On Tuesday the R-MA Middle School Boys' Basketball team hosted the Fresta Valley Pioneers in a VMSC tournament semi-final contest. The team started the game by missing easy baskets but quickly picked up the pace and led after the first frame 13-0. The second period saw an exchange of baskets and at halftime the Jackets had a 21-6 lead. During the third period the team scored 15 points, seven by Kota Ikemoto, and led 36-15 after three periods. During the fourth period the entire bench saw action and contributed six more points to finish the game with a 42-19 victory.
The scorers for the young Jackets were seventh-grader Michael Sumner who scored a game high 17 points, eighth-grader Stanley Richards who scored a nice 10 points, eighth-grader Kota Ikemoto who got hot during the third period and contributed 7 points, eighth-grader Ian Mounts who threw in 4 points during the final period, and eighth-graders Ishmael Bobbitt and Gil Iphael who had 2 points each.
With this win the R-MA Middle School Jackets advance to the VMSC Tournament Championship game on Thursday at Rappahannock where they will play the regular season champions, the undefeated Panthers. The Jackets fell to the Panthers 44-50 during the regular season in a highly contested game. The championship game has the potential of being a really enjoyable game for spectators. Each team has talented players with the ability to score. The Jackets hope to avenge the earlier loss and bring home the VMSC Tournament Championship.