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By MARKSCOLFORO
Rappahannock New* SUIT Writer
The Rappahannock High varsity basketball team finished fourth among eight teams in the Northern Virginia Daily Christmas tournament last week, beating AA Courtland 51-48 in the opener before dropping the next two games.
More importantly, according to Coach Gary Leake, the Panthers improved their defense, cut opponents’ scoring, increased their own shooting percentage arid reduced turnovers, all team goals for the tournament.
In the Dec. 26 opener against Court land, the Panthers employed a balanced scoring attack and extreme pressure on defense, forcing Courtland to commit 31 turnovers. The j Panthers only turned the ball over 16 times. \
“This game A as far as I’m concerned, was textbook,” said Coach Leake. “The guys deserved their first win.”
James Roy had 15 points to lead Rappahannock, followed by Jason Henry with 12, Michael Williams with 8 and Kevin Jolliffe with 8.
Courtland’s leading scorer, Jamal Williams, had been averaging 14 points per game, but was held scoreless by the Panthers’ defense.
The Court land win guaranteed the Panthers a fourth-place finish, and the Dec. 28 game against Warren County would have propelled Rappahannock into the championship game. But Warren County, defending tournament champs playing at home, won a one-sided contest, 76-44.
The score was 12-8 in the first quarter before Rappahannock got in serious foul trouble. By halftime the score was 36-13 and the Panthers were no longer in it.
Henry had 19 points and Williams 10 to lead Rappahannock.
Playing two days later against Eastern Mennonite for third place, the Panthers had to contend with the opponent’s featured player, 6-10 senior center David Ellison. Getting most of the work defending him were Williams and Roy, and they held the big man to 18 points and 10 rebounds (five in the first quarter).
The Panthers kept it close, but lost 53-49 to end up in fourth. Williams had 15, Henry and Roy each scored 13 and Jolliffe netted 8 points.
Warren County repeated as champs, and AAA Centreville High took second in the eight-team tournament. For Rappahannock, Henry was named all-tournament with 44 total points.
“1 felt that the tournament served its purpose,” said the coach.
“I was glad to see James and Jason return to our offense. Michael has been our leader all season long,” he said, drawing double coverage from opporients that has freed Roy and Henry.
In another game this week, the Panthers Went into overtime against Page in Luray before losing a close contest, 64-63. Henry had 23 points for Rappahannock, Williams 19, Damian Muriel 9 and Roy 8. ~ The lead changed hands about 20 times and the score was tied at the end of all four quarters. Rappahannock struggled late from a lack of players. Nine players dressed, two were injured early on and one fouled out.
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