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Fluvanna boys bounce back, beat Monticello

 

For the second time this week, Fluvanna’s boys basketball team locked up with a team who was playing their season opener. The Flucos fell short to Charlottesville earlier this week, but bounced back from their first loss of the season, knocking off Monticello 63-50 to move to 4-1 on the year.

 

The Flucos still aren’t done with the trend. They travel to Crozet Saturday afternoon to face off with Western Albemarle in the Warriors’ season opener.

 

“Back to backs are always hard, but they’re sixteen and seventeen year olds, so hopefully their legs will bounce back quickly,” Fluvanna coach Heath Bralley said.

 

Fluvanna worked their legs plenty Friday night. After a back and forth first quarter, the Flucos turned up the heat on the press and caused numerous Mustang turnovers, leading to easy buckets on the fast break. Maurice D’Alessandro was the primary benefactor of the suffocating Fluco defense, scoring 15 points in the 2nd to lead Fluvanna to a comfortable 37-19 lead. D’Alessandro, a knockdown shooter, only hit one three on the night, but still stuffed the scorebook with 24 points.

 

“Kobe did a great job finding me on the break, it’s just a really good team win,” D’Alessandro said. He had six fast break buckets in the second, several assisted by Edmonds.

 

Monticello clawed back in the second half, starting the 3rd quarter on an 8-2 run. Stefan Matthews scored 10 in the 3rd, but Fluvanna continued to score fast break points and knock down free throws. John Rittenhouse got loose for a late three, the second of only three total from beyond the arc for Fluvanna, to put the Flucos up 47-34 after 3.

 

“We’ve kind of figured out that has to be our energy to get us going, we have to get some turnovers and points off of our defense. We’ve got some guys that can really get after it and cause some havoc in that area,” Bralley said of his team’s defensive performance.

 

For Monticello, Stefan Matthews scored 19 and freshman Dyllan Thompson chipped in 10. The Mustangs have a back to back of their own, hosting Albemarle on Saturday afternoon as well.

 

D’Alessandro scored a game high 24, and Kobe Edmonds added 14 in the win for Fluvanna.

 

The Flucos turn their attention to Western Albemarle Saturday, a team that made it to the Class 3 State Final Four last season.

 

“It’ll be a challenge, but everyone loves a challenge.” Bralley said.

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