This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/highschools/virginia-boys-basketball-briar-woods-holds-off-broad-run-87-80/2016/01/21/f13ad672-c079-11e5-9443-7074c3645405_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Virginia boys’ basketball: Briar Woods holds off Broad Run, 87-80 Virginia boys’ basketball: Briar Woods holds off Broad Run, 87-80
(35 minutes later)
The shot was doomed from the start, and Jack Malloy knew it as he soared toward the Broad Run player in the corner, the right hand extended on his 6-foot-5 frame.The shot was doomed from the start, and Jack Malloy knew it as he soared toward the Broad Run player in the corner, the right hand extended on his 6-foot-5 frame.
Lucas Martin knew it, too, which is why the sight of his Briar Woods teammate swatting the shot into the stands sent him into a fit of celebration late in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s Virginia Conference 14 matchup.Lucas Martin knew it, too, which is why the sight of his Briar Woods teammate swatting the shot into the stands sent him into a fit of celebration late in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s Virginia Conference 14 matchup.
The two Falcons forwards had worked all night to assert their presence against the fleet-footed Spartans, and now finally, after playing off each other on the offensive end to combine for 55 points, Martin and Malloy were using their defense to seal a pivotal 87-80 home win in Ashburn. The two Falcons forwards had worked all night to assert their presence against the fleet-footed Spartans, and now, after playing off each other on the offensive end to combine for 55 points, Martin and Malloy finally were using their defense to seal a pivotal 87-80 home win in Ashburn.
“A lot of it is emotion and we fuel off each other,” said Martin, who scored a season-high 34 points. “A lot of it is emotion, and we fuel off each other,” said Martin, who scored a season-high 34 points.
“Jack gets a couple big blocks and we find each other in the paint, and after that we’re ready to go.” “Jack gets a couple big blocks, and we find each other in the paint, and after that we’re ready to go.”
The high-energy play of the Falcons pair helped the home team shake off a sluggish start. Using a zone defense to counter the size of Briar Woods, the Spartans jumped out to a 22-11 lead as Drew Johnson sank four three-pointers in the first quarter. The high-energy play of the Falcons pair helped the home team shake off a sluggish start. Using a zone defense to counter the size of Briar Woods, the Spartans jumped out to a ­22-11 lead as Drew Johnson sank four three-pointers in the first quarter.
The Falcons (7-8, 2-2) responded by also pushing the tempo, capitalizing on the versatility of Martin, who filled the lanes to score three straight baskets and cut the halftime deficit to three.The Falcons (7-8, 2-2) responded by also pushing the tempo, capitalizing on the versatility of Martin, who filled the lanes to score three straight baskets and cut the halftime deficit to three.
“Teams come into the game looking to take our best player out of rhythm,” Falcons Coach Kip Shallis said.“Teams come into the game looking to take our best player out of rhythm,” Falcons Coach Kip Shallis said.
“So I told Lucas, he can’t let that happen. He’s got to demand the ball and get himself going because that’s when we’re at our best.” “So I told Lucas he can’t let that happen. He’s got to demand the ball and get himself going because that’s when we’re at our best.”
With Martin positioning himself on the block and asserting his size advantage once he got the ball, the Falcons went on an 15-2 run that turned a six-point deficit into a seven-point lead. During that surge, Martin poured in 10 of those points while Malloy, who found space as the defense shifted more focus to Martin, scored five of his 21 points. With Martin positioning himself on the block and asserting his size advantage once he got the ball, the Falcons went on an 15-2 run that turned a six-point deficit into a seven-point lead. During that surge, Martin poured in 10 of those points, while Malloy, who found space as the defense shifted more focus to Martin, scored five of his 21 points.
The Spartans (9-8, 2-2) threatened to steal back the lead by getting into the lane but the Falcons duo was too much in the end. The Spartans (9-8, 2-2) threatened to steal back the lead by getting into the lane, but the Falcons’ duo were too much in the end.
“This game would make the difference between the second place team and the fifth place team in our conference, and with us losing the last two games, we didn’t want to go into next week on a bad note,” Martin said. “This game would make the difference between the second-place team and the fifth-place team in our conference, and with us losing the last two games, we didn’t want to go into next week on a bad note,” Martin said.