No. 9 Potomac (Va.) pulls away from Stone Bridge
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Version 0 of 1. Potomac started off Saturday night too aggressive. In search of transition buckets, the Panthers overextended on Stone Bridge’s first two possessions and gave up easy baskets off back-door cuts. But passing lanes quickly tightened and open cutters disappeared. Constant pressure successfully sped Stone Bridge up as No. 9 Potomac ran away with an 85-67 victory in Dumfries. “We have to stay disciplined. Sometimes we go too hard trying to force turnovers,” junior center Nana Opoku said. “You got to use your IQ. You got to use your wits and pick your spots.” Senior Devante Bailey poured in 19 first-half points as the Panthers opened the second quarter on a 13-0 run. Potomac (7-0) scored more than 80 points for the fifth straight game. “We have four or five guys that could score 17 a game if they played for another team,” Coach Keith Honore said. “When they scout us, defenses have to pick their poison. On any night, somebody could go off, and tonight was Devante’s night.” Bailey finished the game with a career-high 25 points and added 10 rebounds. “We were sharing the ball, so it’s [about] where you’re supposed to be and you get to score,” Bailey said. “Once I got going, I had motivation to keep scoring. My teammates and coaches keep me going.” Stone Bridge (6-1) sat point guard Evan Buckley much of the game with an ankle injury as Potomac feasted on the secondary ballhandlers. When forced into half-court sets, the Panthers maintained their scoring pace by dominating the offensive glass. Guard Jeffery Gordon posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Opoku’s 14 points were highlighted by a pair of two-handed slams off rebounds. “Blocking shots and defending the paint, that’s my role on this team,” Opoku said. “I buy into my role and do what I do best, rebound, maybe dunk the ball, rebound, whatever I got to do to help the team.” The game was a rematch of last March’s 5A North semifinal contest, which Potomac won, 55-49. Stone Bridge’s Division I prospect Nick Barnes started the game but limped off with an ankle injury in the opening minutes and did not return. Branden Curry led all scorers with 28 points for the Bulldogs. “It’s hard to prepare for their pressure. We knew that’s what they were going to do, but we couldn’t handle it,” Stone Bridge Coach Corey Stitzel said. “But we’ll see them again. We’re going to play them in the region playoffs, we’re going to see them at states.” |