Recommend This StoryOne for the 'W' column: Generals end streak by besting Colonels
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By Brad Fauber - sports@nvdaily.com
QUICKSBURG -- It was a long and painful three years and 13 days for the Stonewall Jackson boys basketball team.
But as the final seconds ticked away during Thursday's matchup with Massanutten Military Academy, Generals coach Bill Simmons raised his fists triumphantly as the 60-game losing streak that hung like a storm cloud over the Generals' heads was finally snapped with a victory.
Stonewall Jackson beat the visiting Colonels, 54-45, picking up its first win since a 38-37 victory over Eastern Mennonite on Jan. 13, 2009, and Simmons had just one word to describe the mood after the game.
"Relief," he said. "Anytime you break a losing streak that is that long, you're going to have some relief."
The solace didn't come easily, however, as MMA did its best to erase an 18-point halftime deficit with a feisty second-half performance.
Trailing 35-17 at intermission, the Colonels slowly crept back into the game, cutting the Generals' lead to nine when Ivan Johnston hit a layup in transition with 2:55 left in the third period.
Stonewall Jackson (1-16, 0-10 Shenandoah) took a 47-32 lead into the fourth period, but a 3-pointer by Colonels junior Kenya Ray with 2:40 left to play cut the lead to seven.
"It was one of those situations where you're down 18 [points] -- I think the guys played a little harder in the second half," Colonels coach Mel Abrams said. "We had a little run. Unfortunately, we were down too far to battle back."
Stonewall Jackson stepped up its defense in the game's final three minutes, allowing just one point the rest of the way and forcing the Colonels into turnovers on the their final two possessions. A pair of free throws by the Generals' Trey Alger with 27 seconds left started the celebration on the Stonewall Jackson bench.
"It's incredible. All this hard work, we just put so much time and dedication into it," Generals senior Alex Collins said. "We finally came out tonight and did things right."
The Generals sprinted out of the gate in the first half as they shot a combined 15-for-27 (55.5 percent) from the floor while holding the Colonels to just 13 shot attempts.
With the Generals holding a 9-6 lead with 3:15 left in the first period, Collins hit a basket in the paint to begin an 18-4 Stonewall Jackson run that gave the home team a comfortable 27-10 lead with four minutes remaining until halftime.
The Generals' first-half offensive attack was fueled by Harlow, who scored 13 of Stonewall Jackson's 18 second-period points. He made a living behind the 3-point arc in the first half, particularly in the corners along the baseline, finishing the half with a 4-for-5 mark from long range.
Harlow scored all of his game-high 18 points in the game's first two quarters.
"I was on fire, that's for sure," Harlow said. "I was really working hard to get Alex [Collins] his first [win], and all of our other seniors that haven't gotten a win in their entire high school careers."
Collins finished the game with 12 points for Stonewall Jackson. Warren led MMA with 15 points, eight of which came from the free-throw line.
Thursday's win gives the Generals some much needed confidence, Simmons said, and he hopes it is just the first step towards more consistent success.
"Hopefully the kids understand that [they] can compete now," he said. "Hopefully we build on it. Regardless of what happens from here on out, we've just got to get better -- we've got to show people we can compete."
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Stonewall Athletics - Somehow between Harrisonburg and Endinburg the talent pool falls from the face of the earth or one would believe. It is about culture, it is about pride, it is about coaching..... Even though it is JUST athletics, it is nice to learn to win, congrats to the boys. Let's hope this culture of mediocrity doesn't spill into the classrooms....