PALMYRA — Another second quarter run propelled the Fluvanna boys’ basketball team to a 83-55 win over visiting Monticello Thursday night.
“I can’t be more proud of the way the kids are fighting and competing every night; working like crazy to get better,” said FCHS head coach Munro Rateau.
The Flucos held a 16-15 lead after the first quarter before switching to a 1-3-1 zone defense to start the second quarter. The very long Vinny Agee manned the top of the zone and cause fits for the Mustangs.
“When we get in that zone, we are so long. Vinny’s upfront and he just causes so much trouble on that. It also slows the game down some for us. [Monticello's] full-court quickness is hard to match up for us,” said FCHS Rateau.
The zone defense kept Monticello without a basket for the first 4:40 of the second quarter. Fluvanna scored 11 points in the span and kept the lead greater than 10 points the rest of the way. The largest lead FCHS held was 29 points, late in the fourth quarter.
A recording of the Fluco SN broadcast
YaYa Anderson poured it in early with 22 points in the first half. He finished the night tying his regular season career-high with 35 points. The Radford signee had eight rebounds and five assists.
“The best thing he has done this year is he’s been patient with the young kids — kids that didn’t have any varsity experience. He’s really taken them under his wing and given them confidence as the game has gone on,” said Rateau.
The Flucos were shorthanded, dressing only 10 players. At one point, senior forward Taylor Lintecum was taken out after falling hard to the floor. The line-up had four first-year varsity players with Anderson on the floor for extended minutes. FCHS never relented, scoring more points than Monticello every quarter.
“It just shows how mature they are to play for the veterans on our team. They knew at the beginning of the season they would have to step up and play a big role with all the veteran people that graduated. They stepped in and did that tonight,” said Anderson.
Freshman Jalen Harrison scored 10 points while Lintecum finished with nine points in limited action. Juniors Dale Ludwig and Trevonne Bradley each had six points while Alex Brooks and Agee both scored five points.
Fluvanna now improves to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in the Jefferson District. Next up for FCHS is EC Glass on Jan. 7 at 3:30 p.m. Before heading into the Christmas break, Glass was 2-5 on the year but has had four games since. The game will be broadcast on the Fluco SN.
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