On Tuesday the R-MA Middle School Boys' Basketball team was defeated by the Rappahannock Panthers 50-44. The Jackets got off to a hot start and led after the first period 12-4. The second quarter the Jackets were cold from the floor hitting only 3 of 15 shots and were only up at halftime 19-18. The Panthers started the third quarter by hitting their first four shots and outscored the Jackets 19 to 11 to take a lead after the third quarter 37-30. R-MA came back in the fourth quarter and outscored the Panthers but fell short by six points in the 44-50 loss.
Leading the way for R-MA was seventh-grader Michael Sumner who led all scorers with a season high 26 points. Eighth-grader Stanley Richards played a good defensive game and scored 9 points before fouling out in the fourth period. Seventh-grader Jonathan Bunker came off of the bench and hit a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter. Three eighth-graders contributed 2 points each: Kota Ikemoto, Griffin Loper, and Gil Iphael.
With this loss the young Jackets overall record is 7-1 and the VMSC record is 2-1. Thanks to all the parents, grandparents, siblings, faculty and staff, students, and fans for coming out and supporting your Jackets. On Thursday, January 15, the R-MA Girls' and Boys' teams travel to Martinsburg, West Virginia, to play the Saint Joseph's Crusaders. The girls are scheduled to start at 5:00 with the boys' game to follow.