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Grace Brethren sends its message, takes care of Covenant Life, 59-27 Grace Brethren sends its message, takes care of Covenant Life, 59-27
(about 4 hours later)
It only took one quarter to see where Thursday’s regular season girls’ basketball finale between Grace Brethren and Covenant Life was headed. Grace Brethren owned a 20-6 lead. Covenant Life wore shellshocked expressions. Fans knowingly raised their eyebrows. It only took one quarter to see where Thursday’s regular season girls’ basketball finale between Grace Brethren and Covenant Life was headed. Grace Brethren owned a 14-point lead. Covenant Life wore shell-shocked expressions. Fans knowingly raised their eyebrows.
Yet when Grace Brethren coaches huddled their players early in the third quarter, an assistant ignored the 35-14 score line and said, “Let’s send them a message.” Yet when Grace Brethren coaches huddled their players early in the third quarter, an assistant ignored the 21-point lead and said, “Let’s send them a message.”
He wasn’t referring to Covenant Life, whose senior night was spoiled by a 59-27 defeat in Gaithersburg, by far the Cougars’ most lopsided loss of the season. He was talking about the rest of a Potomac Valley Athletic Conference that’s been simply incapable of keeping pace with the run-and-gun Eagles all season. He wasn’t referring to Covenant Life, whose senior night was spoiled by a 59-27 defeat in Gaithersburg, by far the Cougars’ most lopsided loss of the season.
Grace Brethren (22-0, 20-0 PVAC) took its coach’s words to heart, applying a full-court press that forced numerous turnovers from an overwhelmed Covenant Life squad that missed its first 10 shots of the second half and converted only one field goal in the third quarter. It was a ragged performance all around for the Cougars (18-6, 14-3), who missed all 17 of their three-point attempts. He was talking about the rest of a Potomac Valley Athletic Conference that’s been simply incapable of keeping pace with the run-and-gun Eagles all season.
Grace Brethren (22-0, 20-0 PVAC) took its coach’s words to heart. It applied a full-court press that forced numerous turnovers from an overwhelmed Covenant Life squad that missed its first 10 shots of the second half and converted only one field goal in the third quarter. It was a ragged performance all around for the Cougars (18-6, 14-3), who missed all 17 of their three-point attempts.
And it was a redemptive effort for the Eagles, who fell to Covenant Life three times last year, including a 57-46 defeat in the conference final.And it was a redemptive effort for the Eagles, who fell to Covenant Life three times last year, including a 57-46 defeat in the conference final.
“We want people to be afraid to play us,” said Grace Brethren point guard Addie Sesson, who finished with 11 points. “The last couple years teams have come at us thinking they’re better than us, so this season going undefeated we’ve proven that we’re the best team.”“We want people to be afraid to play us,” said Grace Brethren point guard Addie Sesson, who finished with 11 points. “The last couple years teams have come at us thinking they’re better than us, so this season going undefeated we’ve proven that we’re the best team.”
Grace Brethren might not be instilling fear in larger Maryland private schools such as National Christian or Riverdale Baptist, but PVAC competition is plenty wary. Using a small lineup powered by the scoring prowess of Sesson and fellow senior guard Ariana Romney, Grace Brethren entered this week with an imposing 38.6 point differential this season. Grace Brethren might not be instilling fear in larger Maryland private schools National Christian or Riverdale Baptist, but PVAC competition is plenty wary. Using a small lineup powered by the scoring prowess of Sesson and fellow senior guard Ariana Romney, Grace Brethren entered this week with an imposing 38.6 point differential this season.
The Eagles’ toughest test of the regular season came this week, when they faced Hebrew Academy, Jewish Day and Covenant Life on consecutive days. They won those games by a combined 80 points.The Eagles’ toughest test of the regular season came this week, when they faced Hebrew Academy, Jewish Day and Covenant Life on consecutive days. They won those games by a combined 80 points.
“It was very tough, but we pushed through,” Sesson said. “We finished the games off early. We try to push the ball down the floor and make teams tired, and that pretty much ends the game early.”“It was very tough, but we pushed through,” Sesson said. “We finished the games off early. We try to push the ball down the floor and make teams tired, and that pretty much ends the game early.”
Romney, who leads Grace Brethren with 18.6 points per game, matched Covenant Life’s final output with a game-high 27 points Thursday. She was 4 for 6 from three-point range.Romney, who leads Grace Brethren with 18.6 points per game, matched Covenant Life’s final output with a game-high 27 points Thursday. She was 4 for 6 from three-point range.
“There’s always things you can improve on,” Romney said. “I think we played pretty well today, but we probably will have to pick it up a notch when tournament play starts next week.”“There’s always things you can improve on,” Romney said. “I think we played pretty well today, but we probably will have to pick it up a notch when tournament play starts next week.”