Girls Basketball: Woodgrove Clinches Dulles District's Top Seed with Second Win Over Loudoun County in Less than 24 Hours

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun Editor
Leesburg (Feb. 13, 2012) - The Woodgrove High School girls basketball team bench provided much of the Wolverines scoring Saturday, including 20 points and a school record tying six 3-pointers from sophomore Linsey Fagan, and a defensive spark in the return of junior Brittany Basinger, as the Wolverines knocked off Loudoun County for the second time in less than 24 hours, 61-53 Saturday afternoon in a special playoff at Heritage High School.

"Oh my gosh. It feels so awesome," said Fagan after her career game.

Woodgrove's 51-44 win Friday night in Purcellville ended the Raiders 34-game winning streak against Dulles District opponents and forced the playoff Saturday as both teams finished the regular season 15-1 in district. The win Saturday earned the Wolverines the district's top seed for the tournament that starts Monday.

Woodgrove will host Park View at 8 p.m. in a quarterfinal match-up while Loudoun County faces Potomac Falls at 6 p.m. The other two girls quarterfinal Dulles match-ups: Heritage hosts Briar Woods and Tuscarora hosts Dominion, both at 7.


While Loudoun County (16-7) got off to fast starts against Woodgrove (20-2) in the first two meetings, on Saturday it was a dead even from the tip and all tied 32-32 when Basinger, who has spent the last week training and making the U.S. Women's U-17 National Soccer Team and went straight from Dulles Airport Saturday to Heritage, made her first appearance with 6:47 left in the third quarter.

"She gave us the spark we knew she was going to give us," said Woodgrove coach Kevin Copley of Basinger, who normally starts at point guard for the Wolverines.

Loudoun County, behind the powerful play of senior Casey Cummings who had a game-high 26 points and 15 points, pushed ahead 36-32 but Fagan drained a 3-pointer to touch off a 10-0 run and Woodgrove never trailed again in the contest. During that stretch, with Basinger leading an aggressive fullcourt press, the Raider struggled to get the ball over halfcourt and committed turnovers on five of six possessions.

The Raiders were able to get within a point, 44-43, heading into the final quarter but with the score 45-43, Fagan nailed back-to-back 3-pointers that spelled the end of County's hopes. As the Wolverine lead stretch all the way to 56-44, the Raiders went more than eight minutes without a field goal.

Woodgrove's bench scored 34 of the team's 61 points and it was needed as the Wolverine starters got into early and heavy foul trouble. The Woodgrove foul woes led to the Raiders shooting 21 of 28 at the foul line to stay in the contest as they were cold from the field, making just 14 of 55 attempts, including 4 of 20 from 3-point range.

"We need to find a way to play better for four quarters," said Loudoun County coach Derek Fisher.

With Fagan a hot 6 of 8 from beyond the arc, Woodgrove shot 7 of 12 on 3-pointers.

Cummings, for one, relishes the possibility of a rematch if Woodgrove and Loudoun County can advance to the Dulles finals Friday.

"My teammates were saying lets focus on Potomac Falls but I'm like I want to focus on a championship game against Woodgrove," said Cummings.

Woodgrove 61, Loudoun County 53
WG 17 13 14 17 - 61
LC 15 15 13 10 - 53

WG: Tilly 1 0-0 3, Hardison 4 1-2 9, Buxton 2 1-2 5, Lynch 2 0-0 4, Purnell 3 0-0 6, Lorinchak 1 2-2 4, Fagan 6 2-4 20, BROBasinger 1 0-0 2, Hornyak 1 0-0 2, BRIBasinger 1 4-10 6. Totals 22 12-20 61.
LC: Lapple 1 1-2 4, Linnemann 1 6-8 9, Phillips 0 1-2 1, Kirby 2 4-6 8, Cummings 9 7-8 26, Maxey 1 2-2 5. Totals 1 2-2 5.