51. The non-district rivalry featured 21 lead changes and was tied up nine times.
Six points proved to be the biggest margin between the two non-district rivals. Each team committed a total of eight turnovers during the game, and each had one player foul out in the fourth quarter. Page shot slightly better from the floor and much better from the line, but it was East Rock who pulled out the narrow victory despite going 2-for-6 from the charity stripe in the final minute.
The Panthers leaned on an aggressive game from junior guard Caden Coombs, who posted a game-high 24 points. Coombs recorded 10 of Page County’s 14 first quarter points. East Rock matched that pace through the first eight minutes, 14-14, spreading out the scoring among five different Eagles.
Page junior Dawson Richards fueled a 14-9 run by the home team in the second frame by hitting a pair of three-pointers in the final two minutes before the half. The Eagles only hit four baskets in the second quarter, with five points (including a three-pointer) and a steal contributed by junior guard Caleb Hodgins. Page County lead 28-23 at the break.
East Rock’s 6’5″ forward Michael Smith took over the third quarter. After remaining silent in the first half, the junior put up all of his nine points on the night in eight minutes, including a 2-for-4 effort at the line and a three-pointer. Despite the Panthers going 7-for-10 from the line, the Eagles controlled the third quarter, 16-12, and brought the game within one point, 40-39, heading into the final frame.
Page and East Rock literally traded baskets and the lead six times through the first two minutes of the fourth. Then the Panthers got two consecutive scores to go up 48-45; only to have the Eagles answer back with two consecutive scores to go up 49-48. Senior Ace Campbell scored six of his 13 points on the night for Page in the fourth quarter. East Rock’s Xavia Brown scored the final field goal to put East Rock up 51-50 with 4:03 left in the game. Despite the time on the clock, neither team would score another field goal in the game.
The Eagles went to the line three times in four minutes, and only came away with two points. However, the 2-for-6 performance proved to be good enough, as the Panthers only went to the line once and added only one point.
Overall, Page County shot 41 percent from the floor (17-of-42), including a 50-percent effort in the first half (11-of-22). East Rock hit only 36 percent of their shots (21-of-59), including a 10-of-32 effort in the first half (31 percent). The Panthers also hit 53 percent from the line (9-of-17), compared to 33 percent for the Eagles (14-of-21).
In addition to Combs’ game-high 24 points, Page County was lead by Richards with 13 points and Campbell with eight. East Rock was lead by junior guard Tyson Hindle, who was quietly consistent throughout the night with 14 points. The Eagles got 12 points from Brown, 10 points from Hodgins, and nine from Smith.
The 53-51 win on the road was the Eagles’ second of the season under longtime coach Carey Keyes. On Tuesday night, East Rock defeated Luray at home, 61-57. Next up, the Eagles host Rockbridge County in their Valley District opener at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9.
Page County (2-1) scheduled a home-and-away matchup to start the season with Harrisonburg, East Rockingham and Waynesboro. The Panthers continue that early non-district schedule under second-year coach Tyler Parker on Monday, Dec. 9 with a 7 p.m. tip-off in the Friendly City. Page will begin district play on Friday, Dec. 20 by hosting Madison County.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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