Powhatan team holds on to take
66-62 win over Southside foe Greensville County

Powhatan High School’s basketball team faced its first significant Southside District challenge last Friday night when Greensville County came to visit.

The Indians led by four to six points throughout most of the game but the real test came when they fell behind late in the final quarter. Taron Hampton’s three tied the game with less than two minutes left but it was Emmett Brown’s amazing baseline drive that sealed the 66-62 win for Powhatan.

“I’ve watched the films three times and I don’t know how he did it,” said head coach Steve Washburn. Brown drove the baseline, split two defenders and somehow came up on the opposite side of the rim to score and put the Indians up by four with less than a minute remaining. They then held on for the win.

Powhatan carved out a comfortable four to six point lead for most of the game and led 20-15 at the end of the first quarter. Back-to-back rim rattlers by Luke Meyers and Brown pushed the Indians to a 33-27 lead at the half.

The Eagles 6’7” Jacolby Wells, a tough All-District center, typically created interior problems for the Indians. His eight third-period points brought the Eagles back to even.

Ironically, Wells’ biggest challenger on the boards was 5’8” Shawn Minor. The sophomore point guard led the Indians with 16 points, half of which came on offensive rebounds and put-backs.

“We had very balanced scoring with four guys in double figures,” Washburn stated. Brown had 15 points on the night, Meyers 12 and Hampton 10.

Explosive point guard Keon Kerry led the Eagles with 17 points.

The tight fourth quarter was just the measuring stick his team needed, according to Washburn.

“I couldn’t have been more pleased. It is the first time we’ve faced a late-game test. We responded very well. We played fairly well overall and took good shots, we just didn’t make some that we should have. Again, our foul shooting left a lot to be desired.”

The Indians shot 6 for 15 from the charity stripe.

Powhatan is now 8-0 overall and 3-0 in the district.