The James River girls played at UVA-Wise in a Class 2 state quarterfinal basketball game on March 4 and couldn’t hang with host Central High. The host Warriors laid it on the visitors by the tune of 83-28 as a terrific James River season came to an end.
“We ran into a buzz saw at UVA-Wise for the first round of states,” said River coach Donald Eggleston. “On their first 12 possessions of the game they scored on all of them.”
River trailed 26-5 after the first quarter and the Knights were never in the game after that. They were down 47-12 at the half and 72-19 after three before the Warriors called off the dogs and both teams scored nine points in the fourth period.
Caitlin Canada led River with 14 points. Jalen Thompson and Gillian Smith had three points each.
Central improved to 26-3 with the win, then beat Ridgeview in the semi-final, 58-43, to earn a spot in the Class 2 state championship. Central will play John Marshall at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Siegel Center in Richmond.
River’s season ended with an outstanding 21-5 record. The girls were Region 2C runners-up and set the tone for future success.
“The results were not what we were looking for but the returning players know what it takes to get there next year,” said Eggleston. “They also know what we need to do to get past a team like Wise.”
River will graduate two seniors, Jenna Lynch and Three Rivers District Player of the Year Caitlin Canada. Six juniors are slated to return.
“We will miss our two seniors and wish them the best of luck in college,” said Eggleston. “We have the core of our team returning and they will be seniors next year. We will work hard in the off season to make ourselves better and return to states and show what James River basketball is all about.”
The girls have come a long way in recent years. They were winless in 2020-21 and won seven games the following season. Making the Class 2 “Final 8” three years later was a great accomplishment.
“I would like to thank the community of James River for all of their support on this run we had,” said Eggleston. “It was magic to see all the fans at home and away. Parents of the players were there every step of the way supporting this team.
“I would also like to thank my coaching staff. They were amazing and I can’t wait to get started on next season.”
