Fast-paced offense, swarming defense and efficient execution are the typical trademarks that normally make for a long night for Cave Spring basketball opponents.
Tuesday night in the Cave Spring gym, River Ridge foe Blacksburg was up to the challenge to fend off the home team.
Forcing the Knights into 17 turnovers, hitting on their shots with uncanny accuracy in the second half and converting nine-of-ten free throws in the final minute, the Bruins headed out of town with a hard-fought 79-72 win that had Cave Spring scratching its head.
“Defensively, we just couldn’t get stops,” Cave Spring first-year head coach Jacob Gruse noted in the Knights locker room afterward. “We sent them to the free throw line 30 times. They made more free throws than we attempted.”
Blacksburg’s efficiency at the charity stripe was certainly a huge factor, as the Bruins made 23-of-30 from the free throw line, including the clutch nine down the stretch when Cave Spring was forced to foul. The Knights, on the other hand, struggled from the line, hitting only 7-of-16.
But, Blacksburg was on its game away from the free throw line as well, making runs in both halves when it looked like the Cave Spring offense was ready to provide some separation.
In the first quarter the Knights led 15-7 before the Bruins went on a 14-3 run to lead 21-18 in the early stages of the second. Cave Spring led by seven late in the first half before settling on a 33-27 advantage heading to the halftime break.
The third quarter saw Blacksburg find its shooting touch, hitting big from behind-the-arc and getting some breakaway layups when Cave Spring was slow on getting back on defense. The game was knotted at 50 heading to the final 8 minutes.
“I thought our defense was heading in the right direction in our last few games, but we hit a speed bump today,” Gruse said. “We could not defend anyone. We’ll get after it tomorrow at practice and pull in the reins tighter.”
Blacksburg kept the pedal to the metal in the fourth, hitting on key three-pointers. Two came from junior guard Hank Skutt when Cave Spring had a hand in his face on both occasions. The Bruins, never shy all night from long-range, hit 8 three-pointers for the game.
Blacksburg kept increasing its lead and was up 67-58 midway through the final frame. Cave Spring cut its deficit to 73-67 on a Mason Reyer 3-pointer in the final minute, and the Knights got it to five on a Brody Hicks’ bomb with 15.2 seconds left. But, Bruins Jacob Nottingham and Brandon Walters each hit a pair of free throws that put to rest any chance of a Cave Spring miracle.
“It was great shooting and great execution for us tonight,” Blacksburg head coach Doug Day noted. “We can play that fast style. We have guys who can shoot the 3s, and tonight we made good decisions. It was big that we made our free throws. That’s what you want down the stretch.”
Walters led the Blacksburg scoring with a game-high 21 points, including 11-of-14 from the free throw line. Skutt added 19, Chance Henderson 16 and Nottingham 14 for the Bruins.
Cave Spring was led by Brody Hicks’ 17 points, while Reyer canned 15, Cager Hicks netted 13 and sophomore Baker Haviland poured in 10 points for the Knights.
– Bill Turner
