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Loudoun Valley girls, Potomac Falls boys fall in Virginia state quarterfinals Loudoun Valley girls, Potomac Falls boys fall in Virginia state quarterfinals
(35 minutes later)
When Emily Thompson arrived at Loudoun Valley, the girls’ basketball program was in disarray. The Vikings had hit rock bottom the season before with a winless campaign, and Coach Kenyamo McFarlane challenged his team to never quit and leave a legacy. When Emily Thompson arrived at Loudoun Valley, the girls’ basketball program was in disarray. The Vikings had hit rock bottom the season before with a winless campaign, and Coach Kenyamo McFarlane challenged his team to never quit and to leave a legacy.
With four seasons of consistent improvement, the Vikings answered their coach’s call to earn a trip to VCU’s Siegel Center in Richmond for Thursday’s Virginia 4A state quarterfinals. But in a daunting matchup against defending champion Monacan, turnovers doomed Loudoun Valley in a 73-50 loss. With four seasons of consistent improvement, the Vikings answered their coach’s call and earned a trip to VCU’s Siegel Center in Richmond for Thursday’s Virginia 4A state quarterfinals. But in a daunting matchup against defending champion Monacan, turnovers doomed Loudoun Valley in a 73-50 loss.
“So many people doubted us throughout the years. Me and the other three seniors, Lindsey Sweet, Mar Keane and Alex Van Zandt, have worked so hard for this,” Thompson said. “All the sweat and long workouts paid off. I am so proud of this team that we accomplished our goal.” “So many people doubted us throughout the years. Me and the other three seniors — Lindsey Sweet, Mar Keane and Alex Van Zandt — have worked so hard for this,” Thompson said. “All the sweat and long workouts paid off. I am so proud of this team that we accomplished our goal.”
Thompson finished with 13 points, and sophomore Celine Fink led the Vikings with 15. Against the Chiefs’ full-court pressure, Loudoun Valley (18-8) struggled to string together scoring possessions as Monacan (27-1) used turnovers and transition offense to build lengthy scoring runs. Thompson finished with 13 points, and sophomore Celine Fink led the Vikings with 15. Against the Chiefs’ full-court pressure, Loudoun Valley (18-8) struggled to string together scoring possessions as Monacan (27-1) used turnovers and transition offense to build lengthy scoring runs.
“They played full-court hard man-to-man and trapped from that. We were not strong with the ball sometimes, or we threw it away,” Thompson said. “We have seen that type of defense all year but tonight it didn’t go our way.” “They played full-court hard man-to-man and trapped from that. We were not strong with the ball sometimes, or we threw it away,” Thompson said. “We have seen that type of defense all year, but tonight it didn’t go our way.”
Loudoun Valley forced Monacan’s starters back into the game in the fourth quarter as the Vikings won the final period, 20-10. Senior guard Jaiden Morris (George Mason) led Monacan with 25 points. Junior Megan Walker, considered by ESPN to be the top Division I prospect in the class of 2017, added 19.Loudoun Valley forced Monacan’s starters back into the game in the fourth quarter as the Vikings won the final period, 20-10. Senior guard Jaiden Morris (George Mason) led Monacan with 25 points. Junior Megan Walker, considered by ESPN to be the top Division I prospect in the class of 2017, added 19.
“Most teams they play quit at halftime, but we kept battling the whole time,” McFarlane said. “They got on the fast break and got a lot of easy second-chance buckets. Their lead ballooned in the second and third quarter, but we clawed back.”“Most teams they play quit at halftime, but we kept battling the whole time,” McFarlane said. “They got on the fast break and got a lot of easy second-chance buckets. Their lead ballooned in the second and third quarter, but we clawed back.”
Potomac Falls endured a rocky regular season before catching fire on its way to the Conference 14 tournament title. Thursday night at VCU, the Panthers’ improbable postseason run came to a close in a 5A state quarterfinal loss to top-seed L.C. Bird, 82-59. Potomac Falls endured a rocky regular season before catching fire on its way to the Conference 14 tournament title. Thursday night at VCU, the Panthers’ improbable postseason run came to a close in a 5A state quarterfinal loss to top-seeded L.C. Bird, 82-59.
“Our regular season was up and down, but once the conference tournament started we made a run, and that’s all that matters,” junior guard Brian Sweeney said. “Nobody thought we could do it, but we did it.”“Our regular season was up and down, but once the conference tournament started we made a run, and that’s all that matters,” junior guard Brian Sweeney said. “Nobody thought we could do it, but we did it.”
L.C. Bird (24-2) did most of its damage in the paint, scoring scored 42 points, and outrebounded Potomac Falls (18-11) by 16. Sweeney scored seven of his nine points in the first quarter as the Panthers were unable to keep up with L.C. Bird’s efficient shooting. L.C. Bird (24-2) did most of its damage in the paint, scoring 42 points, and outrebounded Potomac Falls (18-11) by 16. Sweeney scored seven of his nine points in the first quarter, but the Panthers were unable to keep up with L.C. Bird’s efficient shooting.
“They play together, find the open man and hit the open shots,” Sweeney said. “It’s not that we played that bad, they just didn’t miss much.”“They play together, find the open man and hit the open shots,” Sweeney said. “It’s not that we played that bad, they just didn’t miss much.”