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The Rockbridge County High School boys basketball team suffered a 57-41 home loss to Valley District rival William Monroe on Friday night in Lexington.
After honoring their eight seniors before the game, the Wildcats (1-21 overall, 0-13 district) got an impressive performance from senior guard Noah Hamm, who led RC with 18 points on six 3-pointers, scoring 15 points in the second half.
The Green Dragons (13-3, 11-3), who had earned a 57-42 win over RC on Jan. 17 in Stanardsville, got off to a strong start in the rematch, leading 15-4 after the first quarter. WM stayed comfortably ahead in the second quarter, and back-to-back 3-pointers from Brady Lam gave the Dragons a 27-13 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Hamm made three 3-pointers and Bradi Ziegler hit one to help RC cut the lead to 10, but the Dragons then hit a pair of 3-pointers and took a 41-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Wildcats trimmed a 16-point lead to 50-40 with a 3-pointer from Hamm and a three-point play by Clay Irvine. In the final three minutes, though, the Wildcats would only score one point, on a free throw from Ziegler, as WM put the game away at the free throw line.
Other than Hamm, RC’s leaders were Irvine with eight points, Ziegler with five, and Brady Edwards and Luke Eversole with four each.
RC’s seniors honored before the game were Hamm, Irvine, Edwards, Eversole, Sam Ballstaedt, Ethen Camden, Gardner Clement and Zane Ramsey.
Lam led the Dragons with 23 points, including two dunks, while Gavin Battaile-Gilbert added 12 points, sinking two 3-pointers, and Drew Britton chipped in 10 points.
The Wildcats and Dragons each hit eight 3-pointers.
RC committed 13 turnovers, while WM had eight.
The Wildcats will conclude the season on Saturday when they play host to district rival East Rockingham, starting with junior varsity action at noon.
For the full story on this week’s action, with photos from Friday’s game, please see our Feb. 19 newspaper.
