Boys Basketball: Wolverine Shooting Sinks Pride Defense

By Owen Gotimer
Heritage High School student journalist

Leesburg (Dec. 21, 2010) - Following a tough loss to Westfield High School Monday night, the Heritage boys basketball team looked to go into their holiday break with a win over newly established Woodgrove. However, AA Woodgrove, who had already beat AAA Loudoun Valley earlier in the season, made another statement Tuesday, defeating the Pride, 71-59. These first-year Wolverines are no joke.

Woodgrove, led offensively in the first half by Brad Gilson (game-high 31 points) and Brett Danielson, dominated play, shooting lights out from behind the arc (6 of 7 from 3-point range). But, the most apparent reason that the Wolverines went into the half up 15 was rebounding. The Pride snagged just seven boards in the entire first half, which made controlling the ball and scoring very difficult.

Heritage's challenge to coming back looked even more difficult as Woodgrove's keen shooting Gilson added to the lead with two quick three-pointers early in the third quarter. Despite what looked to be a game that was long gone, the Pride regrouped. Led by junior duo Austin Nelson and Courtland Arbogast, the Pride cut the lead to eight, 50-42, before going into the fourth quarter.

Nelson and Arbogast continued to pour on the offensive production, and with around three minutes left in the game, Heritage only trailed Woodgrove by a mere four points.

The tables looked to be turned 180 degrees, but Heritage couldn't sustain the comeback as they started fouling the Wolverines. Woodgrove re-opened up another healthy lead, as Gilson knocked down 10 fourth quarter free throws.

Although the Pride played a much more solid second half of basketball, Woodgrove's shooters proved to just be that dominant for the 71-59 victory.

Woodgrove Scoring
Matt Caslin – 4 points
Brett Danielson – 14 points (2 for 2 on free throws)
Brad Gilson – 31 points (12 for 13 on free throws)
Josh Sweet – 6 points
Andrew Traub – 9 points (6 for 7 on free throws)
Brendan Wells – 7 points (2 for 3 on free throws)
Totals – 71 points, 11 two-point field goals, 9 three-pointers, 22 of 27 from the line

Heritage Stats
Austin Nelson – 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
Corey Gray – 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Bryan Launi – 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Erik Launi – 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist
Aaron Summers – 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist
Dion Swanson – 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 assist
Joe Cavan – 6 points, 1 steal, 1 block
Junaid Karim – 1 steal
Courtland Arbogast – 17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Totals – 59 points, 20 rebounds, 9 steals, 1 block, 7 assists, 12 of 16 from the line