Mitchell Paces Lady Dukes Past Blacksburg

Mitchell Paces Lady Dukes Past Blacksburg
By David Gravely

When only two players on your team score, the outcome normally isn't the one you want. When the final buzzer sounds, however, and one of those two players has outscored the opposing team all by herself, you get the results that the Dublin Middle School Lady Dukes found as they defeated Blacksburg on Wednesday by a final score of 28-20.

The first quarter found both teams playing solid defense, but having trouble finding the bottom of the basket. After six minutes of both teams being force to take hurried shots and having shots blocked, the score was tied at 4-4.

The second quarter found the Lady Dukes getting better looks at the basket, but still missing many of their shots and free throws. As was the case in their previous game the night prior, the offense looked confused at times as Head Coach Buddy Farris continues to teach his younger girls the offense. Dublin continued to apply pressure on defense, however, and were able to keep the Lady Bruins off balance offensively. The Lady Dukes outscored Blacksburg 8-4 in the second quarter to take a 12-8 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Dublin was able to hold Blacksburg in check until the final thirty seconds of the third quarter. Blacksburg scored four of their six points in the final thirty seconds to bring the game back to within reach. The quarter ended with the Lady Dukes holding on to an 18-14 lead.

Blacksburg started the third quarter off with more defensive pressure, and with 3:12 left on the clock hit a three point shot from the top of the arch to get within three points, 21-17. The Lady Dukes were able to add five more points in the course of the next two and a half minutes before Blacksburg hit another big three pointer with 39 seconds left, putting the score at 26-20 in favor of Dublin. Steals from Meredith Mitchell and Moriah Hinton, along with a final second layup from Mitchell put the game on ice for the Lady Dukes.

The 28-20 win moves Dublin to 7-4 on the season. Meredith Mitchell led all scorers with her 25 point effort. Moriah Hinton added three points.

Dukes Fall To Wolverines

Dukes Fall To Andrew Lewis
By David Gravely

The Dublin Middle School basketball team hosted Andrew Lewis Tuesday evening, and despite a third quarter rally to get the score close the Dukes fell 37-23 to the Wolverines.

After a first quarter of tough defense by Andrew Lewis and poor shooting by the Dukes, Dublin quickly found themselves down 8-2. Dublin regrouped in the second quarter, however, and after regaining the composure offensively they began to attack the basket. Good passing and shot selection put the Dukes back in the game by halftime, with Kevin Smith scoring six points as the Dukes brought the score to 12-17 at the half.

Both teams exchanged baskets in the third quarter, but Dublin added enough defensive pressure to continue to chip away at the Wolverines lead. With 3:18 left in the third, Issac Poe pulled up and hit a three point jumper to tie the score for the first time and give the Dukes some momentum for the first time in the contest. Andrew Lewis changed up their tactics and began to press on defense, going on a nine point run to retake the lead. Miguel Garcia put an end to the Wolverines run with a block with 25 seconds left in the quarter, and Head Coach Richard Lewis went into the fourth quarter searching for some offense.

The fourth quarter found the Dukes struggling again, as Andrew Lewis put the press back on and increased their lead to 32-20 with 4:50 left in the game. Unable to press the ball up the court far enough to run their offense, Dublin was forced to foul the repeated attacks by the Wolverines. Dublin was held to three points in the final quarter, allowing the Wolverines to take home the 37-23 win. Isaac Poe led the Dukes in scoring with eight points. Elliot Brewster followed closely behind with seven, while Kevin Smith added six. Bradley Church added two points to round out the scoring.

Andrew Lewis Outlasts Lady Dukes

Andrew Lewis Outlasts Lady Dukes

By David Gravely

Dublin Middle School sixth grader Taylor Dickerson hit a jump shot from just outside the free throw box to give the Lady Dukes their first lead of the game in the opening seconds of the third quarter, but Andrew Lewis was able to outscore Dublin in the second half to take home a 30-24 win.

The Wolverines started the game off on a hot streak, taking a 6-0 lead before Lady Dukes Head Coach Buddy Farris called a time out to calm his team down and get them on the right track. The Lady Dukes responded with tough defense and more aggressive drives to the basket, and by the end of the first quarter the score was tied at 6-6.

The young Lady Dukes team had trouble offensively for most of the night, missing multiple opportunities at the free throw line to take the lead. The half ended with Andrew Lewis holding on to a 11-10 lead. The Lady Wolverines should have had another two points, but a split second before the buzzer sounded to end the quarter Alexis Phillips came through with a huge block to end the half.

"We've made some changes to our offense, and the girls are still learning" said Coach Farris. "We've got some young players out here, and while we can play solid defense, we really need our girls to settle down and run our offense. They just need some confidence and they need to take better shots. We also need to work on hitting our free throws."

Dickersons third quarter jump shot was immediately answered with a layup by Andrew Lewis on the other end of the court, but the Lady Dukes continued to play solid defense and keep the game close. A rally by the Lady Wolverines in the final seconds of the third quarter gave them four of their seven points for the quarter, putting the score at 18-14 going into the fourth.

Dublin went into a press defense in an attempt to force turnovers, but the Lady Wolverines were able to break the press and force fouls on the other end of the court for free throws. Down 18-26 with just under two minutes left, the Lady Dukes went on a six point run to bring it close, but Andrew Lewis finished the game strong at the free throw line to win 30-24.

Meredith Mitchell led the Lady Dukes with eight points. Taylor Dickerson, Moriah Hinton, and Amiah Stables added four points each, while Lexi Hurst added three point. Tianna Crockett rounded out the Lady Dukes scoring with one point. The loss moves the Lady Dukes to 6-4 on the season.