The Shadow
By MARK PIFER
Staff Writer
Alleghany’s four seniors combined for 30 points Tuesday night.
And they finished their regular season careers at Mountaineer Gym as winners.
Rashad Chambers scored a game-high 11 points, Seth Bradley added eight points and 13 rebounds, Hunter Deisher scored eight and Casey Smith added two as the Mountaineers turned away Staunton River, 46-41.
The victory finished Alleghany’s regular season at 12-8 overall, 5-5 in the Blue Ridge District.
“We didn’t play great – it was kind of sluggish game, back and forth,” said AHS coach Thumper Leitch. “It came down to that last minute.”
The Mountaineers outscored the Golden Eagles 6-2 over the final 46.6 seconds.
Kendall Kessinger broke deep on a sideline inbounds throw-in for a 3-point play and Deisher made 3-of-5 free throws to seal it in the final 26 seconds.
Cameron Holdren led Staunton River (0-10, 2-20) with 17 points.
Holdren didn’t play in the Mountaineers win at Staunton River last month.
“He’s their best player and he gives the other guys some confidence,” said Leitch. “He gave our big guys some trouble in there tonight.”
The biggest lead by either team on the night was a seven point, 27-20, margin for Alleghany early in the third when Chambers scored on assists from Haden Sellers and Bradley.
Staunton River will be the No. 6 seed in next week’s Blue Ridge District tournament and will travel to No. 3 Lord Botetourt for an opening round game on Monday.
Alleghany will be the four-seed and will host No. 5 William Byrd.
The Terriers finished their regular season on Tuesday by upsetting regular season champion Rockbridge County, 66-61.
Alleghany won both regular season meetings with Byrd – 55-52 in Vinton and 78-56 at home.
“We won the first game without Rashad and then we handled them pretty well here,” said Leitch. “But they are the kind of team that can give you trouble. They will shoot a lot of 3’s.”
The Mountaineers must win to extend their season.
To qualify for the Region III, Division 3 tournament, Alleghany must last longer than second-seeded Northside in the tourney.
The Vikings will play the winner of Lord Botetourt and Staunton River in a Wednesday semifinal at Rockbridge.
A win by the Mounties on Monday would send them against the top-seeded Wildcats on Wednesday.
If both Alleghany and Northside are eliminated in the semifinals, the two teams would have a special playoff game for the region berth.
Tuesday’s preliminary game saw the Mountaineer jayvees end their season at 8-8 with a 54-46 victory.
Carson Cogar led the winners with a game-high 23 points.
Zac Carter and Trent Rust added six apiece, Travis Cook and Brent Graham both had five, Josh Greenblatt, Logan Hyler, Levi Peters and Christian Carter all had two and Eric Spraker scored one.
Drew Phillips scored 15 to lead Staunton River.
