By Jim Ridolphi
Contributing Writer

For the second time in seven days, Goochland and Powhatan squared off on the basketball court. Monday night, it was Goochland’s turn to host but Powhatan’s turn to win as the Indians left town with a 70-57 victory.

The Bulldogs snatched an early lead, but once the Indians drew even at six they never looked back. Powhatan’s aggressive play on the boards and a young undersized backcourt shredded the usually stingy Bulldog defense to lead by as much as 19 points.

“That was probably the best game we’ve played all season; the most complete effort,” said Powhatan coach Steve Washburn.

Powhatan’s leading scorer, Chris Deleon, notched only six points, but three of his teammates picked up the slack. Tyler Allen (game-high 21 points), Tyler Amorese (18) and Joey Balcom (13) combined to score 52 of the Indians’ 70 points.

Goochland coach Preston Gordon was not as pleased with his team’s performance.

“I don’t think our focus was there tonight,” he said. “I don’t think our effort was as good as it should have been. We didn’t play up to our potential.”

Gordon acknowledged the Indians’ stellar defensive effort. “I give credit to Powhatan and their defensive effort,” he said. “They disrupted us and forced us to take some shots that we didn’t want to take.”

The Bulldogs mounted a second period comeback and drew within one late in the quarter but Powhatan several steals and fast breaks gave the Indians a 27-23 lead at intermission.

While the Indians converted on several quick second half baskets, the Bulldogs remained stuck at 23.

“We just couldn’t put the ball in the hole tonight,” Gordon said.

Goochland had four scorers in double figures but rebounding statistics were not as kind.

By the end of the third quarter the Indians had a seemingly insurmountable 49-32 lead with a large chunk coming on three 3-pointers from sophomore guard Tyler Amorese.

“We gave them easy baskets,” he said. “That came from us being out of position defensively. Our kids are better than that.”

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs leading scorer, James Brooks, was on the Goochland bench with four fouls.

“We have to get it going earlier in the game,” Gordon said. “We outscored them in the fourth quarter but that couldn’t make up the deficit.”

Powhatan (3-8 overall, 0-3 Jefferson District) returned to district play with losses to Monticello on Tuesday and Fluvanna on Thursday.

Deleon scored 16 points and Balcom added 13 in the Indians’ 76-50 loss to Fluvanna.