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By SEAN KILPATRICK
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
After being blown away twice during the regular season by Clarke County’s powerful inside game, Rappahannock basketball coach Gary Leake finally figured it out: If you can’t keep Clarke’s big forwards away from the basket, deny them the ball.
It worked, almost to perfection. For three quarters the Panthers played inspired defense against the much larger Clarke Eagles. They completely shut down the Eagles attack underneath the basket.
Wesley Paige, the Eagles exceptional senior forward, who can slam dunk the ball with ease, was held to two outside jumpers, one for three points, and two foul shots. Every time he got close to the basket, Rappahannock’s match-up zone shut off the passing lanes.
The Panthers were up by one after eight minutes, 12-11, and down by only four at the half, 21-25. After three quarters the game was again tied at 35-35, and the Eagles were beginning to have a worried look.
The low score was caused in part by the Panthers deliberate attempt to slow down the pace of the game. Although at times the passing patterns looked like Dean Smith’s fabled four-corners stall ball, Coach Leake was trying to do something else.
When it worked, sophomore guard Ray Atkins or senior Kevin Jolliffe would streak down the center of the lane, catch a pass on the fly and lay the ball in the basket.
Then with 3:42 showing on the
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