Turner Ashby dealt the Rockbridge County High School boys basketball team a 72-37 road loss on Monday of last week in Bridgewater.
With the loss in the nondistrict afternoon game, the Wildcats fell to 3-4, while TA improved to 8-0.
“They’re good,” said RC head coach Rob Winfield of the Knights. RC and TA were both in the Valley District the last seven years before the Wildcats switched to the Shenandoah District this year.
Winfield said that, when the Wildcats were good three years ago, the Knights were struggling, but TA had several four-year varsity players. Winfield said those players “took their lumps when they were freshmen and sophomores,” but they’re now reaping the benefits of their hard work.
Junior forward Jayden Lacey led TA with 14 points, and Winfield said Lacey, senior guard Solomon Shifflett and junior guard Anthony Perez are “all talented players” for the Knights.
Bradi Ziegler led the Wildcats with 12 points, while Brayden Camden and Christian Moore each scored nine points, a season high for Moore. Avery McDaniel chipped in four points on two putbacks.
The Wildcats were scheduled to play host to local rival Parry McCluer on Monday night. For a summary of the game, visit www.thnews-gazette.com, and see next week’s newspaper for the full story and photos. RC will start the new year with a rematch at home against TA on Friday. After the varsity girls’ teams play each other at 12:30 p.m., the junior varsity boys’ game is scheduled for 2 p.m., followed by the varsity boys’ game at 3:30. RC will then visit PM in Buena Vista. The JV boys’ game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., followed by the varsity girls’ game at 4., and the day will conclude with the varsity boys’ game, slated for 5:30.
The Wildcats, who are 1-3 in the Shenandoah District, will return to district action on Tuesday when they play at Wilson Memorial, starting with the JV game at 6 p.m.
Winfield said the Wildcats were dealing with some illnesses last week, but he’s hopeful for a full roster returning this week.
