RICHMOND − It was a back and forth game, and every time it looked like Greensville County was going to pull away from Fluvanna County, something would spark the Flucos into fighting back. And after fighting back from a pair of double-digit leads, Fluvanna’s luck finally run out as their shotting hand went cold down the stretch in the fourth quarter and the Eagles were able to pick up a 57-47 win in the Group AA Division 3 quarterfinals in Richmond at the Siegel Center.
“Fluvanna was not an easy team to beat,” said Greensville coach Ruby Allen. “They gave us a lot of competition. (The Loyd) sisters are two very good ball players. One had 20 points and the either got 15, it’s not something we’re used to – having two players that can dominate.”
But as humble as Allen was in victory, she had a dominant set of weapons of her own in Gabriel Tyler and Doyle Kerris.
In the first quarter, the two teams traded baskets with the Eagles assuming a 4-point lead late in the frame. The deficit increased to 10 points midway through the second as Greensville started the quarter but Mia Loyd was able to work the gap down to three points before the end of the half, running the court and pushing up the tempo of the game.
“We wanted to get it fast paced from our scouting,” said Fluvanna coach Chad White. “We wanted to speed it up and try and get some of their players tired.”
But much like they did in the second quarter, the Eagles opened up the second half strong, putting together a 9-0 run to get back out in front by double digits. And once again the Flucos were able to fight back as Sarah Ryan and Mia and K-anna Loyd brought the lead back down from 12 points to five midway through the fourth quarter.
However, Fluvanna went cold on its next three possessions. And with the clock winding down, Greensville hit their free throws and wrapped up the win.
“This one was a tough one because we were hoping to be playing on Tuesday,” White said. “(Greensville) came out and punched us in the mouth early but we started punching back and it was a battle until the end.”
6-foot 2-inch forward Tyler, who will play for Charlotte next year, was a force on both ends of the court, rebounding on both sides, setting up shop inside the paint offensively and blocking shots on defense. And with Tyler drawing the eyes of the Fluvanna defense with her presence down low, Kerris was able to create a shots from both long-range and short.
Tyler finished with a game high 25 points and 12 rebounds while Kerris finished with 18 depsite being saddled with foul trouble all game.
The Loyd sisters combined for 35 points with Mia leading all Flucos with her 20-point day. K-anna tallied 15 points and led her team with eight rebounds in her final high school game.
“For the first three years on varsity we could only get to the first round of regionals,” Loyd said. “So at first I was just happy to get past that (this year). But I’m very happy and proud of our team for taking Sarah and I this far.”
Fluvanna is expected to return nine players as Loyd and Ryan are the team’s only seniors.
