Charlottesville boys basketball is starting to hit their stride.
In their first game of the season, the Black Knights brought only seven players down to Lynchburg to play E.C. Glass due to sickness.
They still were not fully healthy in their next two games, losses to undefeated Wilson Memorial and Western Albemarle.
Monday night, Charlottesville took down previously unbeaten EC Glass to improve on a three game win streak which finds the Knights now 3-3 with another rematch with 6-0 Wilson Memorial looming tomorrow night.
“We had a lot of guys sick over the first few weeks of the season.” Charlottesville coach Mitch Minor said. “We’re just now getting into our rhythm.”
The Black Knights found themselves in a grueling defensive battle with the Hilltoppers early. Charlottesville held E.C. Glass (4-1) to seven points in the first but found themselves down 23-18 at the half.
The Hilltoppers could not miss in the third, extending their lead all the way to 36-23 at one point. Aidan Treacy nailed a triplet of treys in the period and Charlottesville seemingly had no answer.
However, the Black Knights turned it around.
Charlottesville’s signature full court press finally started breaking down the Hilltoppers. Aidan Yates nailed a deep top of the key three to cut the Hilltopper lead to 36-31.
The Hilltoppers seemingly regrouped and Treacy hit a three to push Glass’s lead back up to 43-35 heading into the fourth.
From there, Charlottesville finally got the Hilltoppers to do what they wanted them to do — turn it over.
The intense full court press caused numerous turnovers, and the Black Knights capitalized. Polo Hill and Keyshawn Hill scored back-to-back fast break points off turnovers and Glass just couldn’t hit shots like they did in the third.
Keyshawn Hill scored an and one to tie the game at 50 with under four minutes to play. Hill missed the free throw and Camp Conner finally knocked a three down for Glass in the fourth to put the Hilltoppers back up 53-50. Polo Hill made a free throw to cut the lead back to two and Yates intercepted a deep pass in the press. Keyshawn Hill finished in the paint and tied the game back up at 53-53.
The Black Knights continued to apply pressure and Keyshawn Hill made another two free throws-he was six-for-seven on the line in the 4th-to put CHS up 60-57. Glass’ O’Maundre Harris then went the full length of the court and made an and one to send the Glass faithful into a frenzy. Harris missed the ensuing free throw, however, and Caldwell Boyles secured the ball. Boyles knocked down both free throws and Glass couldn’t knock down two attempts to tie it up.
Keyshawn Hill scored 19, including 12 in the fourth, to lead Charlottesville. The Black Knights outscored Glass 27-16 in the fourth to send the Hilltoppers to their first loss.
For EC Glass, Camp Conner and O’Maundre Harris had 15, and Aiden Treacy had 13.
Yates had 12 and Polo Hill had 10 for the Black Knights. Charlottesville will host another unbeaten squad in Wilson Memorial (6-0) tomorrow night.
