Girls Basketball: Heritage Hurdles First Half Deficit for First Time

By Owen Gotimer
Heritage High School student journalist

Leesburg (Jan. 27, 2011) - The Heritage High School girls basketball team, coming off a non-district win last Friday against Broad Run that put them over .500 for the season, looked to knock off Potomac Falls for the second time this season. In order to win Monday's non-district game, however, the Pride would need to do something they hadn't done all year, which was win a game after trailing at halftime.

And that is exactly what Heritage (9-7, 1-2) did as the Pride edged Potomac Falls (6-10, 5-5), 33-32 on Sydney McDonald's free throw in the final seconds, to sweep the season series. Heritage won the first meeting, 53-47.


The Panthers won the tip off and the initial momentum from the very beginning as Panther freshman guard Teal Reynolds led all scorers in the low-scoring first half with six points. In a half dominated by turnovers and questionable shot choices, the Panthers went into halftime leading 19-12.

A different defensive scheme allowed the Pride to up the tempo of the game and they outscored the Panthers in the third quarter 12-3. The Pride came into the game shooting just over 19 percent from three-point range, but had two key three-pointers from junior guard McDonald that started the Heritage offensive surge.

Up just two points going into the fourth quarter, 24-22, the Pride once again utilized a different defense. This time, however, the Panthers took advantage and retook the lead. Keeping the lead was difficult for both teams in the fourth quarter: which saw three lead changes and three ties.

Fouls were a problem for Potomac Falls in the second half as Heritage was in the bonus late in the game. The Pride, on the other hand, had only committed four second half fouls, and thus had fouls to give.

With just over 30 seconds left, the game was tied 32-32 and the Panthers inbounded the ball to go the length of the floor. Potomac Falls head coach Lynn Ewald took a timeout as his team entered the forecourt with 19 seconds left.

It was no surprise that the Panther’s final shot chance went to Reynolds, who was blocked by McDonald. After the blocked attempt Reynolds fouled McDonald, pushing the Pride into double bonus as it was the Panthers 10th foul in the half.

McDonald missed her first free throw, but knocked down her second to give the Pride the edge late in the game. Potomac Falls had one last chance with four seconds left, as Reynolds tossed up a half court prayer that went answered, giving the Pride their ninth win of the season, 33-32.

Friday night the Pride will take on the Vikings of Loudoun Valley in a girls and boys double header at 6 and 8 p.m. respectively in Purcellville.

HERITAGE 33, POTOMAC FALLS 32 H (9-7, 1-2) — McDonald 10, Grabbi 6, Moore 5, Tibbs 4, Whoolery 4, Reilly 2, Tidgewell 2. Totals 12 6-15 33.
P (6-10, 5-5) — Reynolds 10, Mueller 6, Murphy 5, Guttridge 4, Mook 4, Jefferies 3. Totals 15 2-6 32.
Halftime: Potomac Falls, 19-12.
Three-point goals: H 3 (McDonald 3).
Rebounds: P 38 (Reynolds 2, Mueller 5, Murphy 7, Guttridge 6, Mook 12, Jefferies 5, Hooper), H (Tibbs 4, McDonald 3, Grabbi 3, Whoolery 1, Moore 3, Nibbelink 1, Reilly 3, Tidgewell 4)
Assists: P 8 (Reynolds 3, Murphy, Guttridge 2, Jefferies 2), H (McDonald 2, Tibbs 2, Nibbelink 2)
Steals: H (McDonald 2, Tibbs 3, Grabbi 4, Whoolery 5, Moore 1, Nibbelink 1, Tidgewell 5).
Blocks: H (McDonald 1, Tidgewell 2)

Earlier Game
HERITAGE 45, BROAD RUN 42 (5-6, 2-3) — Ferguson 12, Miller 9, Mines 9, Cabellos 3, Melhuish 3, Miller 3, Melendez 2, Tashjian 1. Totals 16 9-22 42.
H (8-7, 1-2) — Tibbs 11, Moore 7, Nibbelink 6, Reilly 6, Whoolery 6, Grabbi 5, McDonald 2, Tidgewell 2. Totals 18 9-19 45.
Halftime: Heritage, 19-12.
Three-point goals: B (Miller).


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