Team Detail
Maroon Falters in IAC Tournament Semifinals
The boys' varsity basketball team traveled to Maryland to face the No. 2 seed Bullis Bulldogs in an IAC semifinal game.
The two teams split the regular series season, so both teams had great confidence heading in to this much anticipated match-up. The first quarter opened with strong play from both teams. EHS and Bullis were battling for every rebound and loose ball, and both teams showed a high level of intensity. Episcopal was more effective on the offensive end of the floor in the opening period, and the Maroon led 18-16 after eight minutes of play. The second quarter was another great effort by the Maroon, and for the first six minutes of the period Episcopal was the stronger team. EHS had the ball, up four points, with about 1:40 to play in the half, but a series of turnovers and bad defensive plays allowed the Bulldogs to take control. Instead of a halftime lead, the Maroon trailed at the break by a score of 37-35.
The third quarter was another great battle between these two teams. Bullis would make a run, and Episcopal would answer; the Maroon would make a run of their own, and the Bulldogs would then answer. It was a back-and-forth affair for most of the period, and then some fatigue and foul trouble by Episcopal began to play a factor. Bullis increased their lead by a few baskets, and after three quarters of play the Bulldogs were ahead of Episcopal by a score of 62-56. The Maroon had the ball to open the fourth quarter, but back-to-back turnovers by Episcopal led to two easy transition baskets for Bullis to open the quarter. That created the first double-digit lead of the game (10 points) by either team, and the Maroon needed a timeout. Bullis could sense that EHS was faltering a bit, and the Bulldogs took advantage. Over the next six minutes of the game, Bullis handily controlled both ends of the floor. EHS could not get any shots to fall, and this resulted in offensive opportunities for the Bulldogs. EHS was outscored 25-10 in the final period, and Bullis advanced to the IAC Championship by defeating Episcopal 87-66.
EHS is now 18-9, and the team finished the IAC season with a record of 7-5. The High School is ranked No. 6 in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division I, heading into the tournament's first round on February 27.f
