The Rockbridge County High School boys basketball team suffered a 60-37 road loss to Stuarts Draft in its season opener last Wednesday.
Draft jumped out to a 19-5 lead in the first quarter. The Cougars extended their lead to 30-14 by halftime and carried the momentum into the second half. Draft outscored RC 20-11 in the third quarter to stretch its lead to 50-25, putting the nondistrict game out of reach.
“They’re a very talented team,” said RC head coach Rob Winfield of the Cougars. “They’re athletic. They’re long.”
The Cougars’ defense challenged the Wildcats early on. “Their pressure gave us a little bit of trouble to start the game.”
Draft’s Landon Graber led all players with 21 points, sinking four 3-pointers. Two other Cougars scored in double figures, Derrick Moore and Donavan Jenkins with 11 points each, while Christian Moats chipped in four points.
Sophomore guard Bradi Ziegler led the Wildcats with 12 points on four 3-pointers, all in the second half, while Sam Ballstaedt and Gardner Clement each scored six points, with Ballstaedt hitting two treys. Luke Eversole and Christian Moore each chipped in five points for RC.
The bright spot for the Wildcats was making eight 3-pointers, while Draft hit five triples.
Winfield said the game was important because it was the first one at the varsity level for a lot of his players. “Getting that first game in is going to help,” he said.
Optimistic that his team will improve, Winfield said, “I’m happy with what we’re doing. We’re working hard in practice. No question that the effort and the energy and excitement are there. That’s going to keep us going.”
The Wildcats were scheduled to begin Valley District action on Monday at East Rockingham and will have their home opener against nondistrict rival Waynesboro tonight, Wednesday, before having a rematch at home against Draft on Friday. They’ll return to district action on Tuesday when they play host to district foe Broadway. All three home games will be at Maury River Middle School, starting with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m.
