GW boys finding their rhythm in win against Patrick Henry

Playing for just the third time in 18 days, the George Washington High boys basketball team might have been a little rusty when it took the court for Friday’s game against Patrick Henry.

But it didn’t take long for the Eagles to find their rhythm. GW went on a 14-0 run that spanned the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, then cruised to a 68-48 victory over the Patriots in a Western Valley District game in Danville.

“It seems like a really long time since we played,” said GW coach Bobby Martin, whose squad had been off since last Friday’s road win over Halifax County. “But I’m satisfied. The guys played hard. They played hard and I thought they played together.”

The Eagles, who are ranked sixth in this week’s Associated Press Group AAA state poll, improved to 12-1 overall and 2-1 in the district. The Patriots are now 5-11, 2-2.

The game was tied at 11 late in the first quarter before GW began its run, which concluded with a putback by sophomore forward C.J. Barksdale at the 4:43 mark of the second quarter. The Eagles led 33-22 at halftime and broke the game open by outscoring Patrick Henry 11-2 to start the third quarter.

Barksdale finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. Senior Stephen Coles added 18 points and five rebounds, while junior guard Chris White came off the bench and added 13 points, five rebounds and three steals.

“We tried our best to work hard and play up to our potential,” Barksdale said. “We were confident in our minds that we were going to come out and play hard.”
Patrick Henry did most of its damage from beyond the 3-point arc, hitting nine triples to just two for GW. Terrell Wilson hit four threes and Darren Thomas added two. Wilson paced the Patriots with 20 points.

The taller Eagles dominated inside, outrebounding the Patriots 17-4 in the first half and 33-13 overall.

“I’m pleased with the rebounding,” Martin said. “They just beat William Fleming (the only team to defeat GW), so they had our respect. We’re going to come out and attack the glass. That’s what we’re going to do.”

GW travels to Chatham on Wednesday for a non-district game and hosts Franklin County on Friday.