The high school league winter sports don’t start for another week and a half but the middle school hoopsters and grapplers are approaching mid-season. Andrew Lewis boys and girls basketball is in full swing as we head toward Thanksgiving.
In boys’ basketball the Wolverines are 5-2 after seven games. Last Thursday they beat Ben Franklin, 46-26, as Jayden White and Eli Blankenship chipped in 15 points each.
On Monday Lewis hosted Pulaski and picked up a 53-42 win. White had a game high 30 points in this one and Aaron Brower scored 11.
“Our defense is coming along,” said coach Adam Rutledge. “We’re still missing too many opportunities offensively, but our kids continue to give 100 percent effort and play with a ton of heart. Love this team!”
The Glenvar boys are 4-2 after six games and have won four in a row after dropping their first two games of the season. Last Wednesday the Highlanders beat Pulaski at home, 40-36. Kiptyn Jones had a team high 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Lane Williamson added nine points and grabbed 10 boards and Hudson Luton pulled five boards.
“This was an impressive win for our guys as we failed to hit one three-pointer throughout the game and missed 11 free throws,” said coach Josh Jones. “Sometimes you have to find ways to win when you’re not hitting shots and our guys were able to do this on that night.”
A night later in Radford the Highlanders won 40-28 behind 18 points from Williamson and eight for Jaxson Kuzmich. Luton had four steals.
“Our guys are starting to come together and seem to be improving each and every day,” said Jones.
Glenvar’s girls split two games against the same opponents. The Highlanders saw a late rally fall short in a 21-18 loss to Pulaski.
“It was a super fun, exciting, energetic game,” said coach Andrew Quillen. “We had a chance to tie it at the buzzer but didn’t get a shot off.”
Poor foul shooting hurt the Highlanders, who made just four of 21 attempts. Maudie Doolan was high with 11 points and Kamy Dawyot had four.
Glenvar bounced back with a 33-25 win over Radford. Glenvar was up 31-16 with two minutes to go when Quillen cleared the bench and the Bobcats made it look closer than the game really was. Doolan had 16 points, Corra Hayes had eight and led the team in rebounding and Dawyot had six points.
The Lewis girls are 6-1 after losing for the first time Monday, 31-29 against Pulaski. Lewis had a chance to tie the game with four seconds left and inbounding the ball under their own basket but the inbounds pass was fumbled and the Wolverines never got a good shot off.
Lewis trailed 15-7 at the half and 23-13 after three periods before rallying in the fourth quarter. Elaina Hairston led Lewis with nine points and Daviah Goodman had five before fouling out in the third quarter.
“We opened the game with 11 turnovers in the first quarter and ended with 22 turnovers for the game,” said coach Nat Franklin. “Better starts to games and our passing are the biggest areas we need to focus on, and that starts with me. We’ll continue to work and get better.”
Last Thursday at home the girls beat Ben Franklin, 38-14. Kate Elder had 13 points and five steals and Goodman had 10 points and seven boards. Lewis outscored Franklin 24-7 in the second half.
Today the girls are at Cave Spring and the boys host the Squires at Lewis. A busy schedule continues next Monday against Read Mountain with the boys at home and the girls in Cloverdale, and next Tuesday the boys will host William Byrd and the girls will play in Vinton.
Glenvar’s teams were home to Christiansburg on Wednesday of this week. They’ll go to Pulaski next Tuesday, November 25, before both schools take a break for Thanksgiving.
