The Lord Botetourt girls got to play at the home of the nationally ranked Virginia Tech girls team last Thursday, but unfortunately for the Cavs they came up short in the basketball game. Botetourt lost to Abingdon, 52-41, at Tech’s Cassell Coliseum as their season ended one win shy of making the state tournament.
“Couldn’t make shots, played nervous, just never found an offensive rhythm,” said LB coach Renee Favaro. “Despite the cool experience at Cassell, I wish we could have played at home like in years past. I think we would have come out more relaxed, but showing up in big moments in big arenas is imperative to winning a title.”
Botetourt came into the tournament as the top seed and the Cavs blew out Staunton River in the quarterfinal round, 57-24. That game was played at LB on February 20.
That win sent the girls to Blacksburg, as the Region 3D semifinals and finals for both boys and girls were played at Virginia Tech. Abingdon was the fourth seed and advanced with a win over Christiansburg in the quarterfinals.
“Abingdon clearly was a tough fourth seed,” said Favaro. “But we had to get through everyone to get where we wanted to go anyway.”
Photos by Jim & Regina Devinney
Senior Ainsley Anderson led the Cavaliers with 15 points, draining five of nine three-point shots, as Botetourt ended the season with 22 wins and four losses. The loss to Abingdon was their first against a Class 3 team all season.
“We had a great season,” said Favaro. “One game does not take away from our body of work and all this group accomplished.”
Lord Botetourt dominated the All-Blue Ridge District and All-Region 3D teams. Seniors Gracie Huffard and Taylor Orange and juniors Madilyn Winterton and Maddie Caron all made the All-BRD first team, while seniors Anderson and Grayson Alfano made the second team. Winterton and Caron made first team All-Region, Huffard and Anderson made second team and Orange was honorable mention.
Botetourt will graduate five seniors, Huffard, Anderson, Alfano, Taylor Orange and Bryanna Orange.
“Really going to miss our five seniors,” said Favaro. “They really gave a lot to our program.”
The cupboard won’t be bare next year with two first team All-Region players returning.
“We have three current juniors that will be the nucleus of our team next year in Madilyn Winterton, Maddie Caron and Abby Kingery,” said Favaro. “All three play very hard and will bring a lot of experience.
“We have three current sophomores in Reagan Meade, Alicia Holmes, and Jaiden Dann who have spent two years on varsity behind the older girls, but they are ready and have been waiting to step into bigger roles. We will look to add to those six as I keep an eye on some of the younger ones from JV this past year and their development.”
