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CULPEPER 66, JM 57
Boys basketball: Culpeper vs James Monroe
Date published: 1/10/2008
BY TAFT COGHILL JR. James Thompson didn't become head coach of the Culpeper boys basketball team until September. But it hasn't taken long for the former Blue Devils assistant coach to put his imprint on the team. The Blue Devils finished last season 5-17, but have already doubled that win total after last night's hard-fought 66-57 nondistrict road victory over James Monroe. It was the second win in as many nights for the weary Blue Devils (10-3), who never trailed after a 12-2 first-quarter run gave them the lead over James Monroe (3-7). "It's been all about attitude and work ethic," Thompson said of the reasons for the Blue Devils' success this season. "We wanted to keep it simple and establish that as our identity. We wanted that to be our foundation." The message has certainly gotten through to Thompson's players. Last night, Culpeper was paced by 16 points from guard Kyle Majors, one of four players in double-figures. Solomon Francis added 13 before he left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, Eric Washington had 12 and Odie Veney contributed 10 (all in the second half). "We're just coming out trying to work hard every day," Washington said. "I know teams are going to think we're sorry [because of last season], but we want to prove that we're somebody." The Yellow Jackets are certainly believers after their second loss to the Blue Devils this season. They kept pace in the first half, which featured both teams going on significant runs, but the Yellow Jackets fell behind 49-35 after three quarters. The deficit grew to as many as 16 points before JM turned up the pressure defensively. With back-to-back baskets from sophomore forward Shakim Armstead, the Yellow Jackets pulled within 62-57 with one minute remaining in the game. "I'm proud of the guys," Yellow Jackets head coach Antonio Coghill said. "They could've folded up, but they didn't quit." Culpeper was nursing its five-point lead after guard Stevie Strother missed two free throws with less than a minute remaining. Veney pulled down the offensive rebound at the end of that sequence, but the Yellow Jackets had another chance to foul Strother. However, with Coghill and his assistant coaches urging their players to take the foul on Strother, they allowed Majors to get the ball.
Date published: 1/10/2008
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