William Monroe takes the 5th

STANARDSVILLE — The next time the Fluvanna County and William Monroe girls basketball teams square off, it will be too soon.

Playing for the fifth time this season, the Greene Dragons successfully defended their home turf against the Flying Flucos 48-41 in the quarterfinals of the Region II, Division 3 tournament.

“It was a huge game for us,” said Monroe coach Phillip Lamb. “It’s the first time we’ve been (in the Region II tournament) so I didn’t know what to expect. But this team, all year, they’ve never been too high or too low emotionally.”

Up by as many 13 points in the second half, Monroe watched Mia and K-anna Loyd get Fluvanna (18-7) to within four points midway through the fourth quarter.

However, both Loyd sisters fouled out shortly thereafter and Dragons seniors Leah Krynitsky and Melanie Lamb were able to put away the game at the free-throw line.

“Fluvanna always gives us their best,” Melanie Lamb said. “In the third and fourth quarters, we just pushed the ball hard and played our game.”

Lamb led Monroe (19-6) with 15 points, five assists and three steals despite missing much of the first half because of foul trouble. Krynitsky had a nice line as well, finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds and five blocks.

“Leah’s our anchor back there on defense,” Phillip Lamb said. “If we get in trouble she’s always there to clean things up.”

The Loyd sisters scored 25 of their team’s first 30 points, and collected 23 of the teams 26 rebounds, each finishing with double-doubles. K-anna Loyd had 14 points and 13 rebounds. Mia Loyd finished with 15 points, 10 boards and four steals.

The Flucos found themselves down by at least nine points in both the first and third quarters but fought back on both occasions.

“If we’re going to go down, that’s how we’ll go down,” said Fluvanna coach Chad White. “We fight and we claw. That’s why we’ve been successful this season. To go out this way, I can sleep a little easier.”

The Dragons will travel to South Riding to play Freedom High on Thursday in the semifinals.

“Defense will be our key,” Phillip Lamb said. “We’re not going to blow anyone out.”

With his team’s season over, White hopes that his returning players take a page from Monroe’s seniors.

“We told the young ones to put in the work in the summertime,” White said. “[Monroe] is a great example of that. Last year, they won two games. It’s obvious they put in the work and came back as a team. There’s no way you go 2-20 and come back the next year and win the district without working hard.”