Week #18 - Varsity Badgers Earn Another Sweep!

Maya was all business today.  Off a beautiful baseline out of bounds play, she squared her shoulders and scored an eight foot jumper. She stole the ensuing inbounds pass, and sent the ball straight to Aoife, who scored again.  The Badgers were down 2, but just for a moment, because on the next offensive trip, Annie found Aoife AGAIN.  The game was tied, and that was brief as well, because Aoife got an offensive rebound, scored, and was fouled - cashing in the free throw and giving Tandem a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter - a period in which Aoife had ELEVEN POINTS!

 

In the second period, Maya was back to her old tricks.  She got a steal and earned a trip to the line.  The Tandem defensive press was so intimidating! If Quantico passed to the left, Maya was there - earning steals on consecutive plays and getting back to back lay ups.  She had 6 in the quarter and 12 for the game! If Quantico passed to the right, well, let me introduce you to Juli, a defensive juggernaut, who is simply not allowing any players into her space.  Juli got the ball quickly ahead to Annie, who converted a lay up. As Oscar mentioned, "it's kind of like we're up by 60!" 

 

The Badgers took a 27-19 lead with them to halftime, and were just getting started. In the third period, Ginger and Aoife were incredible on the boards, coming down with nearly every rebound and creating extra possessions.  When the guards were in foul trouble, Marilyn provided key minutes, getting rebounds and extending possessions.

 

Annie was busy doing Annie things - like shaking her defender out of her boots and beating her to the rim. Moments later, after one of her nine steals, the defender stepped back (wouldn't you?) and Annie hit a three all the way from the downtown mall!  She had seven in the third, creating a huge gap for Quantico to overcome.

 

Quantico did not give up.  They continued to fight in the final period, getting a few transition baskets and trimming the lead all the way to six. Unconcerned, Annie passed the ball inside to Ginger - who - as I predicted at halftime, scored a key basket to put the game away.  When it was time to salt away the clock, Juli used her patented head fake, got the defender in the air, and scored a key mid-range jump shot. And Annie, our fearless point guard, drew foul after foul late in the period. She got up. She got fouled again. She got up. She got fouled again. Talk about taking one for the team - we appreciate you, #14!

 

The Badgers were led by Aoife's career high 21 points, Annie's 9 points, six assists and nine steals, Juli's defensive prowess, and of course Maya's 12 points, half of which came off the press!  The team has won their second in a row - improving their record to 2-0 in conference play!  I am so proud of the relentless effort the girls played with this afternoon!

 

The Girls Varsity Badgers return to action on Thursday, January 8 vs WCDS at 4:00 in the Badger Den, and then play Quantico again on the road on Friday, January 9 at 4:00.

 

On Tuesday night, the Boys Varsity Basketball team drove up to Woodberry Forest, taking on one of the best teams in the state.  For three quarters, it was a two possession game, with Tandem giving Woodberry all they could handle. Sean had 30 against a 6'10" center! And Isaac had a block that you could use to create a new building! This team has given their absolute all - getting to the gym at 6:30 in the morning - and challenging each other to play at an elite level.

 

With an effective man to man press, Quantico had lots of turnovers early, and Tandem took advantage.  Keeman finished with 8, and he was smooth with it, taking the ball to the basket, cutting off screens, and knocking in a deep three from the right corner.  No matter how many defenders Sin encountered, he slithered his way into the paint.  Always shooting with the highest degree of difficulty, Sin had ten, all of them in the paint, and lots of rebounds among the trees to boot.

 

Sean had a few buckets in the paint.  Then, as Quantico probably saw it, he did them a favor.  He stepped out for a sequence of jumpers, and none of them even touched the rim. Sean had 13, and he had them quick, all in the first period.

 

Quis, as always, was unselfish, hitting cutters as they went through the paint. He still had 12 in eight minutes, including two threes. Isaac, who also had 12, shot his threes from another dimension - and Quantico didn't even bother to contest them. This quintet accounted for 30 points in the opening period, and the Badgers led 30-8.

 

In the second period, Quis had a dunk from his position at the high post, and cleared the way for the second unit.  Tre'Sean was a defensive force - essentially glued to his opponent - not even allowing him to touch the ball.  Additionally, he was not afraid to go after rebounds, out-leaping players double his size. He also earned several trips to the line.

 

Mason, who finished with 8, had a steal -  and he pushed it ahead to Derion who is automatic from three. Providing lots of joy for the crowd - Anthony and Seamus worked beautifully together. Seamus had a putback and a bucket off a give and go - and that was before halftime! 

 

In the second half, Seamus got a steal, and found Mason who threw a no-look pass to his brother.  Every Badger scored tonight - Shaan got in the paint for a smooth lay up and Anthony and Seamus had 6 each! The Badgers did it all without Tre - earning a big win on our home floor.

 

Like the Varsity Girls, the Varsity Boys play WCDS at home at 5:30 on Thursday, 1/8 and then travel to Quantico for a 5:30 tip on Friday, 1/9.

 

Special thanks to our awesome, highly animated crowd! Lots of families, students and teachers came out to support tonight!  And thanks to Emory and Dev, our epic managers, and of course to Jocelyn, who worked the scoreboard with ease.