Charlottesville Varsity Basketball Recap 2014-2015

The Charlottesville Black Knights had an amazing basketball season this year, and that might be an understatement. The Black Knights went 19-1 in the regular season, finished with a 24-2 record and ranked number 6 in the Division 4A Rankings. They won the Jefferson District regular season crown, won the JD tournament and the Conference 23 Crown before falling 58-54 at EC Glass in the Elite 8. This past season was nothing short of incredible for the Black Knights.

The Knights were led by Seniors Jordan Saylor (Point Guard) Mica Girstantas (Shooting Guard) Malik Wingate (Wing) Troy Hughes (Forward) and Kendell Dennis (Center). The other regular players for the Knights were juniors Caleb Gage, Tyreek Ragland, and Deandre Bryant.

The Knights opened up their season by hammering Covenant 67-25 at Covenant. Their first real test was their second game, a home one against the 25th ranked William Monroe Dragons. The Black Knights won that competition, pounding the Dragons 81-55. The Black Knights went on to beat Covenant again, 66-36, and survived a home scare against Powhatan, only winning 58-50.

Then, the schedule thickened for the Knights. They travelled to nearby Albemarle High School, who was also undefeated. The 9th ranked Patriots were led by 6’6 sophomore Austin Katstra. the Patriots had hopes and the home crowd advantage, but the Knights showed up as well. After giving up a 17-point lead against the Patriots, the Knights eventually pulled away and won 55-46. The Knights finally showed their full potential. They went on to annihilate Louisa 79-45, and then took out the 13th ranked Western Albemarle Warriors at home 64-51. CHS showed who the real boss of the Jefferson District was.

Things were looking good for the Knights, standing at 7-0 and with wins over three ranked opponents. It didn’t hurt after beating JEB Stuart 82-60 and 21st ranked Turner Ashby 58-50 at neutral sites. Then, the Culpeper Blue Devils came to Charlottesville. The Blue Devils were 8-1, with their only loss to Albemarle. The game was home for CHS. The Devils were up by ten in the second quarter, but the Knights came back and cut the lead at half. The game stayed close, until the end of the fourth quarter when the 4th ranked Culpeper Blue Devils pulled away and beat the 2nd ranked Black Knights 68-58. Still, the Knights looked forward, with the experience of a loss in their minds.

The Knights cut through the rest of Jefferson District play, with quality wins over Fluvanna, Orange, Monticello, and Louisa. When the 11th ranked Albemarle Patriots came to CHS for their second regular season meeting, the Knights showed that they were back in rhythm beating the patriots 69-56, then taking out number 12 Western Albemarle 71-58 on their own court. The Knights charged out of the regular season 19-1, and 14-0 in the Jefferson District.

In the Jefferson District Tournament, the Knights played the four seeded Fluvanna Flucos for the third time, eventually pulling away and winning 70-51. In the Jefferson District Tournament Finals, the Knights faced off the third seeded Albemarle Patriots for a third time. The CHS gym was up to capacity, all 1,500 people it could hold. The Patriots started strong and led by two at halftime, 19-17 but the Knights came back. Finding themselves down by 4 with 2:45 to go, Jordan Saylor buried a three nearly 3 feet behind the arc. The next play, Mica Girstantas took a charge. On their possession, he nailed a baseline jumper to take the lead, and the Knights held on to win a low scoring Championship 48-42. Now, the Knights needed to prepare for the Conference Tournament.

Charlottesville pounded Handley 75-56, to go on to play Fluvanna for a fourth time of the year. The Flucos wanted that home court advantage in Regionals, and they came out strong. by the end of the third quarter, the Knights were down 44-34, thanks to Vinny Agee and the rest of the Flying Flucos. But the Black Knights weren’t giving up. Kendell Dennis had a steal and a layup with 7:32 to go in the fourth, to make the score 42-36. The Flucos didn’t panic and got another bucket, putting the lead back up to eight. Then Jordan Saylor had a steal and threw a long-range pass to Caleb Gage who scored, making the score 44-38. After a missed three by Vinny Agee, Caleb Gage dished the ball out out Mica Girstantas and the hot-shooting senior nailed a three from the baseline to make the score 44-41 Fluvanna. The next play, Saylor had another steal and threw it half court to the waiting hands of Kendell Dennis, who drove in and made a bucket, making it 44-43. After yet another missed Fluvanna shot, Gage took the ball in and missed, but Kendell was there for the putback, and the Black Knights led for the first time since the beginning of the second quarter. With 42 seconds left, Kendell had yet another putback, making the score 52-48. With 21.6 seconds left, Girstantas had a rebound, ran down-court, passed to Gage, and the junior made an and one. The score was 54-48, and closed out the win. Kendell Dennis had a career-high 23 points. The Knights were 23-1 and had home-court advantage heading into the Sweet 16 of the 4A Tournament.

The Knights hosted the two-seeded Millbrook Pioneers, who were 20-3, and a very quick paced, hot shooting team. Right before the end of the first quarter, the Pioneers dunked and took the lead 20-7. Things weren’t looking good for the Knights when it was 20-11 at the end of the first quarter. Then, again, the Knights came back. Gage had a personal 6-0 run that got the Knights going. The knights scored 23 points and held the Pioneers to 14 in the second quarter. At halftime, the score was 34-34. With 4:15 left in the third quarter, Gage had a bucket to take the lead for the first time, 40-39. The Pioneers hung around, but a Girstantas layup with 1:13 left put the Knights back in front at 59-57, and when Millbrook failed to convert on the next trip, they fouled Kendell Dennis. The senior forward missed the dire one-and-one leaving a chance for the Pioneers. Right on cue, Millbrook’s Trey Brathwaite sent the game into overtime with a layup.

Girstantas was having an off-game, but he woke up in overtime. He and Millbrook player Taryk Baylor exchanged free throws, then Millbrook took the lead with a bucket. Girstantas was fouled again, and made two more free throws. Donte Weaver for Millbrook made another bucket, making the score 64-62, but Taryk Booker fell and cramped up on Millbrook’s end of the floor, leaving a gap in Millbrook’s defense and allowed Girstantas to swish a three with 1:23 remaining and to take the lead 65-64. Baylor had a chance to put his team ahead from the line with 20 seconds left, but bricked two free throws while Girstantas made two on the other end. Millbrook was unable to make a shot at the buzzer, sending the Black Knights into the regional semifinals, the Elite 8 of Division 4A. The Knights were now 24-1.

The Knights headed to Lynchburg to play another one seed, EC Glass. Both teams were quick, well coached, and hot shooting. The Knights led at halftime 26-24, but this time it was the Knight’s opponents turn to come back. With 2:01 remaining, the Knights were down by four, and Gage hit a bucket to cut the lead down to two. Girstantas then came up with the steal, and passed it down the Dennis, but the senior couldn’t convert. By the end of it, EC Glass won 58-54, ending the spectacular season for the Knights.

Even though the Black Knights didn’t get as far as they wanted, Coach Mitch Minor and his 2014-2015 Team will never be forgotten, with emotional wins, comebacks, joy, sadness, and a great year to remember for the Black Knight’s fans.

Next year for the Knights, Caleb Gage, Murray Hill, Tyreek Ragland, Quintus Brooks and Deandre Bryant will all be seniors for the Knights, and 6’5 junior William Slate will be returning. Quick, hot-shooting juniors from the JV team will also join Mitch Minor and his team.

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