By Sean Korsgaard

Special to The Farmville Herald

The Fuqua School varsity boys and girls basketball teams clashed with Millwood Monday night in what would prove to be a hard fought evening for all teams involved. Despite Fuqua’s boys team’s efforts, the Falcons fell 69-46. The girls defeated Millwood 43-30.

It didn’t take long for both the Falcons and Bobcats boys to pull out their claws. Despite an early lead in the first quarter for Fuqua, Millwood would pick away at it in the first half before taking the lead and running away with it in the second half.

“I’m proud of our kids and the effort they gave. They followed the game plan and played hard; we just turned the ball over a few times too many in the second half,” said Fuqua boys’ head coach Chuck Thomas. “It was a good team defensive effort; we kept up right there with them until the last half of the fourth quarter, when it just got away from us.”

Both teams played very aggressive defense throughout the night, including racking up more than a half dozen fouls each. That type of aggressive, fast-paced play favors Millwood’s style, and played a major part in their victory, according to Millwood boys head coach Brandon Jones.

“It took us a while to find our rhythm, but once we did, we took control of the game,”

said Jones. “Fuqua played a hard game tonight, but the style of ball favored the way we play, and I think we just tired them down by the end of the game.”

Jones went on to say that the win was an important one for Millwood, not just because the Bobcats are coming off two hard losses, but to get the team to mesh together more.

We needed this win tonight, just to make sure we remain road tested, we’ve got such a diverse group of kids — three seniors, three juniors, one sophomore, a group of freshman and an eighth grader,” said Joners. “Getting them to grow up, work as a team, I’m proud of the effort they put forward tonight.”

For Fuqua, Thomas singled out Julian Gee for top play, but commended the entire team.

“All of our kids played hard tonight,” said Thomas. “I just hope we learn from this and get better from here.”

The Fuqua School girls basketball team on the other hand, would give the Falcons some much needed silver-lining. In their match against the Millwood Bobcats girls’ team, the Falcons played a very dominant game leading by as many as 16 points by halftime, and fended off a late game rally by Millwood.

“Fuqua is a very strong, well-coached team,” said Millwood girls’ head coach Trey Poston. “We had a hard time in the begining handling their pressure, we did a little better in the second half, but it just wasn’t enough. I take my hat off to Fuqua.”

The keys to Fuqua’s victory came down to a combination of a tandem defense lead by sisters Sallie Vick and Ellie Vick, and strong offensive play from Sallie Vick and Taylor Frink. Frink scored 12 points, while Vick scored 17, most of which came in the second half.

Those efforts that did not go unnoticed by their coach.

“Sallie Vick and Taylor Frank played probably the best game I’ve seen them play all year long,” said Fuqua girls’ head coach Harry Bryant. “Sallie Vick played the best game she’s ever played tonight.”

The Fuqua varsity boys team will return to action on Monday when they travel to Goochland High School at 2 p.m.

The Lady Falcons will play on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Fluvanna County High School. The time has yet to be determined.