Albemarle wrapped up its second road win of the week and solidified its position atop the Jefferson District with a 70-57 victory over crosstown rival Charlottesville on Friday night.
The Patriots built a double-digit first quarter lead behind the tandem of Jake Hahn and Austin Katstra. However, the senior forwards’ points came from 22 feet, rather than at the rim.
“We were expecting a more physical game than last time, and they always play better here,” said Katstra. “We just took whatever shots were open, and those happened to be threes and they went in.”
Charlottesville senior guard Jaylen Hudson heated up in the second quarter to pull the Knights back within three. He drove the lane four times for layups, the last one resulting in a three-point play with a drawn foul. However, the Patriots restored their 10-point margin in the last three minutes as Katstra asserted himself from close range, while Hahn and junior guard J’Quan Anderson drew trips to the line.
“We weren’t planning on making it a three-point contest,” said Albemarle coach Greg Maynard as it took a while for his squad to establish its offense in the paint. “They came out playing really physical on us inside, and instead of working harder to get it in, we settled for the three-point shots. Our game plan was to take it at them inside.”
Albemarle kept it going out of the break by starting the third with a 10-0 run, opening a 42-22 lead.
“That hurt,” said Charlottesville coach Mitch Minor. “We actually had chances to score first but missed two layups in a row.”
Instead, Hahn drove and converted two layups, and Katstra added a close-range bucket-and-one.
“I thought we won the game in that stretch,” Maynard said. “They always play well in their home gym. Even though we were up 10 at halftime, that can go real quick if you don’t come out with some intensity at the beginning of the third.”
The Patriots led 52-31 after three. Maynard looked to rest starters with a road trip on the docket for Saturday; however, Hudson and senior Patrick Ronayne pulled CHS back within 15 at the 2:52 mark. Hudson’s three with 1:20 to go made it 67-55, but Katstra converted at the line to ice the game.
“We’ve got a game in the Virginia Preps Classic (in Virginia Beach) tomorrow and I was trying to get my big guys some rest, but they came back,” said Maynard. “First priority is winning tonight’s game.”
Katstra finished with a game-high 29 points for Albemarle. Hahn had a huge night on the boards, grabbing 15 rebounds to complete a double-double with 17 points. Anderson added 12. Hudson led CHS with 25 points, and Ronayne rounded out the double-figure scorers with 11.
“Hudson did a great job of driving and attacking, that’s what he does,” Minor said. “The guys played hard, but we broke down of defense a lot. Down the stretch, they got some easy drives, got to the basket, and made some easy shots.”
AHS (16-1) heads to Green Run High School Virginia Beach on Saturday for an out-of-district clash against 6A Granby, and then returns home to host Fluvanna County on Tuesday. After beating Powhatan on the road Thursday night, CHS (12-5) will host the Indians on Tuesday.
