LEWISBURG (WVDN) – If it seems the losses are starting to add up for the 6th-ranked Greenbrier East Spartans, it is true — in a sense.
However, it is not because East is in a rut, or because they are getting worse, but it is simply a result of the extremely difficult schedule they have played — and will continue to play — for the rest of this season.
On Friday, Feb. 10, the Spartans lost to Class AAA No. 1 Shady Spring 65-51 and the following Saturday suffered a 52-38 loss to Radford, Virginia, a team that has only lost five home games since 2011 and features Division 1 recruit Elijah Kelly.
Shady (15-3) had a 3-point party as soon as the game tipped off. Point guard Braden Chapman hit one, then Cam Manns drained one from the corner and a couple possessions later, Amarr Maxwell hit a triple from the wing, and Shady led 9-2 right off the bat. However, East battled and took a 10-9 lead on Goose Gabbert’s old-fashioned 3-point play and later led 16-14 on Gabe Patton’s 3 ball.
Shady scored a couple more times and led 18-16 after one.
Braden Chapman’s brother, Cole, caught fire in the second and hit a 3 and made both of his free throw attempts to extend the Tigers lead to 29-23 later in the quarter. Shady stretched that lead to 9 points, but a 3 from Monquelle Davis and a bucket from Patton cut the deficit to 34-28 at the break.
East cut it to 34-31 early in the third, but it was all Shady Soring from there. Each time the Spartans looked like they may make a run to chip away at the lead, Cole Chapman or Cam Manns would come up with a big shot to keep East at bay. They used a 7-0 run, and Gabbert got banged up and just did not look like his normal self for much of the contest.
Adam Seams and Bryson Brammer led East with 10 points each.
Cam Manns had 20 points to lead Shady. Braden Chapman had 17, Maxwell 11 and Cole Chapman chipped in 10.
SS: 18 16 12 19
GE: 16 12 9 14
On Saturday, Feb. 11, Gabbert missed the Radford (18-3) contest due to his hip injury.
Gabbert’s absence, coupled with having to face Kelly, made for a bad mix for the Spartans in their neighboring state.
Kelly scored 9 points in the opening quarter and lived around the rim. He also stepped out and knocked in a triple to show his versatile game.
East (10-8) also struggled to contain Gavin Cormany who hit several tough shots from the outside.
The Spartans only trailed by 6 at halftime and by just 5 after three, but late in the third, a technical on Brammer ignited a 13-0 run for Radford and an 18-4 run the rest of the game.
Seams led East with 10 points.
Kelly scored 15 for Radford.
GE: 7 13 14 4
R: 15 11 13 13
