Chargers go 1-1 in Rustburg event

Published 10:51 am Wednesday, January 4, 2017

The Central High School varsity boys basketball team played in a Christmas Classic last week at Rustburg High School and went 1-1 against the opposition it faced there.

After falling to the Virginia High School League Group 3A host team Dec. 28, the Chargers defeated William Campbell High School 63-60, their second victory this year over the Generals.

“We started out really well, and we had a bad second quarter,” Central Head Coach Mike McGrath said, “but we recovered in the second half and ended up being able to put some pressure on them, and they turned the ball over like I was hoping they would.”

The Chargers took a 17-7 lead after the first quarter, but then William Campbell outscored Central 21-9 in the second period to grab a 28-26 halftime lead. Each team scored 14 points in the third, but Central won the fourth 23-18.

Junior Darryl Jones led the Chargers with 22 points, junior L.J. Watson scored 21, and senior Tylik Thomas added 10 while contributing excellent play on defense.

On Dec. 27, Central fell 65-55 to the Rustburg Devils.

“That was the best team we’ve played this year,” McGrath said.

Holding a 33-28 lead at halftime, the Chargers struggled to keep up in the second half when they were outscored 37-22.

Chargers senior Raymond Alexander scored 16 points in the contest, Watson generated 13 and Jones added 12.

Central (3-6) visits Goochland High School on Wednesday and Amelia County High School on Friday. Both games are set for 7 p.m.