Alleghany Tops Buffalo Gap After Strong Second Half

Cougars pull away with 18-4 third quarter run in Shenandoah District win

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Alleghany High School's boys basketball team broke open a close game with a dominant third quarter performance, outscoring visiting Buffalo Gap 18-4 to pull away for a Shenandoah District victory. Bubby Entsminger led the Cougars with 14 points, while Des Jordan added 11 and Jalen Raether scored 8 in the win.

Why it matters

This was an important district matchup between two local rivals, with Alleghany looking to build momentum heading into the postseason. The Cougars' ability to take control of the game in the second half shows their potential as a team to watch in the district and regional tournaments.

The details

Alleghany broke the game open with an 18-4 run in the third quarter, sparked by 10 straight points from Bubby Entsminger to start the half. The Cougars shared the ball well, recording 7 team assists led by Entsminger and Kevin Worley with 2 each. Talyn Elliott grabbed a team-high 8 rebounds, while Trevor Jonas pulled down 5.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 19, 2026 in Covington, Virginia.

The players

Bubby Entsminger

A key player for Alleghany High School, scoring a game-high 14 points and sparking the Cougars' decisive third quarter run.

Des Jordan

Scored 11 points for Alleghany in the win.

Jalen Raether

Contributed 8 points for the Cougars.

Talyn Elliott

Pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds for Alleghany.

Trevor Jonas

Grabbed 5 rebounds for the Cougars.

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The takeaway

Alleghany's ability to take control of the game in the second half shows their potential as a team to watch in the district and regional tournaments. The Cougars' balanced scoring attack and strong defensive effort in the third quarter proved to be the difference in this rivalry matchup.