Amelia Academy Boys and Girls Basketball SWEEP Brunswick Academy
By Malinda Shanaberger
In a four-game evening of basketball on Friday, January 21, the Amelia Academy Patriots swept the Brunswick Academy teams on the Patriots’ home court. However, it was the Junior Varsity Boys who received the most cheers when they won in the final minute of their game. The win was made more special as a tribute to their coach, Joe Farnitano, who was hospitalized last week. In his absence, assistant coaches and students, junior Kyle V. and senior Jonathan P., stepped in to coach the team with the assistance of headmaster, Dr. George Martin.
Basketball action included four games beginning with the Junior Varsity Girls winning with a score of 46-38. Leading the JV Lady Patriots was Meghan F. with 13 points, followed by Rickylyn C. with ten points. Chelsea D. scored eight points; Lydia P. had six points; Autumn M. had five points; and Emma B. and Mikayla B. each had two points.
“It was a real team effort as seven of the players scored. Our defense and rebounding were the keys to the victory. These little ladies are all over the ball and aren’t afraid to dive on the floor for a loose ball, said Coach Megan Carney.
The second game was a nail-biter and had the fans on their feet cheering on the Junior Varsity Boys’ team. The JV Boys were in a fierce battle the entire game trading leads back and forth with the Vikings. The Patriots ended up victorious by a score of 41-40 thanks to a three-point shot made by Holt M. with less than thirty seconds to go. Also contributing in a big way to their win was T.W. O. ten points and a key blocked shot in the last minute of the game. Zach L. led the scoring with 13 points. Two of his points were scored with less than two minutes remaining from a baseline jump shot while floating out of bounds.
Next, the undefeated Varsity Lady Patriots took the floor and increased their record to 13-0 with a 75-43 defeat of the Lady Vikings. At halftime, the Vikings were still in the game with the score at 31-22. However, in the second half, the Lady Patriots pulled away and scored 44 points. Leading the scoring in this game, Kristyn C. scored 24 points, including six three-point shots. This brings her total for the season to 39. Lauren V. added 14 points; Lexi P. and Amara E. each had 10 points. Dasha S. scored six points; Darlene H. had five points; Casey V. had four points; and Evie P. had two points.
“We have four players averaging in double figures, and two of them consistently rebound in double figures as well. That makes it difficult for our opponents to find a defense to stop us. We are averaging 74 points per game, and most of my girls score in each game. They are scoring as much as, if not more than, a lot of high school boys’ teams,” said Coach Frank Shanaberger. The Lady Patriots are 6-0 in the Virginia Commonwealth Conference (VCC), and they are ranked second in the VISGBA Division III state poll.
The Varsity Boys finished off the night with a 71-43 victory over the Vikings. Leading the Patriots in scoring was Junior Austin A. with 19 points. Senior Jan Z. added 17 points, eight rebounds, and six blocked shots. Jacob H. scored seven points; Reid J. and Tucker L. each had six points. Josh P. scored five points; Trevor M. and Bob A. each had three points; and Milos S. had two points after suffering a blow to the face that put him on the bench. The gym went wild when Michael W. made a three pointer at the end of the game.
The team’s record improved to 11-4 overall and 6-1 in the VCC Conference. It is ranked fifth in the State in Division III of the VISBA.
All four teams will play conference games at Kenston Forest School and Southampton Academy this week.
The Amelia Academy junior varsity men’s basketball team captured their first win of the season on Friday night against the Vikings from Brunswick Academy. Sophomore Zach L. led the Patriots with 13 points, freshman T.W. O. added 10 points to the Patriots’ win and freshman Holt M. made the game winning basket in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. Pictured is #20 T.W. O. and #52 Austin M. grabbing a rebound while #15 Zach L. waits to assist during the Patriots’ 41 to 40 victory. |
On Friday, January 21, the Amelia Academy junior varsity women’s basketball team faced the Vikings from Brunswick Academy. Pictured is #10 sophomore Mikayla B. going in for a lay-up. The Lady Patriots outscored the Vikings by a score of 46 - 40. |
Sophomore Darlene H. drives to the basket during the Amelia Academy Varsity contest with VCC rival Brunswick Academy. The Lady Patriots are still undefeated with a 13 - 0 record. The final score was 75 - 43. |
Amelia Academy senior Jan Z. scores another basket for the Patriots during Friday night’s 72 - 43 win over Brunswick Academy. Their record is now 11 - 4. |