PCHS senior Adryn Martin scored a team-high 12 points, along with sophomore Ali Purdham, in the Region 2B title game on Feb. 24 at Shenandoah University.
Mason, Martin, Purdham earn All-Region honors
By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, Feb. 24 — The Panthers were within two points of the Rams with just six minutes to go in the Region 2B title game on Saturday at Shenandoah University. However, (as we referenced in our boys regional coverage)…it’s hard to beat a good team three times in-a-row. Page County came out victorious in two consecutive road wins at Strasburg, including the Bull Run District title on Feb. 16. But on Saturday, it would be the Rams who cheered at the final buzzer, with a 63-47 victory to claim the Region 2B championship.
Over that final six minutes, Strasburg would outscore Page 15-1, including an 8-for-8 effort at the free throw line in the final 1:07. Region 2B Player of the Year Macy Smith posted a game-high 23 points, followed by All-Region first team selection Emily Gorrell with 13.
While Page County fell behind 29-14 at the end of the first quarter, the Panthers outscored the top-seeded Rams in both the second and third quarters. In fact, Page dominated the third period 18-8 behind two three-pointers from sophomore Ali Purdham. The Panthers shot 50 percent from the floor during that period and committed no turnovers. Meanwhile, Strasburg committed four of its nine turnovers on the night and only hit three shots from the floor (3-for-13).
The Rams started the game with five three-pointers in the first quarter alone, three by Smith. However, their offensive production went down from 29 points in the first, to nine in the second and only eight in the third. The Page defense seemed much more dialed in after they settled a few nerves in the first frame.
Page only trailed by three, 46-43, at the start of the fourth…momentum seemed on their side. It lasted about two minutes into the final frame when a bucket by senior Faith Mason and a free throw by senior Taryn Eppard pulled Page within two, 48-46, with 6:01 on the clock.
That’s the point when things started falling consistently in favor of the Rams. Page went four-and-a-half minutes before scoring another point, as Strasburg increased its lead to 55-46. The Rams went perfect from the line from that point on, as Page began to foul and couldn’t answer on the offensive end. The Panthers only committed one turnover in the final frame, but they shot 1-for-13 from the floor in the fourth.
Page was lead by senior Adryn Martin and Purdham, who both posted a team-high 12 points. Mason recorded 10 points in the region championship, while senior Bailee Gaskins had seven and Eppard had six.
Both teams now turn their attention to the VHSL Class 2 state quarterfinals on Tuesday, Feb. 27. (See seedings, records and bracket below.)
As the Region B runner-up, Page County (20-9) will travel to the Region A champion, John Marshall (19-7) for a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Richmond-area school. John Marshall had a record of 6-1 in the Colonial District this season and are currently on a seven-game winning streak. Page has won 10 of its last 11 games.
Despite Saturday’s loss, Page County can lay claim to the fact that they are the only Class 2 team to beat top-ranked Strasburg this season. The Rams (24-4), as the Region B champs, will face the Region A runner-up, Amelia (16-8).
FIRST TEAM ALL-REGION2B
Macy Smith — senior, Strasburg — Player of the Year
Alainah McKavish — sophomore, Clarke
Faith Mason — senior, Page County
Adryn Martin — senior, Page County
Emily Gorrell — sophomore, Strasburg
Makenna Painter — senior, Central
Emily Donovan — senior, Luray
Augusta Sibert — freshman, Stuarts Draft
SECOND TEAM ALL-REGION 2B
Mia Alexander — senior, Fort Defiance
Trinity Hedrick — senior, Fort Fefiance
Ali Purdham — sophomore, Page County
Jayden Stinnette — sophomore, Strasburg
Selene Good — senior, Clarke
Kaiya Williams — senior, Clarke
Ella Parlett — sophomore, Luray
Vanessa Gordon — sophomore, Central
VHSL CLASS 2 STATE TOURNAMENT SEEDINGS
Quarterfinals ~ Tuesday, Feb. 27
Region A champ JOHN MARSHALL (19-7) v. Region B runner-up PAGE COUNTY (20-9)
Region B champ STRASBURG (24-4) v. Region A runner-up AMELIA (16-8)
Region C champ FLOYD COUNTY (18-7) v. Region D runner-up RIDGEVIEW (18-6)
Region D champ CENTRAL-WISE (23-4) v. Region C runner-up LIBERTY (19-6)
State Semifinals ~ Friday, March 1 at site TBD
VHSL Class 2 State Championship ~ Thursday, March 7 at VCU’s Siegel Center
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