Panthers take Bull Run title, 52-31, at Strasburg

PCHS_GB_BRDchamps_02_16_24 — Page County (18-8) won the Bull Run tournament championship, 52-31, at top-seeded Strasburg on Feb. 16. The Panthers will host Stuarts Draft (12-10) on Tuesday in the first round of the Region 2B tournament.

Mason, Martin, Purdham earn All-District honors; Purdham and Mason combine for 101 points over three games in Bull Run tournament

By Randy Arrington

SHENANDOAH, Feb. 16 — Page County outscored the top-seeded Rams in three quarters and posted 21 points in the final frame to capture the Bull Run tournament championship, 52-31, on Friday night in Strasburg. Seniors Faith Mason and Adryn Martin earned first team All-District honors, while sophomore Ali Purdham was selected second team All-District. Over the course of three games this week in the Bull Run tournament, Purdham and Mason combined for 101 points.

The Panthers dominated the championship game early and probably should have had more than a six-point lead (10-4) heading into the second quarter. The Rams only hit two field goals (2-for-11) in the opening eight minutes. Page got two three-pointers and a total of eight points from Purdham in the first quarter, but the Panthers also committed seven turnovers.

Even without the talents of their two-time Bull Run District Player of the Year (and last season’s Region 2B Player of the Year) senior Macy Smith — out due to injury — Strasburg found a way to get back in the game in the second quarter. Five different Rams put up points and senior Tinleigh Rusher hit a bucket at the buzzer that completed a 13-6 run and gave Strasburg a 17-16 lead at halftime.

A lone three-pointer from senior Taryn Eppard would be the only shot Page would hit from the floor in the second quarter, going a dismal 1-for-15. However, the Panthers went 5-of-6 from the line in the first half.

The momentum shifted once again in the third quarter, as Page went on a 15-4 run and Strasburg only hit one shot from the floor (1-for-14). Martin would lead the charge with six of her nine points on the night coming in the third, along two steals on defense. The Panthers took a 31-21 lead into the fourth.

In the final eight minutes, Page would only hit three buckets from the field, but they went to the line eight times and sunk 11-for-16 in the final 3:35. Strasburg would get eight of their 10 points from first-team All-District selection Emily Gorrell in the fourth, but the Panthers ended the game on a 21-10 run to claim the district championship with authority.

Purdham finished the title bout with a game-high 15 points and recorded a total of 53 points over the three-game Bull Run tournament. Mason scored 13 points on Friday night and a total of 48 for the tournament. Eppard had a solid game with 12 points and two steals. In total, Page recorded eight steals and created a total of 18 Ram turnovers.

The Panthers shot 28 percent from the floor for the game, and went 21-of-31 from the line (68 percent). Page committed 16 turnovers.

Strasburg was lead by Gorrell with 12 points, while junior Addison Morgan and sophomore Hannah Merriner each had six. The Rams only shot 22 percent from the floor, but hit 80 percent from the line (8-for-10).

Page County has now won eight straight games (and 10 of their last 11) heading into next week’s Region 2B tournament. The Panthers enter as the No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 Stuarts Draft on Tuesday night in a quarterfinal, while No. 1 Strasburg will host No. 8 Luray. (See projected match-ups below.)

“For two years, we have finished one game away from the state tournament…I hope we can get it done this year,” PCHS head coach E.J. Wyant said following Friday’s district championship. “Our seniors are a special group of girls.”

FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT