Rams topple Falcons

View larger image Tyler Hott View larger image Jonathan Kloosterman

By Brad Fauber - sports@nvdaily.com

WOODSTOCK -- Tuesday's Bull Run District showdown between host Central and Strasburg provided the physicality, energy and emotion that one comes to expect from any heated rivalry.

Unfortunately for Central, it was the emotional aspect that ultimately thwarted the Falcons' second-half comeback bid, allowing the Rams to escape Jerry Walters Court with a 62-50 win over their county rivals.

With Central trailing 56-49 with less than 40 seconds to play, Falcons sophomore Travis Cooper (team-high 15 points) was whistled for his fifth foul while attempting to steal the ball from Strasburg's Tyler Hott, a two-shot foul with the Rams in the double bonus.

On his way back to the bench, Cooper expressed his displeasure with the call and was slapped with a technical foul. Several seconds later, another technical foul was called on a player on Central's bench, giving Strasburg six free throw attempts and the ball with 36 seconds to play.

"We lost our composure, and when you do that, good things aren't going to happen," Falcons coach Mickey Clinedinst said. "You've got to learn to be able to hold your emotions when things aren't going well."

Hott went to the free-throw line and knocked down five of the six free throws to give the Rams a 12-point cushion that they would hold for the remainder of the contest.

"It helped us lock up the game," Rams sophomore Jonathan Kloosterman said of the Falcons' implosion. "It was a seven-point game without that. And then after those free throws -- it's hard to come back from a 12-point [deficit] with a minute left."

Both teams struggled to score early as defense dominated much of the first period. Strasburg (11-10, 7-7 Bull Run) held just a 3-1 lead four minutes into the game.

The Rams finally found some offense late in the period and took a 13-7 lead into the second quarter. The same couldn't be said for the Falcons (5-17, 3-11) as they shot just 1-for-13 from the field in the opening period, the lone bucket being a 3-pointer by Hayden Bauserman more than six minutes into the game.

Strasburg continued its defensive dominance in the second period as the Falcons struggled to find the bottom of the net. Central shot just 17.4 percent (4-for-23) from the floor heading into intermission.

Strasburg did provide Central with plenty of opportunities at the free-throw line in the first half as the Rams committed a multitude of fouls, but the Falcons shot just 9-for-16 from the line in the half.

"I thought we played real well defensively, but I thought we made some real foolish fouls," Rams coach Millson French said. "We've got to somehow keep that from happening."

Strasburg extended its lead to 23-12 when Kloosterman (game-high 22 points) converted a traditional three-point play with 4:34 left before halftime, but the Rams managed just one point for the remainder of the frame and held a 24-18 halftime lead.

Central rallied in the third quarter behind improved offensive play, and trailed 36-35 going into the fourth period. The Falcons took their first lead of the game when senior Sean Semones hit a pull-up jumper with 6:40 to play, and the two teams battled back and forth until late in the frame.

Strasburg travels to Clarke County on Thursday for the first round of the district tournament. Central's opponent and venue are yet to be determined.