The James River girls were competing in the Class 2 state basketball state quarterfinals as the paper went to press this week. The Knights were at UVA-Wise on Tuesday to play Region 2D champion Central High.
The winner of that game advances to the state semifinal on Friday, and if the Knights won Tuesday they would be on the road again. River would face the winner of a Tuesday game between Ridgeview and Liberty.
The Knights are the Region 2C runners-up after falling to Liberty in the Region championship game last Friday night. That was at Roanoke College and the Minutewomen took a 71-55 win. Liberty improved to 21-4 with the win and River fell to 22-4 with the loss.
The Knights fell behind early at RC. Liberty came out hot and led 18-9 after the first quarter in front of a big crowd at the Cregger Center. The Knights settled down and won the second quarter, 14-12, but still trailed 30-23 at the half. Liberty used a strong inside game to pull away in the second half, outscoring the Knights 41-32 after intermission. Caitlin Canada had 24 points to lead the Knights and Gillian Smith had 10.
River earned the trip to the state tournament with a 49-40 win over Chatham in the Region 2C semifinal in Springwood last Thursday. Two Knights had “double-doubles” in that game as Canada had 16 points and 15 rebounds and Audrey Benson had 14 points and 14 boards.
The Knights got off to a quick start in this one, taking a 22-8 lead at the half. The Cavaliers made a run in the third quarter but the River girls made their free throws down the stretch and were able to hold them off.
The All-Three Rivers District team was recently announced and Canada made the first team and was named Player of the Year. Benson and Jalen Thompson made the second team.
The Class 2 championship game will be held on Thursday, March 13, at the Siegel Center on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Game time for the girls championship is 6 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader with the Class 2 boys.
Photos courtesy of Brian Hoffman
