By Angela Watts
Content Editor
Six Northern Region teams participated in Thursday’s opening round of the 15th Annual Pohanka Chantilly Classic.
Only three, however, left feeling festive.
BOYS
Chantilly Chargers 79, Riverbend Bears 59
The most impressive showing Thursday came in the day’s finale, as unbeaten Chantilly squared off against one-loss Riverbend (Fredericksburg) in a night-cap that followed six earlier games.
In this case, the host team was anything but hospitable in what proved a decisive, 79-59 victory that to boosted its record to 7-0. That marks the Chargers’ best start since the 2001-02 season when they started 16-0.
“We don’t worry about that,” Chantilly Coach Jim Smith said. “We just want to keep getting better. I mean, when was the last time a Northern Region team went through the regular-season undefeated? … It doesn’t happen very much, so I don’t even think about that. Basketball is a tournament game. You have to be playing well at the tournament at the end, and so it’s all built toward that.”
The Chargers — who displayed an abundance of depth and versatility in this early-season tournament — outplayed the Bears (9-2) in every aspect Thursday night. After a tight first quarter, Chantilly began pulling away midway through the second when standout junior guard Justin May fed senior guard Jake Nolan on a beautiful layup with 5 minutes, 20 second remaining before half time to give the Chargers their first double-digit lead, 30-19.
That margin grew to as much as 26 points with 5:17 to play thanks in part to 52 percent shooting from the field for the Chargers. Topping the list of high scorers was May, who connected on 8-of-9 attempts for a team-high 17 points, six assists and three steals. And senior guard Robbie Athearn was perfect on all six of his shot attempts for 15 points.
Also reaching double-figures scoring for the still-perfect Chargers were Nolan (14 points, thee assists, four steals) and freshman center John Manning (10 points). In all, 11 of the 13 players on Chantilly’s roster scored in the opening-game rout.
“We have a lot of different guys who we can go to,” Smith said. “Like Jake Nolan, the two games his job was basically to distribute the ball, but he had 20 [points] at Centreville and I’m sure he had double-figures tonight. So we can put five guys on the floor who can score, and with the kids we bring off the bench there’s not a while lot of drop-off. So if one guy is having an off night or is in foul trouble that helps us weather the storm a little bit.”
Chantilly, last year’s tournament runners-up, advances to face George Mason at 5 p.m. tonight in the second round of the championship bracket.
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GIRLS
Chantilly Chargers 56, George Mason Mustangs 38
At first glance, Chantilly’s even, 4-4 record does not elicit thoughts of a top-notch team. But here’s the catch: The four teams that the Chargers have lost to this season — Centreville, Lee, Turner Ashby of Harrisonburg and Yorktown — have fared a combined 26-1 since beating Chantilly.
“And every game, we were in it,” Chargers’ Coach John Kelly said. “So that says a lot for us.”
There is something else that says something about the Chargers: The way they responded late in their 56-38 opening-round win over George Mason. The outcome was never in question. Chantilly jumped to a 10-point lead by the end of the first quarter, and by the end of the third they had pushed that margin to a whopping 25 points.
But then the intensity faded — and so did the lead — as George Mason rattled off 15 unanswered points.
“I called a time out and laid into them,” Kelly said. “We’ve got to have the same intensity — it doesn’t matter what the score is — and playing defense is strictly an attitude. But we came back strong at the end.”
The Chargers were led by senior guard Melissa Furr, who poured in an impressive 18 points, seven assists, five steals and five rebounds despite sitting extended minutes because of foul trouble. Senior guard/forward Lauren Gural totaled 12 points, and sophomore forward Meagan Carey added nine points and seven rebounds.
Chantilly, the defending tournament champions, will play Stone Bridge at 8:30 p.m. tonight in the second round of pool play.
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BOYS
Thomas Jefferson Colonials 61, Hanover Hawks 58
It was hard not to notice Thomas Jefferson junior forward Mike Ross in the Colonials’ opening-round, 61-58 victory over Hanover of Mechanicsville, VA. His play, alone, drew attention. Ross and junior center Spencer de Mars each scored 15 points in the victory and also combined for 13 rebounds, four blocks, three steals and one assist.
