Photo by Leigh Downey
The Region 2C boys basketball semifinals are scheduled for Saturday night at the Radford University Dedmon Center. The semifinals will be a doubleheader with games at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
James River’s boys were still alive as the paper went to press. The Knights were scheduled to play at Glenvar on Tuesday, and the winner of that game would play in the 8 p.m. game at Radford on Saturday between the survivor of a Tuesday game between Floyd County and Patrick County. Saturday’s early game will pair the winners of quarterfinal games matching Radford High versus Alleghany and Martinsville versus Gretna. The championship is next Monday, February 27, at the Dedmon Center at 8 p.m. and both finalists advance to state play.
The Knights hosted Nelson County in an opening round game last Friday and took a 63-49 win. James River led 32-20 at halftime and extended the lead to as much as 48-29 in the third quarter.
“We knew throughout the course of 32 minutes we just needed to impose our will and it would work out for us,” said coach Ethan Humphries. “Our guys trusted the game plan and seemed to have fun doing it.”
Ryan Steger led the Knights with 19 points. George Toliver had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Sam Bell had 13 points, five boards and eight assists, and Andrew Fowler and Jackson Taylor had six points each.
“Friday was a great way for our seniors to finish their last home game and we were thankful for the community’s support for coming out to make it a great atmosphere,” said Humphries.