Charles City uses stifling defense to hold off Dragons in season opener

By Robb Johnson | December 3, 2024 12:36 pm

Charles City’s Shane Jones throws down a two-hand slam at the end of the opening quarter Monday night.

Robb Johnson photo

With Charles City losing their top two scorers to graduation, the Panthers know they have to find wins in new ways and take them as they come. On Monday night, it was defense.

Behind a team effort on the defensive end and 16 points from senior Gavin Stewart, Charles City mustered a 37-29 season opening victory over the visiting Appomattox Regional Governor’s School Dragons.

In the early going, Charles City struggled to find any offensive cohesiveness. Meanwhile, ARGS leaned on newcomer Torrence Goodlow, who scored the first six points for the guests and provided them with a one-point advantage (6-5).

Charles City picked up the physical play, with James Harris IV mustering through the paint for back-to-back scores. Then, it was a returning Shane Jones who swung momentum as his steal and subsequent two hand slam brought the home crowd to their feet as the Panthers led 15-8 after the opening quarter. Charles City stretched that lead out to 10 (22-12) by the end of the first half.

The second half contained a lot of sluggish play expectant of a season opener. And that slow pace allowed ARGS to creep back into the contest. With Jones exiting the game in the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Dragons cut Charles City’s lead down to five (28-23).

But the home team would once again lean on the veteran Stewart in the scoring column. A pull-up jumper followed by four free throws by Stewart provided the stop to ARGS’ comeback and clinched the Panthers home win.

After the contest, third year Panther Head Coach De’Quantae Mason spoke about cleaning up the basics to return to a more Panther style of basketball.

“I need to see us take care of the ball,” he commented. “This game was a little ugly.

“We have to stay disciplined and make our free throws,” Mason added. “Everything else should fall into place after that.”

Stewart’s 16 led Charles City (1-0) in the scoring column. Jones finished with eight, while Harris tossed in seven, Terrell Crawley contributed four, and Damian Zuidema chipped in with two.