Waring's defense boosts Eagles over Rams

By Jerry Holsworth - sports@nvdaily.com

BERRYVILLE -- After jumping out to an 11-point lead in the first quarter Thursday, Clarke County's girls basketball team had to fight for their lives to hold off Strasburg and win 47-36 in Bull Run District play.

"We had a really good first quarter, and I thought our team played about as well as they can during that span," Eagles coach Tim Lawrence said. "Sydney Chrane had a great first quarter and gave us the kind of momentum we needed to hold off Strasburg. Anna-Blue Catlett also had a great night."

The Eagles dominated the paint in the opening period, scoring nine of their 11 field goals from point-blank range. The Rams were unable to find any answer to three Clarke County post players who took Strasburg's defense to the woodshed for the first eight minutes of play.

Chrane seemed unstoppable early in the game, scoring eight points underneath the basket in the first quarter. Backup center Mollie Schoeb was just as productive, scoring on three field goals and a pair of free throws. Ammie Levi only scored two points, but her presence in the lane left Chrane and Schoeb free.

"Clarke County did just about everything right in the first quarter," Strasburg coach Joel Morgan said. "They really shot the ball well, but our kids didn't panic."

The result was a commanding 24-13 Eagles lead heading into the second quarter. That lead, however, came with a price that would affect the rest of the game.

Levi and Schoeb had two fouls each after one quarter, and Chrane got her second foul early in the second period. That ended the Eagles' dominance in the paint and opened the door for a Rams comeback.

Slowly but steadily, Strasburg worked its way back into the game. Taking advantage of Clarke County's poor shooting in the second period, the Rams were able to narrow the Eagles' lead to eight by halftime.

But the Rams' comeback, like Clarke County's amazing first quarter, came with a price. That price was delivered to Strasburg by the player Lawrence called the unsung hero of the Eagles' victory.

Clarke County's Megan Waring, who only had two points for the night, was given the difficult task of shutting down Rams point guard Katlyn Ayers.

Waring's success may have made the difference for the Eagles. Ayers, who usually scores in double figures for the Rams, finished the night with just two points.

The reason Ayers went scoreless over the final three quarters was that Waring's defense had not only shut down Ayers' ability to score points, but also got her in foul trouble. Ayers was forced to spend almost two quarters on the bench.

"I know that this may sound strange," Lawrence said, "but I really think that Waring won this game for us. Her only job was the guard Ayers, and I don't think anyone could have done a better job. Ayers is the most important player on their team, and to have her have a night like she did tonight was the result of an amazing defensive performance by Waring."

Despite the absence of Ayers, Strasburg -- led by Brandy Clem at point guard --was able to narrow the Eagles' lead to 30-22 at intermission, and to 36-31 at the end of the third quarter.

The Rams began the final period by outscoring Clarke County 5-2, and that drew Strasburg to within two points, 38-36, with 4:44 still left to play.

"I really have nothing bad to say about our effort," Morgan said. "But this was a very disappointing loss for everyone. Clarke County played about as well as anyone I've seen this year in the first quarter. But we didn't panic, we fought back, and we did it without Ayers, too. When the score got to 38-36, I really thought that we were going to win. We just didn't execute down the stretch, and that was the game."

An Ayers' free throw, which pulled the Rams within two with 4:44 to play was the last point Strasburg scored in the game.

Another critical factor was the play of Clarke County's Catlett, who scored five of her 13 points in the final three minutes of play. That, and the Rams' inability to make a basket over the same time period, sealed the victory for Clarke County.

Chrane was Clarke County's top scorer with 14 points, and Schoeb contributed eight points for the Eagles.

The Rams were led by center Mikala Alsberry with 13 points. Clem finished the night with eight.