PALMYRA — The last time the Flucos took the floor at the Shoebox, they were celebrating their first regional championship since 1992.
Now in their 2011-2012 campaign, the Fluvanna boys’ basketball team took that success onto the floor Tuesday night as the Flucos beat the Cumberland Dukes 75-58.
Throughout the first quarter, both teams continuously exchanged baskets until Radford bound senior YaYa Anderson sunk a 3-point buzzer-beater right at the quarter break.
A recurring theme in the game was the battle underneath. Neither team was able to pull away from the other on the boads. As a result, neither squad was able to pull away from the other on the scoreboard as well.
“We can’t fall asleep on the offensive boards,” said FCHS head coach Munro Rateau after the game. Those offensive boards often led to small runs by the Dukes.
The Flucos came out hot in the second quarter with the Flucos pushing the transition game and scoring seven quick points. In transition, Anderson used his quarterback skills to make long accurate passes as well as short ones in traffic to get his teammates involved on the offensive end.
However, Cumberland ended the first half on a 9-1 run, leaving the halftime score at 31-28, Fluvanna advantage.
An extended halftime was initiated when a leak in the gym ceiling caused wet conditions on the floor. But the delay didn’t faze the two teams, as they spent their extra time playing a friendly game of knockout.
“I’m just glad we got the game in,” said Rateau in response to the accident.
Just as the gym ceiling sprung a leak, so did the Dukes’ defense. The Flucos started the third quarter on a 17-3 run, in which freshman guard Vinny Agee scored nine of his 10 points.
“He surprised me,” said Anderson of the freshman wing player after the game, “I knew I had to feed him. When he gets going, he gets going.”
However, the Dukes still wouldn’t go away. After a timeout, Cumberland found an offensive groove and ended the quarter outscoring the Flucos 14-5, leaving a good finish in store.
When it mattered, it was Anderson who stood out in the fourth quarter scoring five quick points en route to a game-high 23 points. The Flucos also stepped it up on the defensive end in the fourth quarter, not allowing the CCHS to get a solid run going.
The final score of the game was 75-58 in favor of the Flucos.
With few returning players from last years’ state quarterfinal team, Anderson and co. will be looking for production out of new, younger players such as Agee and fellow freshman Jalen Harrison compliment the senior post players Jake Smith and Taylor Lintecum.
“To see [the younger players] have a spark in them and wanting to play is a good thing,” said Anderson.
The Flucos (2-0) next play in the Beacon Classic at EC Glass High School on Saturday. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. in Lynchburg against an opponent to be announced. The Fluco girls’ basketball team plays the game before at 4 p.m.
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