The Shadow
CHRISTIANSBURG — Christiansburg sophomore Grace Hutson scored a game-high 22 points here Thursday night leading the Blue Demons to a 73-63 Class 3, Region D tournament quarterfinal win over Alleghany.
The Mountaineers trailed by 14 twice in the second half, and twice came back to cut the deficit to seven.
“In year’s past, that might not have happened,” said AHS?coach Jeff Wolfe.
Alleghany stayed close with second half 3-point shooting.
After making only one of seven in the opening quarter and just two from distance in the entire first half, the threesome of Maggie Rooklin, Vanna Hoke and Bailee Leitch combined to make nine triples after intermission.
“We didn’t shoot it well in the first half and that could have easily carried over to the second half,” said Wolfe. “But they had an advantage inside and that’s what we had to do tonight. And we hit some big, big shots.”
Rooklin and Darcy Ross led the scoring for the Mountaineers with 18 points each, Hoke had 14 and Leitch scored 11.
Ross added 11 boards against the tall Christiansburg front line.
Rooklin hit four of the 11 Alleghany threes, Hoke had four and Leitch added three.
“Maggie was doing what she does,” said Wolfe. “And the two seniors (Hoke and Leitch) both hit some big shots in the second half.”
Kendall Lewis added 17 points for Christiansburg (20-4), Hannah Carr had 11 and Hanna Allen added 10.
Hutson scored 13 of her 22 in the fourth quarter, including 6-of-6 at the free throw line down the stretch.
“That Hutson girl can really play,” Wolfe said. “She’s a flat-out player.”
The Blue Demons will face Magna Vista in a 3D semifinal tonight, with Lord Botetourt facing Patrick County on the other side of the bracket.
Both semifinals and Monday’s title game will be played at Christiansburg High School.
The loss ended a 15-9 season for the Mountaineers.
“We competed with some teams that we were blown out by in past years,” Wolfe said. “We lost a couple of games by 40 last year. Our biggest loss this year was 14 I think.
“The kids finally have bought in to what were teaching,” he finished. “One through 11, I think they realized how good they could be.”
