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By Jon Smythe
Athletic Director
It was a wild week as Panther teams started hot and then succumbed to the "January blahs" and the normal winter colds that hit all athletic teams at this time of the season. Everyone achieved a victory early in the week and then fell victim to a Bull Run District opponent by the weekend.
Basketball
The Boys' Basketball teams were on the road early in the week as they traveled to Manassas Park for a game on Tuesday, Jan. 9. It was a close game from start to finish as both teams tried to get ahead and then break away from the other. The leads were never more then a couple of points.
Junior Jamie Keys was out of the lineup with a swollen ankle that was injured in practice on Monday night. This caused Head Coach Mike Dayton to make some changes in personnel and give some new responsibilities to several of the current starters.
Senior Chris Fletcher was moved underneath to play Jamie Keys’ spot and Junior Phillip Thomas was called off the bench and required to play some stepped up defense.
Junior forward, Chris Brown also played a critical role and sank a key basket late in the game when he came in for fouled out B.J. Christian. The night belonged to the hot-hand of Chris Fletcher as he hit for 27 points to lead the Panthers to their first Bull Run District victory this season 53-47.
Senior, Mark Wharton, added 16 points but his passing and hustling were more important as he showed some real leadership on the court. As Coach Dayton said afterwards, "It was a real team win. Some guys were out hurt, others were sick. We needed our starters to show the way and we needed some guys to come off the bench and step up. They all did and we put it all together. It felt great and I was both proud and happy for the team. They've been working real hard in practice. I was glad to see them get a win."
The Junior Varsity was not so fortunate as they fell to the JV Cougars 51-38.
On Friday, Jan. 12 the George Mason Mustangs came to the RCHS gym and things didn’t work out so well for the Panther squad. Jamie Keys was still out with his injured ankle and several players were less than 100 percent
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