Girls Basketball: Heritage Opens with Win over New Crosstown Rival Tuscarora

By Owen Gotimer
Heritage High School student journalist

Leesburg (Dec. 2, 2010) - The 2010-11 girls basketball season officially got underway Wednesday night with Heritage High School tipping off with a 52-39 win over new crosstown rival Tuscarora.

Starting off the game on an 8-0 run, Heritage looked good early on controlling both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The first basket in Tuscarora girl’s basketball history came late in the 1st quarter, as junior point guard Darrian Pickett hit a fade away jumper from inside the paint.

After that, the first quarter was all Pride, and Heritage went into the 2nd up 16-4.

The second quarter was won by the Huskies as junior forward Amirah Al-Bayyinah scored three easy layups off intercepted passes; however, the Pride still went into the half up 24-14.

A change of defensive strategy at the beginning of the second half, including a press and zone defense, threw off the Pride for the first couple of minutes and the Huskies drew within six points.

The Pride’s offense, however, woke up, led by freshman Breana Smart (11 points), junior Sydney
McDonald (9 points, 6 rebounds), senior Erika Grabbi (8 points, 11 rebounds), and junior Kayla Whoolery (8 poinst, 6 rebounds), and Heritage expanded the lead back to a comfortable 13 points.

Down by 15 going into the final quarter of the play the Huskies still had fight in their eyes, but the deficit was too big. Needing to foul late in the quarter to stop the clock, Tuscarora ended up fouling the Pride’s Smart all three times. She knocked down 5 of the 7 free throws, ultimately icing the game for Heritage.

Tuscarora Scoring
Darrian Pickett – 13 points
Amirah Al-Bayyinah – 7 points
Chanelle Wideman – 2 points
Gozi Mickles – 5 points
Janai Mitchell – 2 points
Alex Lang – 6 points
Roxanne Orr – 4 points

Pride Stats
Erika Grabbi – 8 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists
Sydney McDonald – 9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists
Mackenzie Moore – 5 rebounds
Laura Nibbelink – 4 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists
Debbie Reilly – 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
Breana Smart – 11 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists
Kayla Tibbs – 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists
Kelsey Tidgewell – 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 blocks
Kayla Whoolery – 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist

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