Photos by Leigh Downey
With a 19-3 overall record the James River girls have earned a home game for their Region 2C basketball opener. The Knights will host an opponent yet to be determined at press time at 7 p.m. Monday in Springwood.
The Knights wrapped up the regular season with an exciting 53-52 win over Floyd County in Springwood on Monday of this week. This was a nail-biter throughout as Floyd led 17-16 after the first quarter but the game was tied at the half, 24-24.
Floyd opened a 40-35 lead heading into the final period and it was neck-and-neck down the stretch. River finally went ahead on two free throws, 51-49. Jalen Thompson made two free throws with 16.5 seconds remaining to give the Knights a three-point lead and Samaya Osborne rebounded a missed free throw with 2.2 seconds to go to seal the win.
Kelsi Maydian, who recently returned from an injury, scored 15 points to lead the Knights. Caitlin Canada had 14, Thompson had 13 and Audrey Benson had seven.
The win was River’s fourth in a row and 13th in the past 15 games. That win, along with a 42-37 victory over Alleghany in Springwood last Friday, gives the Knights a final Three Rivers District record of 10-2. There is no district tournament for the Three Rivers.
Last Friday Caitlin Canada scored 23 points in the win over Alleghany to go with 11 rebounds. River outscored the Cougars 39-14 in the second half after trailing 23-13 at intermission.
“We had a slow start to the game but strong offense and defense in the second half turned the game around,” said River coach Don Eggleston.
