By Randy Arrington
SHENANDOAH, Jan. 31 — One of the biggest nights of the local basketball season will take place tonight in the Page County High School gymnasium. For the second time this season, two cross-county rivals will go head-to-head in Bull Run District action. Tonight, the Panthers of Page County host the Bulldogs of Luray in a unique doubleheader featuring the varsity boys game at 6 p.m., with the varsity girls game to follow about 7:30 p.m.
All four teams could use a district win to improve their standings in the Bull Run District heading into the final three games of the regular season. PVN Sports will be on hand tonight to accompany the NFHS livestream of both games.
Luray’s boys team (6-12 overall, 5-7 Bull Run) is looking to avenge a 20-point, 59-39, loss at home to the Panthers on Jan. 4. The Bulldogs were down five players that night, but they will have the likes of junior forwards Christian Lentz and Ryder Liscomb back on the court. Luray has won four of their last six games to reach a tie for fifth-place with Central in the district standings.
Page County’s boys (8-10 overall, 4-8 Bull Run) are ready to defend their home court behind scoring leader Jacob Williams who posted a game-high 18 points against Luray last time, including four shots from beyond the arc (three in the third quarter). The Panthers picked up a key district win on Friday, 57-50 at Rappahannock to break up a four-game losing streak. However, Luray also comes off a big district win, 69-64 over Central on Friday night.
The Panthers will travel to Central on Friday, before closing out the season next week with two home games against Mt. View (0-17) on Monday and East Rockingham (11-6) on Friday.
Luray will host East Rock on Friday, before closing out their season on the road Tuesday at Strasburg (11-6) and hosting Clarke (11-7) on Friday.
The girls game will close out tonight’s doubleheader, with memories of a last-second shot on Jan. 4 buzzing in the air. LHS junior Jillian Parlett hit a buzzer-beater that took the game away from the Panthers, who had lead all night. Page carried an 18-point lead into the final eight minutes, but Luray scored 25 of their 44 points on the night in the fourth quarter and captured a 44-42 victory at home.
Tonight the tables are turned and the Panthers will be defending their home court behind a well-balanced attack in the paint from juniors Adryn Martin and Baliee Gaskins, while freshman Ali Purdham and junior Faith Mason are dangerous from outside the perimeter. However, Luray has talent spread across the floor as well and the Bulldogs will need a big night from juniors Emily Donovan and Maggie Foltz, as well as senior leaders Lindsay Bly and Jaidyn McClung.
Luray (12-5 overall, 8-4 Bull Run) is currently in position to potentially host a first round playoff game as the No. 4 seed. While Clarke and Strasburg seem to be the dominant teams, only two games separate the top four in the district. However, the Bulldogs come into tonight’s rivalry matchup off a 71-70 overtime lat Central on Friday — the second overtime loss this season (44-42, Clarke, at home on Jan. 13).
Page County (9-9 overall, 6-6 Bull Run) also comes into tonight’s game following a narrow district loss on Friday, 48-44, at home to Rappahannock. The Panthers have only won one of their last four games, but they remain competitive. Page will host Central this Friday, before closing out the season next week with two road games at Mt. View (4-14) on Monday and at East Rock (8-10) next Friday.
Luray faces one of the toughest final weeks in the district, as the Bulldogs travel to East Rock on Friday before closing out the season by hosting Strasburg (13-5) on Tuesday and traveling to Clarke (15-3) next Friday.
For full schedules, rosters and standings — check out the Bull Run District website.
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