Closer, but not close enough for Blues
Richlands (56) Vs. Lebanon (67)
Jan 02, 2014
By ANTHONY STEVENS
for the Daily Telegraph
Lebanon 67, Richlands 56
After losing to the Pioneers by almost 40 points in the Virginia High tournament earlier in the season, Richlands made a game of it before falling to the Lebanon boys 67-56.
“Obviously I would have liked to have won the ballgame, but we closed the gap a lot,” Richlands coach Jody Fuller said. “They handled us pretty good in the tournament, but I thought my kids stepped up to the challenge. They didn’t come in here playing scared, I thought we competed.”
Richlands (3-4, 0-1) held an early 5-2 lead after a basket by Luke Phillips. Lebanon (8-1. 1-0) had a 7-0 run to take the lead and never trailed again. But the Blues stayed within striking distance.
Ben Brown posted another double-double for Richlands with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Cody Fuller added 12 points, making four of the Blues nine 3-pointers.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it all year, I’ve never seen a kid play as hard as Ben,” stated Fuller. “He did get a little tired tonight which is very unusual. He was relentless on the boards, although he plays power forward for us and is always undersized.”
Sophomore Tanner Robinette led the Pioneers with a game-high 23 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds. Owen Slate added 11 points.
RICHLANDS (3-4)
Phillips 3 0-0 7, Fuller 4 0-0 12, Ratliff 3 1-2 9, Brown 8 4-4 21, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Herndon 1 0-0 3, Ball 1 0-2 2, Austin 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 5-8 56.
LEBANON (8-1)
Sexton 1 0-0 3, Smith 4 0-0 8, Bollinger 2 0-0 6, Slate 4 0-0 11, Robinette 10 3-5 23, Helton 2 0-0 6, Stamper 3 1-3 8, Long 0 0-0 0, Adams 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 4-8 67.
Richlands........................12 16 11 17 — 56
Lebanon...........................15 20 16 16 — 67
3-point goals – Richlands 9 (Phillips 1, Herndon 1, Fuller 4, Ratliff 2), Lebanon 9 (Sexton 1, Helton 2, Stamper 1, Bollinger 2, Slate 3). Total fouls – Richlands 10, Lebanon 8. Fouled out - none. Technicals – none.