Alleghany wins Jim Muscaro Classic tournament title

ROANOKE – The Alleghany girls basketball team enjoyed their opening week to their season as they played their first three games of the year all within Roanoke County, which included a Jim Muscaro Classic tournament championship victory over the weekend at North Cross High School.

 

The Cougars defeated Amherst County 53-26 in the semifinals on Friday evening before defeating Christchurch 53-19 in tournament finals on Saturday.

 

In the tournament final against Christchurch, Bryce Leitch outscored the entire Seahorses team by dropping a game-high 24-points. The senior recorded a double-double performance as she also reeled in 11 rebounds. Leitch knocked down four made three-pointers, while also shooting 50% from the field (10-for-20).

 

Junior Ty’Aieja Smith was the only other Cougar in double digits scoring with 10. Smith also grabbed seven rebounds, while senior Kelsey Nicely scored nine points and pulled down nine rebounds.

 

The Cougars recorded 17 steals in the win as sophomore Ava Lewis led the team with five, while sophomore Ja’Kara Heighter recorded four steals, eight points, and eight rebounds.

 

Cara Moss led Christchurch in scoring with five points.

 

In the semifinals from Friday evening, Leitch once again dominated the scoring column with a weekend-high for Alleghany 29 points as she paced the Cougars past Amherst County 53-26 in the tournament semifinal. 

 

Leitch recorded a double-double in the win as she pulled down 10 rebounds to go along with her 29 points.

 

Alleghany reeled in 41 total rebounds in their semifinal win. Nicely and Smith also each had 10 rebounds, while Nicely was the only other player to score in double figures as she scored 10 points.

 

Amherst County kept the game close as the Lancers only trailed by five points at halftime 19-14, but it was a big third quarter from Alleghany that changed the course of the game as the Cougars outscored the Lancers 16-2 in the period to take a commanding 35-16 lead into the final quarter.

 

Adaline Kurko led the Lancers in scoring with eight points.

 

Alleghany (3-0) will be back on the basketball court on Tuesday when they host Stuarts Draft in their home-opener.