Giants get needed victory

The Waynesboro girls basketball team got the boost it needed Friday night.

The Cougars traveled down the Target Turnpike to take on Waynesboro in the first half of a varsity doubleheader. The Little Giants seized the momentum in the second half and increased the scoring gap to pick up a 59-39 Southern Valley District win.

The win broke a five-game skid for the Little Giants, and added a second tally in the win column. The Little Giants’ other victory came against Wilson Memorial on Dec. 10.

“Every district game is a much-needed win,” said Waynesboro coach Secrett Stubblefield.

Waynesboro took a 10-4 lead in the first quarter and spread the gap even further in the second frame, outscoring the Cougars 16-11.

The Little Giants have struggled for most of the season in their second halfs, but managed to maintain their composure and keep Draft at a distance.

“We usually come out quite lethargic and idle and that determines the game,” Stubblefield said. “This time we were able to build an insurmountable lead.”

Stuarts Draft coach Marc Sweigert declined to comment to The News Virginian after the loss.

Both teams scored nine points in the third quarter, but Waynesboro’s Shanda Brown secured the win in the fourth with help from point guard Latoya Diggs.

“Assists by Latoya Diggs, that’s the assist person on our team,” Brown said. 

Brown scored 13 points in the fourth stanza, adding to the 14 points she scored in the previous three quarters.

“Shanda plays like that every night,” Stubblefield said. “I’ve challenged her and I’m going to put her on the best player every game. She’s stepped up to the plate so far.”

Friday’s contest was a foul-filled affair, with play stopping as quick as it began making it harder for the players to keep their intensity up.

“I was able to save some of my timeouts,” Stubblefield said. “When things were happening that were disturbing the game, I was able to regroup and put the team back on track or keep them on track.”

Stuarts Draft’s Katie Yancey led the Cougars scoring effort with 16 points.

After Friday’s win, Brown said she is even more confident that the Little Giants can turn their season around during district play.

“I think we can take the district if we keep playing the way we are playing and keep going up hill and not downhill,” she said.

Waynesboro (2-9, 1-2 Southern Valley) will take on Spotswood on back-to-back nights Monday and Tuesday. On Monday the Little Giants will be in Penn Laird.

Stuarts Draft will be at Harrisonburg on Wednesday.

The Little Giants and Cougars will both face each other again on Friday in the second varsity doubleheader. The girls will play in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m. with the boys opening the night at 6 p.m.