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Grace Brethren girls, Sandy Spring boys capture PVAC basketball titles Grace Brethren girls, Sandy Spring boys capture PVAC basketball titles
(35 minutes later)
With the floor blanketed by overzealous fans following Grace Brethren’s 59-38 win over Covenant Life on Saturday, most of the Eagles soaked up the monumental victory by posing for photos and hugging anyone within arm’s reach. With the floor blanketed by fans following Grace Brethren’s 59-38 win over Covenant Life on Saturday, most of the Eagles soaked up the victory by posing for photos and hugging anyone within arm’s reach.
Addie Sesson wanted the banner.Addie Sesson wanted the banner.
While draping the dark blue flag over her shoulders and wrapping it around her body, leaving the words “PVAC Girls Basketball Tournament Champions 2016” for all to see, the Eagles senior explained why she wasn’t letting the banner out of her sight.While draping the dark blue flag over her shoulders and wrapping it around her body, leaving the words “PVAC Girls Basketball Tournament Champions 2016” for all to see, the Eagles senior explained why she wasn’t letting the banner out of her sight.
“It’s been three years and a long time coming for this,” Sesson said after orchestrating the Eagles’ uptempo attack. “We’ve been waiting for this one.”“It’s been three years and a long time coming for this,” Sesson said after orchestrating the Eagles’ uptempo attack. “We’ve been waiting for this one.”
The waiting period has featured its share of valleys. As a freshman, Sesson and her fellow seniors were not allowed to compete in the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference tournament after not fielding a team the previous year. The last two years have left much to be desired with losses in the tournament semifinals and final, respectively. The waiting period has featured its share of valleys. As a freshman, Sesson and her classmates were not allowed to compete in the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference tournament after not fielding a team the previous year. The last two years have left much to be desired with losses in the tournament semifinals and final, respectively.
This season, the Eagles made a vow to leave those memories behind, distancing themselves with a furious pace of play that’s yielded to no one during their undefeated run through the season.This season, the Eagles made a vow to leave those memories behind, distancing themselves with a furious pace of play that’s yielded to no one during their undefeated run through the season.
Covenant Life (18-7) attempted to keep up with the Eagles using quick passes down-court to set up transition opportunities. But the Cougars’ efforts only proved to rev up their foe. Covenant Life (18-7) attempted to keep up with the Eagles (25-0) using quick passes to set up transition opportunities. But the Cougars’ efforts only proved to rev up their foe.
As Sesson attacked the lane, she sparked her team with floaters and pinpoint passes to her teammates for easy looks. Kai Clemons served as the greatest beneficiary, tallying 22 points to earn MVP honors. As Sesson attacked the lane, she sparked her team with floaters and pinpoint passes to her teammates. Kai Clemons served as the greatest beneficiary, tallying 22 points to earn MVP honors.
“We were just sick and tired of coming up short,” Clemons said. “So our effort and fight has been on another level this year and especially tonight because they pushed us.” “We were just sick and tired of coming up short,” Clemons said. “So our effort and fight has been on another level this year and especially tonight because they pushed us.” The first came just before halftime, when a putback by Ariana Romney ignited a 9-2 run and extended the lead to 13.
But for every Cougars flurry, the Eagles (25-0) had an answer as they claimed their first PVAC title since 2009. The first came just before halftime, when a putback by Ariana Romney ignited a 9-2 run and extended the lead to 13.
Then, midway through the third period, Clemons scored six points during a 10-3 run that sealed the win.Then, midway through the third period, Clemons scored six points during a 10-3 run that sealed the win.
An upstart Sandy Spring Friends team took the floor for Saturday’s PVAC boys’ final, unfazed by the two previous losses to top-seeded opponent Jewish Day by a combined five points. An upstart Sandy Spring Friends team took the floor for the PVAC boys’ final, unfazed by the two previous losses to top-seeded opponent Jewish Day by a combined five points.
Unburdened by expectations, the Wildebeests employed a loose approach, flying around the court on both ends and letting it fly from the outside to build an early lead they would never relinquish during a 75-46 victory. Unburdened by expectations, the Wildebeests employed a loose approach, flying around the court on both ends and letting it fly from the outside to build an early lead they didn’t relinquish during a 75-46 victory.
“We remembered those two losses and use it as fuel to do what we did tonight,” senior forward Jack Neville said after scoring 14 points to earn MVP honors. “Every rebound, every play mattered.”“We remembered those two losses and use it as fuel to do what we did tonight,” senior forward Jack Neville said after scoring 14 points to earn MVP honors. “Every rebound, every play mattered.”
After being held scoreless for the game’s first nine minutes, Bryan Knapp found his footing behind a 3-2 zone defense for the Lions (24-3) that momentarily stifled the Wildebeests’ stout perimeter play.After being held scoreless for the game’s first nine minutes, Bryan Knapp found his footing behind a 3-2 zone defense for the Lions (24-3) that momentarily stifled the Wildebeests’ stout perimeter play.
But a Malakai Parker three-point play and the efficient play of Neville and Michael Young generated a commanding 11-0 run just before halftime.But a Malakai Parker three-point play and the efficient play of Neville and Michael Young generated a commanding 11-0 run just before halftime.
By the third quarter, the rout was on, capping a championship run for a Sandy Springs team (16-7) just a year removed from a 11-16 record and a first-round tournament exit.By the third quarter, the rout was on, capping a championship run for a Sandy Springs team (16-7) just a year removed from a 11-16 record and a first-round tournament exit.