Butler’s Shot Lifts Wildcats Over Waynesboro
Dez Butler hit the game winner to lift the Rockbridge County High School girls basketball team to a 42-41 road win over Waynesboro in the Shenandoah District opener on Friday night.
Butler’s shot came with seven seconds left, as the Wildcats (1-2) got their first victory of the season after a pair of losses to James River.
“A lot of credit to Dez because she was banged up, didn’t practice yesterday,” said RC head coach Darrell Plogger. “I called on her late to come in and make the play, and she made the play.”
It was a strong way to end a week in which the Wildcats had just one practice due to snow on Monday of last week.
Lola Mulitalo had a monster game for the Wildcats, leading them with 24 points, 23 rebounds and four blocks. Plogger said it was the first time he could remember an RC girl getting at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. Mulitalo shot well from the free throw line, going 12-of-17 (70.1 percent). Bella Dorey scored 10 points for the Wildcats, going 8-of-10 from the free throw line, and led RC with three assists while grabbing two steals.
Also stepping up was Genesis McCoy, who led the Wildcats with three steals and chipped in four points.
Shavea Torian led the Lady Giants (1-2) with 18 points, while Maliyah Bost scored six points, and Hannah Watson chipped in five.
Waynesboro started the game well, leading 14-10 after the first quarter before the Wildcats cut the lead to 20-18 by halftime. RC then outscored Waynesboro 16-5 in the third quarter to take a 34-23 lead, and the Wildcats managed to hold off the Lady Giants’ comeback.
Pleased with his team’s effort and execution, Plogger said, “I thought everybody came in and gave us what they could do,” added Plogger. “The defense was better. Free throws were huge.”
The Wildcats made clutch free throws and shot 69 percent (20-of-27) from the foul line. Waynesboro shot just 38.1 percent (8-of-21). “Without making plays and free throws down the stretch, we don’t pull it out,” said Plogger.
JR 48, RC 39
The Wildcats suffered a 48-39 road loss to James River last Wednesday in Buchanan.
Eight days earlier, RC had lost in overtime 45-40 to JR in the season opener in Lexington.
T he rematch was similar in that the Wildcats got into foul trouble, committing 24 personal fouls, with two players fouling out. The Knights, who would improve to 3-0 with a 45-44 win at Northside on Thursday, committed just two fouls. JR shot 60 percent (21of-35) from the free throw line, while RC shot 42.9 percent (9-of-21).
RC also struggled to take care of the ball, committing 24 turnovers, while JR had nine turnovers. The Wildcats shot just 38.9 percent (14-of-36) from the field.
The Knights took a 10-9 lead after the first quarter before the Wildcats went up 21-19 by halftime. RC led 31-29 after the third quarter, but JR outscored RC 19-8 in the fourth quarter to pull away.
Mulitalo led the Wildcats with 12 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks while grabbing two steals and dishing out two assists, but she was the only RC player to score in double figures. Madison Mangione scored nine points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Dorey contributed eight points, seven boards, three steals and two assists. McCoy chipped in four points, three rebounds and a steal.
The Wildcats were scheduled to play host to Stuarts Draft yesterday and will continue district action at home against Staunton on Thursday before playing at Buffalo Gap on Friday, with both games scheduled for 6 p.m. Before Christmas, the Wildcats will play a nondistrict game at Turner Ashby on Monday at 12:30 p.m. The following Monday, Dec. 29, RC will play host to local rival Parry McCluer at 4 p.m.
