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Oakton girls, Westfield boys pull away to repeat as Conference 5 champions Oakton girls, Westfield boys pull away to repeat as Conference 5 champions
(about 1 hour later)
With each consecutive Oakton three-pointer that swished through the net early in Friday’s Virginia Conference 5 girls’ basketball final — and there were a lot of them — Makenzie Brooks grew animated, her arms gyrating as she waved three fingers from the sideline.With each consecutive Oakton three-pointer that swished through the net early in Friday’s Virginia Conference 5 girls’ basketball final — and there were a lot of them — Makenzie Brooks grew animated, her arms gyrating as she waved three fingers from the sideline.
By the third quarter, the third-ranked Cougars had seemingly bottomed out, their hot hands giving way to a rallying Herndon squad intent on spoiling their opponent’s perfect season.By the third quarter, the third-ranked Cougars had seemingly bottomed out, their hot hands giving way to a rallying Herndon squad intent on spoiling their opponent’s perfect season.
Subdued but not shaken, Brooks entered the game and drove hard to the basket, maneuvering through the defense for a lefty layup and old-fashioned three-point play that helped Oakton surge to a 67-45 win at Chantilly and its third straight conference title.Subdued but not shaken, Brooks entered the game and drove hard to the basket, maneuvering through the defense for a lefty layup and old-fashioned three-point play that helped Oakton surge to a 67-45 win at Chantilly and its third straight conference title.
Coach Fred Priester “always tells us to focus on the tree in front of us; that’s our biggest game,” Brooks said. “So no matter what’s going on or what we think is ahead, as long as we keep our heads and stay focused to work together, we’ll be fine.”Coach Fred Priester “always tells us to focus on the tree in front of us; that’s our biggest game,” Brooks said. “So no matter what’s going on or what we think is ahead, as long as we keep our heads and stay focused to work together, we’ll be fine.”
In the first quarter, just about everything was working for Oakton (24-0). The Cougars used their versatility to drain five three-pointers and their size on the other end thwarted Herndon’s attempts in the paint. The result was a 17-0 lead and the type of offensive display that left the team’s sharpest shooter a bit surprised.In the first quarter, just about everything was working for Oakton (24-0). The Cougars used their versatility to drain five three-pointers and their size on the other end thwarted Herndon’s attempts in the paint. The result was a 17-0 lead and the type of offensive display that left the team’s sharpest shooter a bit surprised.
“You could say we came out ready to go,” said a grinning Maddie Royle, who finished with a game-high 24 points. “A lot of us have been playing together for so long, so the shots just come in the flow of the offense and we were fortunate to keep knocking them down.”“You could say we came out ready to go,” said a grinning Maddie Royle, who finished with a game-high 24 points. “A lot of us have been playing together for so long, so the shots just come in the flow of the offense and we were fortunate to keep knocking them down.”
Oakton eventually cooled off, hitting six threes the rest of the way, while Herndon (18-6) gained momentum through full-court pressure and trips to the foul line that trimmed the lead to 44-33 late in the third period.That’s when Brooks helped turn the tide. Riding her three-point-play and energy, the Cougars used an 11-5 fourth-quarter run to ice the game. Oakton eventually cooled off, hitting six threes the rest of the way, while Herndon (18-6) gained momentum through full-court pressure and trips to the foul line that trimmed the lead to 44-33 late in the third period. That’s when Brooks helped turn the tide. Riding her three-point-play and energy, the Cougars used an 11-5 fourth-quarter run to ice the game.
All season, Westfield’s Blake Francis and Tyler Scanlon have been preparing — waiting, almost — for teams to set up in the triangle-and-two defenses often used last year to try and slow the talented tandem. Though they have yet to see those type of looks on a regular basis, the defensive designs the seniors encounter during practice have helped them put together performances like Friday. All season, Westfield’s Blake Francis and Tyler Scanlon have been preparing — and waiting — for teams to set up in the triangle-and-two defenses often used last year to try and slow the talented tandem. Though they have yet to see those type of looks on a regular basis, the defensive designs the seniors encounter during practice have helped them put together performances like Friday.
After host Chantilly scored the first four points of the boys’ final, Francis and Scanlon deflated the growing momentum with 25 first-quarter points, using an array of three-pointers and sharp moves to the basket to pave the way for a 76-61 victory. The outcome sealed the Bulldogs’ second straight unbeaten run through conference play and extended their win streak to 19 games.After host Chantilly scored the first four points of the boys’ final, Francis and Scanlon deflated the growing momentum with 25 first-quarter points, using an array of three-pointers and sharp moves to the basket to pave the way for a 76-61 victory. The outcome sealed the Bulldogs’ second straight unbeaten run through conference play and extended their win streak to 19 games.
“Coach [Doug] Ewell makes us work against those defenses in practice so that we’re ready for anything,” said Francis, who finished with 24 points. “It’s just about playing our game and at the pace we want to as a team.”“Coach [Doug] Ewell makes us work against those defenses in practice so that we’re ready for anything,” said Francis, who finished with 24 points. “It’s just about playing our game and at the pace we want to as a team.”
The Chargers (12-13) did their best to keep up. Zack Crenshaw found space inside for close looks and Elijah Ford kept the defense honest with his versatile play. But the efficiency of Francis and Scanlon (32 points), along with Westfield’s defensive pressure off half-court traps proved too much, resulting in a decisive 11-2 run to close out the third quarter.The Chargers (12-13) did their best to keep up. Zack Crenshaw found space inside for close looks and Elijah Ford kept the defense honest with his versatile play. But the efficiency of Francis and Scanlon (32 points), along with Westfield’s defensive pressure off half-court traps proved too much, resulting in a decisive 11-2 run to close out the third quarter.