Staunton Braves

Storm Blitzes Fort, Wilson holds off Waynesboro, Draft downs Riverheads

Article Image
Boys Basketball

Steve Cox

2/1/2025

STAUNTON – Staunton blitzed Fort Defiance with 31 points in the opening quarter Friday night as the Storm remained undefeated in Shenandoah District play with an 84-69 victory in boys’ action.

“I was pleased that the guys came out focused and ready to play,” said Storm head coach Kevin Madden.

Fort controlled the opening tip and scored on a Bradley Hebb layup for a 2-0 lead. The rest of the quarter was all Staunton.

The Storm reeled off 18 unanswered points to take control. Anthony Renne kickstarted the run with back-to-back threes. Ky’Ree Scott and Joaqin Bell scored transition buckets and Renne converted a three-point play for a 13-2 lead. Renne added another 3-ball and Bell scored on a floater to cap the huge run.

Gio Armendariz Cruz ended Staunton’s run with a pair of driving hoops, but Maliq McCauley came off the Staunton bench to score five straight points, increasing the Storm lead to 23-6.

Cruz scored again for the Indians and Evan Braun added a 3-pointer to trim the Staunton lead to 12 points, 23-11.

Scott ended the quarter with a personal eight-point flurry, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and then adding a steal and layup, giving the Storm a 31-11 lead after one quarter.

“Staunton just came out and took it right to us,” said Fort head coach Mike Gale. “They hit some threes and they had some steals that led to easy buckets. That’s too big of a hole playing against that team.”

Staunton’s backcourt produced as normal, combining for 48 points. Renne led the way with 22 points, followed by Bell with 14 and Scott with 12.

The Storm also received production from the inside as McCauley and Thomas Chisley combined for 20 points. McCauley had 11 and Chisley nine.

“Maliq is a hard-nosed defender. Maliq is strong and he and Thomas give us some toughness,” added Madden.

Tripp Hanger led the Indians with 14 points and Braun added 11.

“I like the way our guys continued to fight,” said Gale. “Rhylan Martin did a good job with his effort and hustle. We can learn from this one. We’re still OK.”

Stuarts Draft 63, Riverheads 49
GREENVILLE
– Stuarts Draft took a 30-19 lead at the half and the Cougars went of to defeat Riverheads 63-49 in Shenandoah District boys’ basketball action.

Draft point guard Derrick Moore scored 11 first-half points, including eight in the second quarter, to spark the Cougars in the first half. 

Gladiators guard Henley Dunlap scored eight points in the third quarter, keeping Riverheads with striking distance as the third quarter ended with Draft leading, 43-35.

Moore led the Cougars with 18 points and Landon Graber scored 14.

Dunlap tallied 13 for Riverheads and Will Gardner hit four 3-pointers to finish with 12 points.

Wilson 70, Waynesboro 62
WAYNESBORO
– A big third quarter proved to be the difference Friday night as Wilson Memorial turned back a stubborn Waynesboro team to take a 70-62 victory in Shenandoah District boys’ action.

A pair of Little Giants freshmen, Deonta Brown and Lamari Nowell, each scored five points in the opening quarter to put Waynesboro out front 16-14.

Wilson guard Addy Flesher knocked down three 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Hornets moved ahead, 35-32, at the half.

The third quarter proved to be the difference as Wilson outscored the home team 18-5 to take a 53-37 lead into the final quarter. Eli Irving scored six points in the third quarter to ignite the Wilson surge.

Waynesboro's Haden Morris hit a pair of threes and scored eight points in the fourth quarter. The Little Giants scored 25 points in the final eight minutes, but the deficit was too much to overcome as Wilson finished off the 70-62 win.

Chase Snyder scored 18 points to lead the Wilson offense and Flesher added 15. Irving and Mason McWhorter each finished with 12 points.

Morris led the Little Giants with 17 points. Jackson Darden scored 12 points, followed by Brown with 11 and Nowell with 10.

Western Virginia Sport Show
Roto Rooter