It appears the Broad Run High girls basketball team has gotten into a solid, midseason form of winning basketball following a tough start to the season. Since beginning the winter campaign 1-5, Broad Run, going into this week, had won five of its last six games, including a decisive 55-37 Dulles District home win over Park View last Friday night.
"We’ve improved so much since the beginning of the year," said versatile Broad Run senior frontcourt player Chelsea Gantt. "We’re learning to play together."
Following its slow start to the season, Broad Run came back with a pre-Christmas district win over Heritage before sweeping all three of its games at the eight-team Ashburn Holiday Tournament, including a win over Loudoun Valley in the championship game Dec. 30.
In its next game, the Spartans lost to district power Loudoun Valley at home, 72-57, Jan. 6 before coming back strong with the win over Park View.
<b>THE VICTORY OVER</b> the Patriots improved Broad Run’s overall record to 6-6 and 2-2 in the district. Park View, with the loss to the Spartans, also found itself at the .500 mark at 5-5 and 2-2 in the district.
On Friday, Park View was within striking distance of Broad Run at halftime, trailing 28-20, before struggling offensively in the second half as the Spartans pulled away. Stifling defense fueled Broad Run’s ability to take over the game in the third and fourth quarters. Park View scored just six points in the third quarter as Broad Run built up a 40-26 advantage going into the fourth. Then in that final quarter of play, the Patriots continued to struggle at the offensive end before scoring a flurry of points over the final several minutes after the home team had pretty much put the game away.
"They were definitely very aggressive," Park View coach Kim Grigley said of Broad Run’s intense second-half defense. "They hustled well and got to their spots. They outrebounded us. We were not as aggressive."
Gantt, who is 5 foot 9 inches and listed as a post player, was effective both inside and outside the paint area for Broad Run. On numerous occasions, she would get the ball around the perimeter area before bursting left toward the basket for driving baskets. She finished the contest with a team-high 17, including one basket from three-point territory. She also had six rebounds.
Broad Run’s second leading scorer in the win was junior post Maggie Andricosky (5 rebounds), who nailed three 3-pointers on way to a 12-point night. One of her biggest shots of the game was a 3-pointer from the left wing that gave the Spartans a 37-24 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Spartans also received a solid outing from senior Caitlin Hunter, who came off the bench to tally 11 points with five rebounds.
<b>PARK VIEW</b> had a good night from senior center Karita Brown, who finished with 17 points and six boards. One of the game’s better individual moments of the game came when the 5-foot-10 Brown grabbed consecutive rebounds on the offensive end before converting a close range basket while being fouled. She converted the ensuing free throw to pull her team within 22-16 early in the second quarter.
"She has been consistent defensively, but has flocculated on offense," Grigley said of Brown’s season thus far. "She has the potential to have real solid nights."
Both Brown and Park View senior point guard Rachael Miller (9 points, 5 rebounds against Broad Run) are averaging double figures for the Patriots this season.
Broad Run coach Mike O’Hara knew Brown and Miller were the Patriots’ go-to players.
"We knew they had two main scorers and tried to make the other girls beat us," O’Hara said. "I thought overall our team defense was good."
O’Hara said the Spartans do not have the take-over-a-game-type player they have had in recent seasons. But the coach said the Spartans hustle, play well as a team and get good bench production. Those team characteristics should help the Spartans be among the top teams in the district. Broad Run is home Wednesday night, Jan. 14, versus Dominion.
Park View, meanwhile, will be looking to come back strong following the loss to the Spartans. The Patriots have wins thus far over Washington-Lee (Arlington), Dominion, Potomac Falls, Heritage and Stone Bridge. Park View was scheduled to play district home games this week on Monday against Briar Woods and Wednesday against Freedom at 6 p.m.