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Tavon Tarpley, Langley hang tough to edge Madison in a Conference 6 clash Tavon Tarpley, Langley hang tough to edge Madison in a Conference 6 clash
(35 minutes later)
While idling near midcourt in the final two minutes of Friday’s boys’ basketball game at Madison, Tavon Tarpley scrunched up his face and turned to the Langley sideline with four fingers flashing.While idling near midcourt in the final two minutes of Friday’s boys’ basketball game at Madison, Tavon Tarpley scrunched up his face and turned to the Langley sideline with four fingers flashing.
“Coach, I have four fouls, right?” the Saxons senior asked, to which his coaches nodded their heads.“Coach, I have four fouls, right?” the Saxons senior asked, to which his coaches nodded their heads.
One year ago, a question like that, at that juncture of a tightly contested Virginia Conference 6 game, would have worried Saxons Coach Scott Newman. But now, after a summer devoted to attacking the basket, things like foul trouble, lingering leg cramps or Langley’s shrinking lead no longer bother Tarpley, who instead tells himself “next play, next play.” One year ago, a question like that, at that juncture of a tightly contested Virginia Conference 6 game, would have worried Saxons Coach Scott Newman. But now, after a summer devoted to attacking the basket, things like foul trouble, lingering leg cramps or Langley’s shrinking lead no longer bother Tarpley, who instead tells himself, “Next play, next play.”
So after briefly being sidelined by leg cramps, an aggressive Tarpley reemerged to snag a critical steal and hit key free throws that sealed Langley’s 62-57 win against rival Madison in Vienna.So after briefly being sidelined by leg cramps, an aggressive Tarpley reemerged to snag a critical steal and hit key free throws that sealed Langley’s 62-57 win against rival Madison in Vienna.
The Langley senior’s 22-point performance moved the Saxons (10-4, 6-0 Conference 6) into sole possession of first place in the conference standings, further boosting their confidence following a slow start to the season.The Langley senior’s 22-point performance moved the Saxons (10-4, 6-0 Conference 6) into sole possession of first place in the conference standings, further boosting their confidence following a slow start to the season.
“Last year, if I saw a team like Madison coming back on us like that, I would [have] put my head down and struggled,” said Tarpley, who transferred from Forest Park before his junior season. “I’m a lot more mentally tough now.”“Last year, if I saw a team like Madison coming back on us like that, I would [have] put my head down and struggled,” said Tarpley, who transferred from Forest Park before his junior season. “I’m a lot more mentally tough now.”
That focus surfaced at the outset Friday. With Tarpley penetrating into the lane and Nate Shafer asserting himself in the post, the two combined for Langley’s first 13 points as the Saxons jumped out to a lead they would never relinquish.That focus surfaced at the outset Friday. With Tarpley penetrating into the lane and Nate Shafer asserting himself in the post, the two combined for Langley’s first 13 points as the Saxons jumped out to a lead they would never relinquish.
Langley’s early success in the paint opened up room along the perimeter for Jay Goettman and Chas Battaglia , who combined for four three-pointers in the second quarter as Langley built a 33-20 halftime advantage.Langley’s early success in the paint opened up room along the perimeter for Jay Goettman and Chas Battaglia , who combined for four three-pointers in the second quarter as Langley built a 33-20 halftime advantage.
“We really executed well and put pressure on them to decide if they were going to defend us more in the post or out on the perimeter,” Shafer said. “We came out strong and ready to go.”“We really executed well and put pressure on them to decide if they were going to defend us more in the post or out on the perimeter,” Shafer said. “We came out strong and ready to go.”
Madison (11-2, 5-1) emerged with a similar approach in the second half. By making adjustments to its full-court press, opportunities were created for Taiga Walker (24 points) to convert consecutive three-point plays that ignited an 8-0 run. But each time the Saxons appeared on the verge of entirely losing momentum, they provided an answer. Madison (11-2, 5-1) emerged with a similar approach in the second half. By making adjustments to its full-court press, it created opportunities for Taiga Walker (24 points) to convert consecutive three-point plays that ignited an 8-0 run. But each time the Saxons appeared on the verge of entirely losing momentum, they provided an answer.
Tarpley scored on a floater in the lane early in the fourth quarter. Colter Carton hit a three that stopped a 9-0 Madison run. And despite being hampered by foul trouble and leg cramps, Tarpley drove hard to the rim, drawing a foul that led to two vital free throws.Tarpley scored on a floater in the lane early in the fourth quarter. Colter Carton hit a three that stopped a 9-0 Madison run. And despite being hampered by foul trouble and leg cramps, Tarpley drove hard to the rim, drawing a foul that led to two vital free throws.
“Instead of hunting jump shots, he’s hunting the paint,” Newman said. “And when Tavon’s attacking, that’s when we’re at our best.”“Instead of hunting jump shots, he’s hunting the paint,” Newman said. “And when Tavon’s attacking, that’s when we’re at our best.”
By bringing that mentality to the defensive end, Tarpley was able to read and step in front of a Madison pass for a steal at half court that secured the victory and snapped Madison’s 11-game winning streak. By bringing that mentality to the defensive end, Tarpley was able to read and step in front of a Madison pass for a steal at half court that secured the victory and ended Madison’s 11-game winning streak.