Despite battling back from a nine-point deficit to force overtime, the Rockbridge County High School girls basketball team came up short 45-40 to James River in the season opener on Tuesday night in Lexington.
After outscoring James River 8-0 in the fourth quarter to tie the game 3-3, the Wildcats went up 40-36 in the first two minutes of the four-minute overtime period, going on a 5-0 run on an inside basket from Madison Mangione and then a 3-pointer from Des Butler.
The Knights responded with a pair of free throws from Kelsi Maydian and then an inside basket from Keira Crawford to tie the game at 40. Between those two plays, the Wildcats lost Lola Mulitalo, who fouled out after scoring nine points and leading RC with 14 rebounds. JR then scored off three RC turnovers, with two inside baskets and a free throw, to seal the win.
JR led for most of the game, taking a 12-4 lead at the end of the first quarter when Siera Davis hit a 3-pointer. In the second quarter, RC went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to one, but the Knights maintained a small lead for the rest of the half, taking a 19-17 advantage into halftime.
The Knights built up a nine-point lead in the third quarter, getting to the free throw line often and taking advantage of RC turnovers. In the fourth quarter, RC gradually battled back from a 33-25 deficit by forcing turnovers, and a pair of inside baskets by Natalie Samante sent the game to overtime.
Samante led RC with 10 points. Also contributing were Butler and Genesis McCoy with six points each, Mangione with four points and seven rebounds, and Bella Dorey with four points. Mangione and Dorey both fouled out late in the game.
Audrey Benson paced the Knights with 11 points, while Davis and Jalen Thompson added nine points each, and Maydian chipped in seven.
The Wildcats committed 29 personal fouls, resulting in JR getting to the free throw line 40 times, shooting 57.5 percent (23-of-40). JR committed just three fouls, and the Wildcats shot 2-of-5 (40 percent) from the foul line.
Both teams had trouble taking care of the ball, with the Wildcats committing 27 turnovers and the Knights turning the ball over 29 times.
The Wildcats will begin Shenandoah District action when they play host to Staunton next Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m.
For the full story and photos from the opener, please see our Dec. 10 newspaper.
