GW Danville rolled into Roanoke Thursday night in a chartered motorcoach, looking to stay atop the tight Western Valley District basketball race.
When the dust cleared at the Colonel gym, it was William Fleming that was ready to ride in a royal carriage.
Fleming came out of the gate in regal fashion, forging a 40-19 halftime lead before holding off a late Danville charge to take the WVD showdown 76-72.
The win improved the Colonels to 5-1 in the WVD with their final two games in district play scheduled for the Colonel home court.
“I’m thrilled and ecstatic,” Fleming head coach Mickey Hardy said in the Colonel locker room following the game.
“We were intimidated down there,” Hardy added of a 28-point loss in Danville earlier this month. “Our guys worked hard to prepare for tonight.”
Fleming put the pedal down from the opening tip and ran the court with reckless abandon. The Colonels made a night of breakouts from the defensive end that led to outmanned layups at the other end.
The Colonels led by 18 after three quarters before GW made a late push with 32 points in the final frame that was a case of too little, too late.
Adrian Dungee made a pair of key moves down the stretch to quell any hopes of an Eagle miracle.
“I wanted the ball at the end,” Dungee said afterward. “I was able to get to the basket for a big layup. The atmosphere here helped. Now, we’ll take it one game at a time.”
Shalik Law spearheaded a tough Fleming attack with a game-high 19 points. Warren Craft added 16 points, while Dungee ended with 15 and Qushawn Robertson 11 for the Colonels.
Fleming finishes with Franklin County Tuesday, and a rematch with Patrick Henry this Friday night, Feb. 1st.
“There are no easy ones in the Western Valley,” Hardy added with a smile. “It’s tough competition. We were picked at the bottom, but our guys have said different.”
by Bill Turner
