Northwestern split: Robinson propels Handley

View larger image Handley’s Chris Skinner drives to the basket as Sherando’s Nathaniel Culp tries to reach in for a steal during their game Tuesday in Winchester. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Sherando’s Taylor Loudan collides with Handley’s Cameron Jackson during their game Tuesday in Winchester. Handley won the game, 77-53. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Taylor Loudan of Sherando dribbles down the court defensed by chris Skinner of Handley. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Darion Robinson of Handley and Taylor Loudan of Sherando wrestle for the ball in the second quarter. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Terry Wood of Sherando shoots over Darion Robinson and Kyle Murph (21) of Handley. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Terry Wood of Sherando dunks over Robert Lawler of Handley. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Handley's Tre' Brown passes while defended by Tanner Ruths of Sherando. Dennis Grundman/Daily

By Jeff Nations - jnations@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Darion Robinson delivered exactly what Handley boys basketball coach Tommy Dixon has expected from the junior forward all season on Tuesday night against Sherando -- energy, loads and loads of it.

Dixon always expects it, but he hasn't always gotten it from Robinson. Lately, though, the Judges have benefited from a healthy jolt of Robinson off the bench. Against the Warriors, Robinson was all over the court in Handley's 77-53 victory. Robinson finished with 16 points, grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds and tied for the team lead with three steals. And in the fourth quarter, Robinson punctuated that energetic performance with a break-away, one-handed slam after stealing the ball at mid-court.

"Darion's put two games back-to-back very well, and we're happy to see that," Dixon said. "He's a talented young man, but he has to play hard all the time."

Robinson's hard-nosed approach helped the Judges maintain a slim first-half lead despite early foul trouble for post players Cameron Jackson and Derek Dowrey. His eight first-half rebounds helped Handley maintain a healthy edge in that department despite the menacing presence of Sherando's 6-foot-8 standout Terry Wood in the paint. And in the second half, Robinson did his part with 10 points to help Handley (10-3, 2-1 Northwestern District) pull the Warriors back to the pack in the district race.

Robinson is glad to be contributing for the Judges, but he knows he's just one of many potential weapons on the roster.

"It's so important to play so many players," Robinson said. "Like Sherando, they don't play too many players and in the game they get fatigued. With us, we have so much energy being able to replace so many players, we can keep going all night. I think that's a huge factor for us."

Leading 36-32 entering the third quarter, the Judges heeded Dixon's instructions to practice a bit more patience. Robbie Lawler opened the second-half scoring with a short bank shot in the lane, and Handley was off and running. The Judges outscored Sherando (7-8, 3-1 Northwestern) 14-4 in the opening six minutes of the third period to take command. Lawler had six points during that run, Jacob Rudolph also had six of his game-high 21 and Robinson chipped in a pair of buckets to help Handley grab a 50-36 lead with 2:04 left in the third.

"They have a lot of weapons," Sherando coach Garland Williams said. "They're a good 10 deep and they don't miss a beat when they bring those guys in."

The Warriors were missing a critical weapon of their own -- junior guard Aaron Miller, injured in last week's win against Skyline, sat out Tuesday's game with an unspecified injury. Williams hopes to have Miller back as early as Thursday for the Warriors' road matchup at West Virginia powerhouse Martinsburg.

In the first half, it appeared Sherando could make do just fine without Miller. Despite 11 first-quarter turnovers, the Warriors trailed by just three points thanks to a 6-for-8 shooting performance. The Warriors led for the last time at 31-30 on Taylor Loudan's made free throw with 1:28 left in the first half, but Handley closed with a 6-1 run to grab a four-point lead at the half.

Rudolph was a major headache for Sherando in the first half with 17 points, including three 3-pointers.

Following Dixon's halftime chat, the Judges pulled back from the edge of out-of-control to settle into using their quickness to better effect.

"I think we were just a little impatient," Dixon said. "We were trying to go faster than we really were supposed to go. We talked about some things at halftime and they made the adjustment."

That adjustment kept paying dividends throughout the second half, as Handley's shooting improved to 18-for-32 (56.3 percent) after a 15-for-38 (39.5) effort in the first half.

"We just started getting back on defense and pushing it, and just spread ourselves out," Rudolph said.

Wood finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks to lead Sherando. Tanner Ruths added 12 points, Brady Cook had 11 and Loudan chipped in 10.

For Handley, Lawler and Jackson had 11 points each. Jackson also had eight rebounds to help the Judges to a commanding 42-28 advantage.