Louisa County’s boys basketball team found a different gear on both ends of the floor in the second quarter Monday night.
That’s when the Lions poured in 21 points and blew open a two-point game with a stingy defensive effort before cruising to a 76-46 victory over Charlottesville High in the Jefferson District semifinals.
The win vaults top-seeded Louisa into the Jefferson District championship game where they’ll face Albemarle for the third time this season. They edged the Patriots in the last meeting on a game-winner.
Jarrett Hunter, who led the Lions with 21 points, scored six points during that critical frame while Xavien Hunter also chipped in six of his own. Malik Bell, who finished with 17 points, went 3-for-4 at the line during the second quarter. Meanwhile, the defense locked up the Black Knights, holding them to just nine points in that frame.
Chris Shelton scored all 12 of his points after the break and Brandon Smith finished with eight points to round out the bulk of another balanced offensive effort for the Lions.
Louisa’s depth wore on the Black Knights in a meeting at CHS earlier this season and it appeared to do the same in this clash as the Lions held the Black Knights to just nine points in the fourth quarter too. Neale led the Black Knights with 21 points and Isaiah Washington had seven. Charlottesville struggled for offensive production beyond those two.
Charlottesville is locked into a Class 4, Region D clash on the road against Bassett Friday night while the Lions will face Albemarle before jumping into Class 4, Region B play.
