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Bobcats fall to Knights in Region C final
Rodney Young,
03-03-2010
Before a huge crowd in the Cougar Den Monday night the James River Knights won the Region C Division 2 championship over the defending state champion Radford Bobcats 64-56.
James River (25-2) never used a substitute in the entire game as their starting five went the distance in their 2-3 zone defense. Four starters scored in double figures as Andrew Tucker had a game-high 18 points. He got help from Patrick Bennett’s 16 points, with John Bennett chipping in 14 and Jordan Talbott had 12 points.
Radford had three players in double figures in scoring with Jerome Alexander leading the way with 17 points. Dontae Carter contributed 14 points while D.J. Palmer tossed in 11.
Radford jumped out to a 12-2 lead with 3:30 to go in the first quarter as they played a triangle and two defense that targeted Knights point guard Ethan Humphries and forward Bennett.
With the Bobcats up 14-5 the Knights’ Andrew Tucker drilled a 3-pointer and the game seemed to take on a higher intensity level as Radford switched to more man-to-man defense.
“I just felt like they were figuring out our defense and we went to more man-to-man,” Radford head coach Rick Cormany said.
“They were hitting shots as we were trying to make players other than Humphries and Bennett beat us.”
James River found themselves up 31-25 at intermission. The lead would change hands three more times in the third as the Bobcats found themselves down 45-42 going into the fourth quarter.
Down 53-48 with 3:08 left Radford’s big man Jerome Alexander was called for his fifth foul while coach Cormany was hit with a technical foul.
The Knights hit three of their four free throws and subsequently scored a bucket to go up 58-48. Radford was only able to get as close as five points as James River cruised to victory.
“We didn’t get enough stops on the defensive end,” coach Cormany remarked.
“They (James River) are an experienced team and their inside play really hurt us.”
James River now travels to the Salem Civic Center to take on the Region D runner-up Honaker at 5:15 p.m. Friday. Radford will play Region D champion Lebanon at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at Virginia High School in Bristol.
James River (25-2) 64
Humphries 0 4-8 4, J. Bennett 5 4-6 14, Talbott 5 0-0 12, P. Bennett 6 4-6 16, Tucker 5 7-10 18.
Totals: 21 FGs, 19-30 FTs.
Radford (17-6) 56
Smith 1 0-0 3, Worles 3 0-1 7, Carter 4 5-5 14, Palmer 5 1-1 11, Minter 1 0-0 2, Parcell 1 0-1 2, Je. Alexander 7 2-2 17, McCoy 0 0-0 0, Devore 0 0-0 0, Jo. Alexander 0 0-0 0.
Totals: 22 FGs, 8-10 FTs.
James River 12 19 14 19 - 64
Radford 16 10 16 14 - 56
3-point goals: James River 3 (Talbott 2, Tucker); Radford 4 (Je. Alexander, Smith, Worles, Carter).
Total fouls: James River 11; Radford 20.
Fouled out: Radford-Je. Alexander, Palmer.
