The Lord Botetourt boys’ basketball team will play host to William Byrd this Friday to open their Blue Ridge District basketball season. The Cavs were scheduled to open BRD play at Staunton River Tuesday but that game was postponed by inclement weather.
LB comes into the week with a 3-6 non-district record after losing to Salem, 79-65, last Friday night in Daleville. The Spartans opened a 41-25 halftime lead and held off a late run by the Cavs, who outscored the Spartans 21-9 in the fourth quarter.
“We ran into a tough Salem team on Friday night,” said LB coach Josh Aliveto. “They did a great job of finding their rhythm on offense and we needed to do a better job of creating stops. They made 13 three-pointers, which ended up being half their point total.”
LB shot 50 percent from three-point range, hitting eight of 16, but Salem shot 52 percent with nine more attempts. Botetourt shot 50 percent overall for the game, which is usually good enough to win.
Photos by Brian Hoffman
“Offensively, we are continuing to do a better job of moving without the basketball, we just need to be more consistent in achieving that task,” said Aliveto. “We began making more shots during the second half but it was too little, too late.”
Landon Hayes led LB in scoring with 16 points, Blake Lovern had 14, Conner Dowdy had nine and Carson Edwards had nine points and led the Cavs with seven rebounds and seven assists.
Next week the Cavaliers are home to Glenvar Monday and at William Fleming on Tuesday, January 14.
