Stuarts Draft beats Riverheads

The Cougars sure have the Gladiators' number.

Stuarts Draft hit 10 3-pointers and were 18-for-22 from the free throw line as the Cougars tightened up the Shenandoah District boys basketball standings with a 92-84 win over Riverheads on Friday.

Playing the first game of the varsity double-header, the visitors overcame an early Riverheads lead to grab only its fourth win of the season and its second in as many tries against  the Gladiators.

After a mid-period 6-0 fueled by a Kody Smith 3-point play, the Gladiators (7-8, 5-6 Shenandoah) took a 14-9 lead much to the delight of the Riverheads faithful.

But a Wes Henderson trey and a Tyler Bridge lay up began a 13-9 run that closed out the first quarter knotted at 22-22.

John King hit a 3-pointer from the corner and Smith again put the Gladiators in control with a lay up off a move as Riverheads pushed out to a 35-29 advantage with 3:24 left in the half.

However, a 15-4 spurt by the Cougars finished the half as Tyler Rankin and Brydge hit back-to-back buckets from the 3-point line and Draft took a 44-39 lead at intermission.

"Sometimes it's hard for us to step up on the road for some reason," Cougar coach Mike Gale said. "But tonight I thought we got contributions from every player on the floor."

The Gladiators clawed back after the half, but could not manage to grab the lead. Smith and John King each hit three buckets as Riverheads cut the lead to one four different times.

Once again, a Stuarts Draft run quelled the rally. Jamal Simpson stole a pass and went in for a floater. Then, after a Seth Stone lay-up, Simpson made good on a long 3 and suddenly, the Cougars (4-14, 4-7 Shenandoah) found themselves up by 10, 68-58 at the 1:16 mark of the third.

"[Stuarts Draft] is a big, physical team, and we had to go out after them tonight," Riverheads coach John Corbett said. "There were times tonight that we just didn't play tough enough. Once [the Cougars] got control and we had to chase them around the court, that made it tough on us."

The Gladiators stayed within striking distance and treys by Ben Harper and Kyle Wilson cut the lead to two, 84-82 with 2:26 left in the game. Riverheads had a chance to take the lead, but another Harper three went halfway down before coming out.

After a defensive stop, another RHS turnover -- one of 20 on the night -- preceded a long jumper by the Cougars' Zach Sauder and Brydge added two free throws to put the game out of reach.

"That missed three [by Harper] was a momentum changer," Gale said. "He hits that shot and it could have been a different outcome."

Brydge paced four Cougars in double figures with 15 points. Chris Knecht added 11 while Nic Johnson and Sauder added 10 each.

Riverheads was led by King with 24 while Smith added 19.

Stuarts Draft will travel to East Rockingham on Tuesday while Riverheads plays host to Luray.

In junior varsity action Thursday, Kendall Casto's 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Riverheads a 66-64 overtime win over the Cougars.  Tripp Agnor led Riverheads with 16 points while Ethan Whiteheads and Casto each added 15. Quaraan Harden had 22 for Stuarts Draft.