The precision, the choreography, the teamwork, the intensity … the William Byrd student cheering section was on its game Tuesday night.

The Terriers boys basketball team? It was pretty good, too.

Spurred on by its raucous home fans, Byrd held Rockbridge County guard Andrew Rowsey to a season-low 19 points as the Terriers remained tied for first place in the Blue Ridge District with a 75-57 victory over the Wildcats.

William Byrd (14-7, 7-2) never trailed, opening a 27-14 lead after the first quarter and extending the margin to as many as 26 points in the second half.

Even before the tipoff, Byrd’s student fans had the thermometer rising in the cozy Vinton gym.

The Terriers have won eight straight home games since a season-opening loss to Cave Spring.

“To be honest, they are here win or lose,” Byrd coach Kevin Tuck said of the students. “They were good in our scrimmage at home. They’re more emotional than our team is. Our team’s kind of a bunch of calm, level-headed kids.

“Our student section brings the excitement. We love them. We wouldn’t trade them for anybody. I really do feel like they’re an advantage.”

Tuck wondered how much help his team would need against Rowsey, who entered the game with a 37.8 points per game scoring average and a standing as the No. 3 career scorer in VHSL history. Rowsey now has 2,480 points.

The Byrd coach just wanted to hold the 5-foot-11 guard below 38 points. His wish was doubled.

“If you hold him under his average, you give yourself a chance to beat them,” Tuck said.

To that end, Byrd employed a defense that has become familiar to Rockbridge County fans.

Terriers guard Zac Hill had Rowsey man-to-man much of the night, but whenever the Wildcats star got near halfcourt with the ball, a second Byrd defender would apply a double-team.

Forced to pass, Rowsey had six assists. The UNC Asheville signee got almost no open looks and finished 5 of 18 from the field.

“We didn’t set many screens,” Rowsey said. “It was pretty frustrating. That’s probably the most frustrated I’ve been all year.”

Hill and senior Darryl Preston, a pair of stout football players, proved to be difficult obstacles.

“My goal was to at least hold him under 30,” Hill said.

Meanwhile, four players – all juniors – scored in double figures for Byrd, led by 6-foot-3 Coty Collier with 24 points. Hill added 16, while Josh Marcus had 14 and Marvey’o Otey had 13.

Preston got a rare start on senior night.

“I had to decide who not to start,” Tuck said. “Marcus today, told me, ‘I want Darryl to start for me.’ ”

Collier got Byrd off to a hot start, drilling a 3-pointer for the first points of the game. He mixed in short jumpers from the baseline, a drive down the lane, a post move and another 3-pointer en route to a 16-point first half.

“He can go inside-out,” Tuck said. “That’s probably more inside than he’s had in a while. That was a nice bonus.”

Rockbridge had problems stopping dribble penetration and locating open shooters on the perimeter.

Trailing 42-32 at halftime and seeking more quickness, Rockbridge County coach Darrell Plogger benched No. 2 scoring threat Devonta Branche for the first six minutes of the third quarter. By then, the deficit had grown to 58-44.

“We just wanted to go a little quicker on defense,” Plogger said. “We had to figure out a way to stay in front of those guys. They just went by us off the dribble all night long.

“They’re good. If you get behind these guys and you’ve got to chase them, they can make it a long night.”

Five Byrd players hit a 3-pointer, led by Collier with three. The Terriers hit eight of their last nine shots in the first quarter.

“They’re always ready to shoot,” Tuck said. “They all like to shoot. We have guys at every spot that can knock down the three. We don’t have any guys out there that aren’t allowed to shoot it.”

Thanks to postponements, Byrd finishes the regular season with a trip to Lexington to face the Wildcats on Thursday.

The Terriers are tied for first place in the Blue Ridge with Northside.

Rockbridge needs a victory to finish third in the district.

“We’ve got to make sure we stay together and play hard,” Plogger said. “We’ve got to figure out a way to get them.”

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY (12-9, 5-4)

Long 5 1-1 11, Branche 3 0-2 8, Doll-Hennis 1 1-3 3, Rowsey 5 8-9 19, Merchant 0 0-0 0, Shafer 2 1-2 7, White 2 1-2 5, Wilson 2 0-0 4, Fridley 0 0-0 0, Staton 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 12-19 57.

WILLIAM BYRD (14-7, 7-2)

Hill 7 0-0 16, Preston 1 0-0 3, Collier 9 3-4 24, Otey 5 3-4 13, Byrd 2 0-0 5, Marcus 6 0-0 14, Newman 0 0-0 0, Horne 0 0-0 0, Beekman 0 0-0 0, Lewis 0 0-0 0, Harron 0 0-0 0, Stinnette 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 6-8 75.

Rockbridge County 14 18 12 13—57

William Byrd 27 15 22 11—75

3-point-goals — Rockbridge County 5 (Branche 2, Shafer 2, Rowsey), William Byrd 9 (Collier 3, Marcus 2, Hill 2, Preston, Byrd). Total fouls — Rockbridge County 13, William Byrd 17. Fouled out — none.

JV game — William Byrd won 44-34.

Weather Journal

12 hours ago