The Rockbridge County High School boys basketball team concluded a challenging week with its closest game so far this season, falling 54-42 at home against Stuarts Draft on Friday night at Maury River Middle School in Lexington.
It was a much closer game than the Wildcats’ season opener on Dec. 4 at Draft, when the Cougars (3-3) won 60-37.
The Wildcats (0-4), who lost senior starting forward Zane Ramsey to a broken leg during their 61-42 home loss to Waynesboro on Wednesday, started well on Friday, taking a 24-21 lead after the first quarter. RC made six 3-pointers in the quarter, while the Cougars made five.
In the second quarter, Draft outscored the Wildcats 10-5 to take a 31-29 lead into halftime. The game was close almost the entire night, but Draft pulled away in the fourth quarter by outscoring the Wildcats 12-3.
Noah Hamm led RC with 15 points, sinking four 3-pointers, three in the first quarter. In his first start, stepping in for Ramsey, who had successful surgery earlier in the day, RC sophomore guard Bradi Ziegler scored 12 points, making two triples. Luke Eversole and Sam Ballstaedt each chipped in five points, including one 3-pointer apiece.
Derrick Moore led Draft with 15 points, Landon Graber scored eight points, and Jay Brown had seven points. Chipping in six points each for the Cougars were Christian Moats, Marko Veselinovic and Denzel Diggs.
RC and Draft each made eight 3-pointers.
The Wildcats will return to Valley District action when they play host to Broadway on Tuesday at MRMS, starting with junior varsity action at 5:30 p.m.
For the full story and photos from this week’s action, please see our Dec. 18 newspaper.
