HUSTLE PLAY — Derek O’Connor (42) gets on the floor during Alleghany’s season-opening 65-39 win over James River at Mountaineer Gym. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
HUSTLE PLAY — Derek O’Connor (42) gets on the floor during Alleghany’s season-opening 65-39 win over James River at Mountaineer Gym. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
THREE-BALL — Kendall Kessinger hits one of his six threes Monday night. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
THREE-BALL — Kendall Kessinger hits one of his six threes Monday night. (Gavin Dressler Photo)
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Why not play to your strength?
Alleghany coach Thumper Leitch has a roster full of guards this year, so the plan is to up the tempo and rely on good outside shooting.
That strategy worked well on opening night.
Kendall Kessinger scored a game-high 18 points on six 3-pointers, while freshman Davon Smith added 13 in his first varsity game, as the Mountaineers pulled away from James River for a 65-39 win Monday evening in the AHS gym.
A dozen Mountaineers cracked the scoring column in Alleghany’s impressive season-opening performance.
“A good start,” said Leitch after the game. “I’m interested to see how we are going to unfold this year. We’ve got some guys who do different things; some guys who are versatile.”
Ethan Nicely started a Alleghany run with two free throws to close the first quarter, giving them an 11-7 lead. The spurt continued into the second period with a Nick Ferrell basket and a Haden Sellers steal and layup. After another steal, Smith hit one-of-two at the line to complete the 7-0 run and give the Mountaineers a 16-7 lead.
A Kessinger three a little later in the quarter gave the Mountaineers their first double-digit lead of the night at 19-9.
Jonathon Brown closed the first half with four straight points – a single free throw and a 3-ball with two seconds left – that gave the Mountaineers a 30-16 lead at intermission.
The Mountaineers finished 14-for-17 from the free throw line in the game, including 11-of-14 in the opening half.
They also outrebounded their guests 41-26 with Brown grabbing eight boards to lead the Mountaineers.
Kessinger hit four from long distance in the third quarter and Smith added six points, as the Mountaineers stretched their lead to as many as 24 in the third period.
“That stretch to begin the third quarter, we played well,” Leitch added. “We got decent shots, and we worked the ball pretty well. You always make things a little easier when you make that extra pass.”
The Mountaineers enjoyed their biggest lead of the night in the fourth quarter on two Josh Greenblatt free throws that gave them a 62-29 cushion.
Caleb Aylor led the Knights with 10 points. Daniel Richmond was the top James River rebounder with seven.
The Mountaineers are back in action Wednesday when they travel to Buffalo Gap.
The Alleghany jayvees evened their record at 1-1 on the season with a 59-29 win over the Knights.
Trever Fridley and Logan Hyler led the Mountaineers with 11 points each, while Zac Carter scored seven. Dakota Anderson, Tyler Broughman and Christian Carter scored six each, while Austin Lefler added five, Tyran Young scored four and Logan Holley had three for the Mountaineers.
Coach Gavin Haynes’ troops opened the season Friday and suffered a 58-30 setback to William Fleming.
Austin Lefler led the Mountaineers with six points, while Zac Carter and Kyle Wolfe had five apiece. Logan Hyler added four, while Trever Fridley and Tyler Broughman had three each. Cameron Persinger and Mark Barbour added two each.
Steve Jones led the Colonels with a game-high 13 points.
William Fleming led at the half, 33-12, holding the Mountaineers to only two second-quarter points.