RAPP SPORTS UPDATE
Rapp sports teams are well into their winter seasons and have been racking up the wins as they head for their holiday break.
Girls basketball: Varsity girls have split their last four games, wins over Stonewall Jackson and Nelson County offsetting losses to Luray and Strasburg. Highlights included Julia Estes’ two double-doubles, with 20 points and 16 rebounds at Luray and 16/18 at Nelson. Kayla Robey has racked up almost 60 points in that fourgame span, boosting her scoring average to double digits, and Brooklyn Phillips, Olivia Atkins, Brianna Settle and Missy Phillips have also contributed to the stats columns and to the team’s success. JV girls have also played .500 ball over the past four games, with losses to Stonewall and Luray balanced with wins over Strasburg and Nelson County. Both teams hosted Madison County last night (Wednesday, Dec. 21, results too late for this article), and then take a break until January.
Boys basketball: Varsity boys earned their third win of the season over Strasburg last Friday, eclipsing their win total from the past two seasons with, hopefully, more yet to come this year. Close losses at Stonewall Jackson and at home against Nelson were wrapped around a thrilling win over Strasburg last Friday night. Coach Mike Atkins and assistant coach Jim Racer have worked hard to produce a team that leaves it all on the court every night and leaves fans cheering into the last seconds.
On the JV hardwood, coach Henry Shackelford’s team has racked up three straight wins over Stonewall, Strasburg and Nelson, with tough defense and an unwillingness to be cowed by bigger opponents becoming a hallmark of the season. Both varsity and JV teams traveled to Madison County Tuesday (results too late for this article).
Junior Panther basketball: The JP boys and girls teams have been marching in lockstep with their records, both teams dropping games to Luray Dec. 12 and then rebounding with big wins over Front Royal Christian Academy and Chelsea Academy. Both teams hosted William Monroe this Tuesday evening and finished the pre-holiday part of their schedule last night at Madison County (results of both too late for this article) .