It’s about all any team can ask for from a senior night — get contributions from each member of the senior class while still playing your style of basketball and getting the win—and Charlottesville got all of that Friday night in a 73-60 victory over Orange County at home.
Turner poured in 24 points to lead Charlottesville, hitting dagger after dagger in the second half. Washington, a defensive specialist, closed out his regular season home career at Charlottesville with two fourth quarter lay-ins on rare scoring chances for the senior.
“I was particularly happy with Devin, I think he had one of his best games of the year tonight,” Minor said. “Dribble drive and really going to the hole and finishing those shots really kept us ahead. And Richard having an opportunity to s ore to finish out his senior year was great.”
Charlottesville is stocked with tall, speedy players and what Orange surrenders in height to the Black Knights they make up for in quickness. That led to a game marked by physical, bruising play fueled by both teams’ up-tempo style. There were a number of hard falls in the fourth quarter alone, with neither team willing to give an edge in the battle underneath.
“All I ask is that they play hard, play together and try to be as smart as they can on the court,” said Orange coach Keyode Rogers. “They did that tonight. They laid it on the line and left it on the court”
Hornets guard Jamal Hunter attacked the basket relentlessly, hitting tough contested shots throughout the second half en route to a 23-point night. He got a lot of help from Rahiem Cooper, who knocked in 16 points.
“(Hunter) got on a hot streak tonight,” Rogers said. “I knew he was on a hot streak when he turned around and caught a free throw jumper, didn’t even look at the rim and hit a bank shot. When you’re on you’re on. Between him and Rahiem, I don’t know who hit the best shots but they hit them.”
Tyler Seal finished with 11 from the point guard spot, and the Hornets only struggled with Charlottesville’s pressure during one stretch in the first half.
Orange managed to cut the lead to four points in the third quarter with a strong charge out of the break, but Charlottesville bounced back almost immediately to stretch the lead back to nine points. Turner then steadied Charlottesville down the stretch to preserve the victory hitting some critical shots when Orange again managed to cut the lead to five.
“A couple of times they cut us off guard,” Minor said. “They were down our throat before we could turn around and get ready to play defense. They were on us before we could make a stand.”
Daquan Jones finished with 14 for Charlottesville while Rickquan Jones chipped in 11. Dashaun Blakey rounded out the bulk of the scoring with nine points.
The game ends any outside shot of Orange grabbing the No. 2 slot in the Jefferson District, as Charlottesville now holds sole possession of second. Charlottesville could still force a district playoff game for the top slot with Fluvanna if CHS beats Louisa Tuesday and Fluvanna stumbles at home against William Monroe. Orange, now locked into third, plays Monticello Tuesday night and will host a Jefferson District quarterfinal.
