The Lord Botetourt girls saw their basketball season come to an end in the Virginia High School League Class 3 state semifinals on Friday. The Cavaliers dropped a 56-36 decision to Liberty Christian Academy at the University of Lynchburg’s Turner Gymnasium.
The Cavaliers picked a bad time to have a below par game, and they had some bad luck to go with it. Blue Ridge District Player of the Year Madilyn Winterton left the game in the third quarter with a head injury and LB was trailing at that point. The Cavs were outscored 30-24 in the first half, then LCA held Botetourt to just two points in a 12-2 third quarter. Botetourt hit just one of a dozen three-point attempts for the game.
“We did not bring our game with us off the bus,” said LB coach Renee Favaro. “We shot 28 percent from the floor and our defense was also not where it needed to be, and what I’ve seen from them this season.”
LCA shot 46 percent from the floor and 39 percent from the line, draining five three-pointers. Avery Mills had 22 points for game high.
Winterton led the Cavaliers with 14 points, but all were in the first half. She hit the back of her head on the floor in the third period and blood started gushing from the wound.
Photo by Brian Hoffman
“She wanted to return to the game after being treated but I did not let her,” said Favaro. “She ended up at the hospital that night where she received six staples in her head.”
Gracie Huffard added 10 points for LB, Ainsley Anderson had five, Taylor Orange had four and Abby Kingery had three points on LB’s only successful three-point shot of the game.
The All-Region 3D team was named last week and Winterton and Orange were first team selections. Anderson and Huffard were named to the second team and all four return next year. Botetourt finished the season at 19-9 without a senior on the team.
“Overall, I am so proud of this group on the season,” said Favaro. “We battled a lot of adversity and a short, young bench all season. I look forward to returning the entire squad plus some who were out hurt this year. We will have five seniors next season and look forward to playing for them and making a run at a state title.”