But it was something Ross wore that also differentiated him: A protective, plastic mask that runs from his forehead to his upper lip to shield his severely broken nose.
“I tell you what, this kid has the heart of a lion,” said Colonials’ Coach Ed Grimm, whose team improved to 4-3 on the season. “From the moment in happened against Yorktown [December 7], he never stopped. He came out and played the rest of the ballgame with a broken nose and needing three stitches in his cheek. The next day he was ready to play, but they told him, of course, that he couldn’t. So the next day he’s got a mask, and he’s playing again. And he didn’t miss a beat. This kid is tough.”
Ross said the only difficulty he has wearing the mask is, well, seeing.
“It’s a little annoying because you can’t really see down,” he said, laughing. “And, like, seeing around the sides is a little tough, too. But I’m not a big dribbler, so it’s really not as much of an issue.”
And when Thomas Jefferson plays as patient and balanced offensively as it did against Hanover — senior guards Vanya Bilyeu and Will Riedel also reached double-figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively — Ross also has plenty of help.
The Colonials move on to face Landon at 1:30 p.m. today in a second-round, championship-bracket game.
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BOYS
Landon Bears 62, West Springfield Spartans 58
West Springfield Coach **** Wickline would not specify how many years he has been at West Springfield, he would only confess that he had been coaching for “a long, long time.” But if his distinguished gray hair didn’t quite give away his tenure on the bench, some fellow cohorts around the Northern Region did: They said rumor has it that the well-respected coach took his first head coaching position in the Northern Region back in 1962.
What’s important about that number is this: In his 45 years he has never, ever fielded a varsity squad with no seniors on the roster.
Until now.
The Spartans (1-6), who made a valiant run down the stretch Thursday afternoon before falling to Landon of Bethesda, MD, 62-58, boast only underclassmen.
“When you’re this young, you just have to keep working,” Wickline said. “And you have to settle for small victories to be competitive and try to get better every game. That’s all you can do. You can’t quit. You just have to keep, keepin’ on. And you build on that.
“We came back on them today — and we’ve done that before — but unfortunately we haven’t closed the deal yet.”
West Springfield was led by junior guard Bryn Renner, who is known best for his play at the quarterback position. But he shined on the hardwood Thursday, totaling 24 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Other major contributors for the Spartans included junior forward Jordan Massey (12 points, six rebounds, two steals) and junior forward Corey MacRae (11 points, eight rebounds, two steals).
The Spartans will play Hanover at 10 a.m. today in the second round of the consolation bracket.
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GIRLS
Georgetown Visitation Cubs 63, Stone Bridge Bulldogs 25
Stone Bridge (2-5) struggled against a more experienced and more physical team from Georgetown Visitation of Washington, D.C. in what proved a 63-25 loss in Thursday’s first game. The Bulldogs, who started two freshmen, were plagued by costly turnovers and an inability to convert offense.
The good news for the Bulldogs — the shots were there.
“We had our shots and our opportunities, we just need to convert them,” Coach Brian Parke said. “We’ve scored 30 points twice before and I don’t think we even hit that today. But we’re young, and we’re going to develop and get better.”
Junior guard Courtney Bryant, a three-year varsity member, paced the Bulldogs with a team-high 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks. But freshman Blaire Brady, the team’s top defender, is someone Parke said fans should also keep an eye on.
“You’re going to want to watch out for her,” Parke said. “She’s a hustler and a tenacious defender who is always on the ball. We put her on the best player on the other team and she always steps up to the plate. She needs to get a little bit more into the flow offensively, but her defensive tenaciousness keeps her out there. There’s no one I trust more right now on the team than her.”
Stone Bridge will face host Chantilly at 8:30 p.m. today in the second round of pool play.
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BOYS
George Mason Mustangs 59, Falls Church Jaguars 37
Falls Church fell behind early against George Mason and could not recover, falling 59-37 in their opening-round game. The Jaguars — who were led by junior guard Jeremy Jones (11 points, six steals), junior forward Evan Hanson (10 points) and junior center Travis Garrett (eight rebounds) — will face Riverbend at 11:45 a.m. today in a second-round, consolation-bracket game.
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* All games at Chantilly High School
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