By joe McCullough

By joe McCullough

Rappahannock New. Special Writer

The Rappahannock Panthers couldn’t have picked a better time to pick up their game.

Following a disappointing loss to Brentsville last week, the varsity Panthers put together two of their best performances this season, vanquishing district foes Page and Stonewall Jackson.

Rappahannock remains in second place in the Bull Run District with a 9- 2 record, 11-2 overall.

The 58-32 win over the Page County Panthers was especially satisfying for Coach Gary Leake and his squad because Page had handed RCHS three losses last season. “The team was real excited before the game,” Leake said. “Everyone wanted a piece of the action.”

The Panthers wasted little time in deciding this contest: following two buckets by Anthony Porter and a stifling all-team defense, they led 10- 2. The Panthers showed' why the Northern Virginia Daily rates them as the area’s number one defensive squad, holding Page to just one bucket in the open period.

Rappahannock continued to dominate the weaker Page Panthers in the second quarter and were up 3710 at intermission. RCHS controlled the boards in the first half, pulling down 35 rebounds. Porter claimed 15, including 10 at the offensive end which he converted into 10 points.

In the second half Rappahannock started pounding the ball under the basket. “We were taking good shots but they just weren’t falling, so we took it inside,” said Eric Dunn, who had a game-high 18 points.

“I was impressed with our defense,” Leake said. “Every time they went to shoot the ball we had a hand in their face.” The RCHS squad allowed Page only 10 of 57 from the field while hitting on 23 of their own 63 attempts.

On Tuesday night the Panthers utilized ball control and the fast break to delight the home crowd by whipping the Stonewall Generals, 90-54. Rappahannock turned the ball over only 10 times while the generous Generals coughed it up on 30 occasions.