By SHARON KILPATRICK

By SHARON KILPATRICK

Rappahannock News Staff Writer

The girls’ Varsity basketball team picked up its second victory and the J V its first as both teams defeated Luray Monday night.

The varsity won 39 to 29 to bring their record to 2 wins and 5 losses (0 and 5 in district play). Luray scored first, but the Rappahannock squad came back to tie the game and then gain the lead. The Panthers never gave up the lead again. In fact Luray was limited to 2 points in the first quarter, which ended with the score Rappahannock 13 Luray 2.

Luray got 8 more points in the second quarter, but only 2 were on field goals, and the half ended with Rappahannock up 18 to 10.

Several times in the second half Luray pulled up to only 5 points down, but each time the Rappahannock girls answered the challenge.

“The key to the game was our overall intensity, especially on defense,” Coach Gary Leake said. “Patty Atkins came in off the banch and did a good job. Leah Marlett had her best game of the year with 16 points and 17 rebounds.”

Jessica Arnold started in place of Cari Kerr who was sick and scored 6 points and got 4 rebounds. “She gave us a spark,” Coach Leake said. He added that Susan Jewell had 8 points and “one of her best games. I really give them credit,” he said. “Luray cut the lead to 5 points, but they regained their composure and reeled off 6 points to get the lead back to double figures. Tonight we really tried to get the knockout punch.”

“I’m real pleased,” he continued. “They played a lot better tonight with intensity on both ends of the floor. I believe this is a great ball club just waiting to happen.”

The JV won by a score of 27 to 10. Coach Emily Wingate noted that the girls had lost a game at Luray by 4 points and were looking forward to playing Luray again. “They played a good game,” she said. “This is the first game they’ve played togather as a team.”

Dawn Haavstad had 12 rebounds, 1 blocked shot and 4 points.