12/3 Hoops Roundup: Fort Boys Rally, Storm Girls win opener, PLUS more

FORT DEFIANCE - With four minutes left in the third quarter Tuesday night, Broadway held its biggest lead of the night, 41-27, over the Fort Defiance Indians.

The rest of the night belonged to Fort.

The Indians outscored Broadway 31-12 over the final 12 minutes to take a 58-53 victory in the season opener.

“It was a typical first game. There is a lot to work on, but we can definitely build off this win,” said Fort head coach Mike Gale. “Even though we were down, I liked the attitude at half time. The guys knew we were still in the game.”

Broadway used a 10-0 spurt in the third quarter, capped by Andrew Garber’s 3-pointer, to take a 14-point lead.

Fort closed the quarter with a 7-0 flurry to close the deficit. A layup by Elijah Pultz and a 3-pointer by Jasigh Ransome trimmed the margin to 44-37. Bradley Hebb’s steal and layup in the closing seconds of the quarter cut the Gobblers advantage to 44-39 with eight minutes left to play.

Fort’s Tripp Hanger knocked down a 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter, the beginning of a decisive 16-0 Indians’ run.

On the next possession, Hanger was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer and made all three free throws to five Fort a one-point 45-44 lead. Gio Armendariz Cruz finished three buckets in the paint and Augustus Gutshall scored inside, giving Fort a 53-44 lead. Hebb scored after grabbing an offensive rebound to push the Fort cushion to double figures, 55-44.

Broadway made its first bucket of the fourth quarter with 2:55 left to pull within eight points, but Cruz answered with a driving layup to push the lead back to 10 points, 57-47, with two minutes left.

A 6-0 spurt by Broadway in the closing minute was too little, too late as the Indians finished off the 58-53 victory.

“I liked the way we battled back in the second half,” said Gale. “We were able to force some turnovers that led to some transition buckets. Seemed like shooting was contagious both ways tonight. Early, when one guy missed a layup, it seemed like everyone missed. Then, you make a shot and take the lead, everyone gets a little excited, and some shots started going in. We got the momentum and the guys started feeding off each other.”

Fort had three players – Hebb, Cruz and Hanger – scored in double figures as each finished with 10 points. Ransome hit three 3-pointers to score nine points. Broadway’s Eric Santiago led all scorers with 12 points.

Staunton 59, Rocktown 34 (Girls)

STAUNTON – Staunton jumped out to a 16-7 lead after one quarter Tuesday night and the Storm pulled away for a 59-34 win over Rocktown in the non-district season-opener.

Rocktown led 5-2 on a baseline jumper by Addison Weakley and a 3-pointer by Terrya Shifflett, but the Storm scored the next 14 points to take the lead for good. 

Staunton’s Chasyn Smith scored on a drive down the lane and Trioux Williams scored in transition for a 6-5 Storm lead. Ny’Myah Rodriguez knocked down a 15-footer and Smith scored on a fast break to push the lead to 10-5. A bucket by Avian Fields, followed by a steal and layup from Rodriguez continued the run. Kerein Scott capped the run with an inside bucket, giving Staunton a 16-5 lead.

Another big run in the second quarter put the Storm in complete control. After a 12-footer by the Raptors’ Shifflett trimmed Staunton’s lead to 18-11, the Storm rattled off 15 consecutive points to lead 33-11. Hayden Terry, Parker Johnston and Rodriguez each knocked down a 3-pointer to fuel the Storm.

Williams was the lone Staunton player in double figures as she led a balanced scoring attack with 13 points. Terry and Rodriguez each scored nine points and Smith added seven.

Astrid Arebalo Guifarro led the Raptors with 11 points and Weakley finished with nine.

Broadway 52, Fort Defiance 19 (Girls)

BROADWAY – Broadway pulled away in the second half Tuesday night to defeat Fort Defiance 52-19 in non-district girls basketball action.

Fort was within striking distance at the half, trailing by just six points, 21-15, but Broadway outscored the Indians 31-4 over the final two quarters to take the victory.

Jayden Hostetter scored eight points to pace the Indians. 

Wren Wheeler led the Gobblers with 20 points. Broadway connected on eight 3-pointers in the game, seven in the second half.

Page County 57, Waynesboro 48 OT (Girls)

SHENANDOAH – Page County defeated Waynesboro 57-48 in overtime Tuesday in girls basketball action.

Ninth-grader Shavea Torian led the Little Giants with 18 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Junior Tia Miller scored nine points and junior Aaliyah Diggs added eight points.

“I feel like we played a great game, but we have to learn to let things go. We have to keep pushing and play our game until the very end,” Waynesboro head coach Skylar Napier said.

Waynesboro hosts James River on Wednesday.

JV Score: Waynesboro 51, Page County 20.