The first of two boys basketball games between Lord Botetourt and James River will be held on Thursday of this week when the Knights host LB in Springwood. The second meeting will be on December 30 in Daleville.
Thursday’s game will be just the second of the season for Lord Botetourt. The Cavaliers were scheduled to open Tuesday at home against Blacksburg but results were too late for publication.
River was home to Parry McCluer on Tuesday, also too late for publication, and that was the third game for the Knights. James River is off to a great start with two wins in their first two games.
Last Wednesday in Buena Vista the Knights opened the season with a 66-52 win over Parry McCluer. After falling behind 9-0 at the outset River rallied for a 32-27 halftime lead, then outscored the Blues 22-8 in the third quarter to break it open.
“You never know what to expect your first game out,” said River coach Ethan Humphries. “They jumped on us early, but once we settled down and got the feel for the game it started to click for us. I know it felt good for our guys to put on a game uniform and play in front of a crowd again. That’s something we’ll never take for granted.”
Ryan Steger had 28 points and six rebounds to lead the Knights. Sam Bell had 13 points, five boards and four assists while Brian Moran had 10 points four rebounds and three assists. George Toliver had seven points and seven rebounds.
A night later in Christiansburg the Knights improved to 2-0 with a 71-64 win over the host Blue Demons in overtime.
“It was a great experience for our guys,” said Humphries. “This was this group’s first time having to close a game for themselves. They stepped up to the challenge and got the job done in a back-to-back overtime road game.”
Bell had 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists to lead River. Steger had 17 points and Andrew Fowler had eight points and eight boards.
This Saturday the Knights will play in the annual Roy Stanley Shootout at Roanoke College, honoring the late WDBJ-7 sports reporter. Stanley, a popular figure in the Roanoke Valley, died of cancer in 2002.
River will play the third game of four at the Cregger Center in Salem. Oak Hill Red will take on North Cross at 1 p.m. followed by Martinsville and Franklin County at 2:45 p.m. James River will play Halifax County at 4:30 p.m. and the day will wrap up with Hidden Valley against William Fleming at 6:15 p.m.
“We know we have a heck of a long ways to go and November and December basketball is never pretty, but we are doing things now we couldn’t do just two or three weeks ago,” said Humphries. “We’re getting better each week and we’re excited to start this journey.”
Lord Botetourt will go back-to-back on Friday as the Cavaliers host Floyd County for a girls-boys doubleheader. The girls will play at 6:15 p.m. followed by the boys at approximately 7:30 p.m. The jayvees for both boys and girls will play at 4:30 p.m., utilizing both gyms at Lord Botetourt High School.