CHILHOWIE, Va. – The bus driver could have started warming up Holston’s ride home just five minutes into the game.

That’s all the time it took for Chilhowie to grab Holston by the throat and devour the Cavaliers en route to a 68-41 Hogoheegee District thrashing Tuesday night.

“They put it to us,” said Holston coach Travis Gray. “They were very physical with us and we couldn't handle it and we couldn’t make a shot.

“Sometimes you tip your hat, and tonight is one of those times.”

Reid Sturgill turned in the game of his young life, knocking down six 3-point shots and exploding for 32 points for the Warriors.

The junior buried two 3s and a pair of mid-range jumpers as Chilhowie, fueled by frenzied fullcourt pressure, zoomed to a 22-2 stronghold with 2:41 still on the first-quarter clock.

The Warriors hit nine of their first 12 shots, including three 3-pointers, while Holston was turning it over eight times against a suffocating, diamond-and-one press.

“We worked really hard yesterday in practice on putting pressure on them with our press,” said Sturgill.  “Tonight we came out and executed our press very well.”

Longtime Chilhowie coach Johnny Sabo, whose club has won 10 of its last 11 games, insists his Warriors are suited best for an up-tempo attack that feeds off defense.

“We didn’t do much with our press before Christmas but we worked hard on it over the break and now the kids have bought totally into it,” Sabo said. “They are loving this pressing and running the floor.”

Up 24-3 after the first period, Chilhowie (11-9, 6-1) came back to earth in the second quarter and allowed Holston (5-12, 3-4) to get within 29-14 – before Sturgill hit a 3 at the buzzer to put the Warriors in front by 18 at intermission.

The 6-foot-2 point guard hit his sixth 3 to give Chilhowie a 58-28 advantage with seven minutes to play.

“I was just feeling it tonight,” said Sturgill, who heaved 10 3-pointers. “It felt good coming out of my hand, definitely.

“My teammates did a really good job getting me the ball, especially Conner Hayden.  He told me that if I was feeling it to keep shooting it.  He put a lot of confidence in me, and that really helped me out.”

Sabo noted that Sturgill’s performance was typical of how his club has been playing as of late.

“We’re playing well right now,” the veteran said.  “We had another kid [Dylan Thomas] go for 30 the other night himself.

“The kids are playing with a lot of confidence.”

The Warriors, who got 11 points from Jonathan Hayden and 10 from Thomas, hit nine 3-pointers.

“I don't know what we could’ve done defensively,” said Gray. “They were shooting the lights out of it.”

Holston was led by the 11-point effort of Ben Mossholder.

The Cavaliers committed a whopping 24 turnovers in defeat.

Chilhowie 68, Holston 41

CHILHOWIE - Reid Sturgill poured in 32 points to lead the Warriors to a home win. Jonathan Hayden added 11 points, and Dylan Thomas scored 10 for Chilhowie.

HOLSTON (5-12, 3-4)

Cole 1, Thomas 4, Davenport 9, Smith 6, Mossholder 11, Bazyk 10.

CHILHOWIE (9-10, 6-1)

Sturgill 32, Thomas 10, C. Hayden 2, McKinney 6, Hayden 11, Hood 2, Shuler 5.

Holston 3 11 12 15-41

Chilhowie 24 8 21 15-68

3-point-goals - Holston 2 (Smith, Davenport), Chilhowie 9 (Sturgill 6, Thomas 2, Shuler).

JV - Holston won.