Eagles turn up heat for victory

By Brad Fauber - sports@nvdaily.com

STRASBURG -- After trailing by two points after the first eight minutes of Friday's Bull Run District showdown with host Strasburg, Clarke County increased its defensive intensity in the second period, using a half-court trap to fluster the Rams' ballhandlers.

The Eagles rode that intensity for the game's remaining three quarters, using a lopsided second period to boost themselves to a 68-54 win and spoiling Strasburg's Senior Night.

The win guarantees Clarke County at least a share of third place and a spot in the Region B, Division 2 tournament.

"We were disappointed the last two Fridays -- we had really bad weekends because of Friday night losses, but we found a way [tonight] to get it done," Eagles coach Brent Emmart said. "We would like to be higher [in the district standings], but at least we punched our ticket to regionals."

Clarke County (14-7, 9-4 Bull Run) trailed 13-11 after the opening period, but opened the second quarter with a certain energy and confidence that seemed to be missing in the opening frame.

The Eagles tied the game on a quick bucket by junior Todd Benton to start the period before Rams sophomore Jonathan Kloosterman reclaimed the lead for Strasburg (10-10, 6-7) with a baseline jumper with 6:58 left before halftime.

But that bucket was Strasburg's only field goal of the period, as Clarke County's unrelenting defensive pressure and half-court traps began to dismantle the Rams.

The Eagles outscored the Rams 18-7 in the period behind a 7-for-10 effort from the field, and forced Strasburg into five turnovers.

For Strasburg, the 1-for-13 mark from the floor in the period sums up what has become an uncomfortable theme for the Rams in recent weeks.

"The second quarter has been real bad for us three of the last four games, for whatever reason," Rams coach Millson French said. "We were really frustrated because they were really eating our lunch, so to speak, in that trap. You've got to give them credit; they did a real nice job with that and we didn't handle it very well."

Clarke County took a 29-20 lead into halftime and pushed the lead to 17 when Benton, who led all scorers with 24 points, hit a baseline layup with 5:35 left in the third period.

But Strasburg proved it still had some fight left in it when junior Tyler Hott converted a traditional three-point play to begin a 14-4 run for the Rams, capped by a three-point play by Aaron Doman that made the score 42-35 with 7:51 left in the final period.

Both teams traded points on the next several possessions before Clarke County began to once again extend its lead, and Benton's layup with 1:45 remaining gave the Eagles a 62-49 cushion.

Both sides took advantage of their trips to the free-throw line, as Clarke County shot 19 for 22 while Strasburg sank 16 of 19.

Ethan Emmart added 22 points for the Eagles, while Hott and Kloosterman led the Rams with 16 and 15 points, respectively.

Clarke County hosts Madison County next Tuesday, and a win would give the Eagles sole possession of third place.

"We're not really looking back, we just knew this game was going to be important for us to get into regionals," Benton said. "We know we have a big challenge ahead of us next week, we've just got to bring our 'A' game."