Last week the Danville boys’ basketball team (1-3, 0-0) edged out Ridgewood (1-2, 0-0) for their first win of the young season, but they couldn’t keep up the momentum with a pair of losses to Granville Christian Academy and Smithville.
On Dec. 5 the Blue Devils beat the Generals in a 58-57 nail biter, led by four Danville players in double figures for scoring.
It was tied 4-4 in the first quarter when Ashton Spaulding came up with a steal, and then followed with a three from the corner to go up 7-4. Walker Weckesser launched a three of his own to make it a 15-6 game. The dominance continued with Kendall Carter scoring on a fast break stemming from a General turnover, putting the Blue Devils up 17-6. It was a 17-8 lead for Danville after one quarter.
In the second quarter the Blue Devils had a 13-8 advantage, making it a 30-16 lead at halftime. Wesley Payne had 10 points to lead the Blue Devils, and Weckesser had a pair of threes for six points. Carter also had six points.
At the beginning of the third quarter, Spaulding put the Blue Devils up 33-18. Up 35-22, Carson Proper showed some strong rim protection with a blocked shot on a driving Ridgewood player. Carter also showed great hustle on defense, chasing down a player for a block to stop a fast break. Weckesser made it a 40-26 game when he hit his third shot from downtown, and Payne increased the lead to 49-35 on a three from the corner on a fast break assisted by Spaulding. Danville led 49-38 after three.
In the fourth quarter, Ridgewood mounted a comeback and outscored Danville 19-9, and while they were able to make it a one point game, the Blue Devils held on for a tough win.
The Blue Devils were led by Carter’s 14 points. Payne and Weckesser each had three makes from deep and 13 points apiece. Spaulding scored 11 points, while Nate Stephens had five and Proper had two points to go with a pair of blocked shots.
The Blue Devils shot 43% and 39% from three, while holding Ridgewood to 35% and 26% from deep. Danville led 38-33 in boards and 16-10 in assists, but Ridgewood had a 19-7 advantage in steals. Both teams had three blocks.
Danville followed with a loss to GCA (4-1, 1-1) on Dec. 7, but it was a tight game through three quarters as the game was tied 32-32. However, GCA had a big fourth quarter to take a 57-46 win. Danville got a solid night out of Spaulding, who had a game high 21 points with three makes from downtown.
On Dec. 9 Smithville (2-1, 0-0) came to town and the game was out of reach from the start in a 72-45 loss. The Smithies led 20-2 at the end of one quarter and 36-9 at halftime, en route to a blowout win. Weckesser led the Blue Devils with 23 points in the win, and was the lone Danville player in double figures.
