Team Detail
Girls Varsity BBall Earns Tough Wins with Teamwork and Resilience
With a little grit and a lot of upperclass leadership, the squad was able to to keep its win streak alive and currently stands at 5-0 on the season.
The Maroon came out with an incredible amount of fire in Thursday's matchup against the Panthers, anticipation for which had been brewing for weeks. Although Potomac netted the first couple of buckets, EHS emphatically responded by opening up a 12-2 run midway through the first half. Maya Goree '18 asserted herself as an dominating offensive player, wreaking havoc with her inside-outside shooting. The team's defensive efforts were also impressive, holding the visiting team to one shot on each possession and limiting their opportunities for dribble penetration. At the break, EHS led by a 25-16 margin.
The second half was (as we continue with the Charles Dickens motif) "the best of times" and the "worst of times". In quarter three, it seemed like the Maroon could not miss a shot. A basket from Dymin Gerow '20 here, a layup from Emma Jones '18 there. With Weger leading the rebounding efforts on both ends of the court, Episcopal was able to extend their lead to 20 as they entered the final stanza of the game; it was at this moment, however, that Potomac showcased how tough they really are. With 6:37 left in the game, they began to chip away at the daunting deficit by taking advantage of our weak closeouts and missing help-side defensive rotations. They also became white-hot on the perimeter, knocking down four trifectas in a matter of minutes. EHS, conversely, struggled with their full-court pressure and the momentum shift that now heavily favored Potomac. With just over a minute left to play, the Panthers snagged the lead and- after two consecutive EHS turnovers- were poised to pull off a truly stunning comeback.
With just 11 seconds remaining, though, Singletary advanced the ball up the court and, realizing her passing options were limited because of Potomac's pressure, found Goree on the baseline. The senior caught the ball, ripped through, and attacked the seams of the defense with the confidence of a seasoned varsity athlete. As the final second ticked away, the ball dropped effortlessly through the net, sending the Maroon into overtime. In the extra period, true teamwork helped solidify the win for the home team. Gerow's layup with contact caused the entire gym to erupt with joy. Weger's rebounding and free throw shooting anchored the team's confidence. And the squad was able to perform a collective gut-check as they clawed back control of the contest, finally earning a 59-55 victory in dramatic fashion.
