Basketball Briefs

Falls Church Boys

The end of 2004 was not kind to the Jaguars as they lost a trio of games, including two by four points or less. Oakton prevailed 56-37 in the team’s Dec. 28 contest. Torrean Alexander and Chris Edwards provided the bright spots for the Jags scoring 11 and 10 points respectively, while Chris Jerro added seven.

A day later Falls Church fell by four points, 45-41 to Robinson. Alexander (eight points) and Edwards (nine) again led the team offensively.

In the team’s final game of 2004, the Jags lost a heart-breaker 47-46 in overtime to Thomas Jefferson. TJ’s Matt McCaully led his team with 14 points, including a clutch three-pointer to send the game to overtime. Edwards and Jerro exploded to carry the Jaguar offense with 18 and 19 respectively in the loss.

The Jags (1-8, 0-2 in the National District) next face rival J.E.B. Stuart High Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Falls Church Girls

The Lady Jags enter 2005 still searching for their first win of the season. In the past four games, Falls Church has failed to break 40 points, while their opponents are averaging nearly 60 points per game during that span.

Dec. 27 Falls Church squared off in a lopsided match against the reigning State Champion Magna Vista. The Jags committed 33 turnovers, effectively dooming the team in an 88-33 loss. Senior Whitney Stan led Falls Church with ten points, while junior Mandy Bleakly added seven. Falls Church had no better luck against George Wythe or Blacksburg, succumbing 49-35 and 55-38 respectively.

Jan. 4, Falls Church squared off against National District opponent Mt. Vernon, but couldn’t get off their snide, falling 46-36. Freshman Mary Pat Abraham led the Jags with eight points, while Ali Gibbons scored 7. The Lady Jags currently stand at 0-11 on the season and 0-3 in the district.

Marshall Girls

The Marshall girls improved to 7-3 on the season after claiming two of three games over the holidays at the KSA Holiday Classic in Orlando.

The Statesmen easily dispatched Satellite Dec. 27 by a 78-35 final score. Senior Anna Steng wracked up 27 points, while junior Amanda Brown scored 19 in the first round. Senior Caryl Spoden chipped in with 10.

Marshall hit a speed bump in the second round, falling to McLane 67-60, before resuming its winning ways in the third game against Springford, 67-41.

Brown led all scorers with 24 points including a trio of three-pointers, while Steng added 15 of her own. Marshall next travels to face Madison Friday at 7:30 p.m.

McLean Boys

McLean pulled out its first win of the season as the Highlanders topped the J.E.B. Stuart Raiders 59-45 Dec. 29. Unfortunately for the Highlanders, that win came amid three more losses as they now prepare to face W.T. Woodson Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Junior Brendan McCook paced the Highlanders with 18 points, in a 75-52 loss to Ballard, while senior Basem Ammoury pulled down seven rebounds and dished out five assists. Sophomore James Pascoe scored 10 points, while adding four assists, and freshman Tarek Ammoury scored nine, with five assists to go along with a team-high four steals.

Basem Ammoury led the team in its first win of the season, posting a double-double with 16 points and ten rebounds. He fell just shy of a triple double, rounding out his line with nine assists. McCook scored 15 points, while Pascoe added 12 and nine rebounds. McLean failed to sustain any momentum however, dropping its next two games to Yorktown (46-33) and Fairfax (56-41). McCook led all Highlanders with ten points against Yorktown, while junior Josh Shapiro held that honor with 13 against Fairfax. The Highlanders’ record currently stands at 1-9.

Stuart Boys

After falling to McLean Dec. 29, the Raiders have rallied, posting two wins against Dominion and Yorktown to improve their record to 3-6 on the season.

Sophomore Derrick Bowman scored 18 points against Dominion, while juniors Dionte Beatty and Nader Shehadeh added 11 and 12 points respectively in the Raiders’ second victory of the season. Junior Johnny Wang and Darrin Hammond also chipped in with nine and eight points each.

Stuart kept its turnaround going with a five-point victory over Yorktown Tuesday. Bowman again topped the scorers’ sheet with 17 points, including 12 from behind the arc, while Beatty added 10 points to go with his six steals. Wang added 13 points in the win. The Raiders travel to face rival Falls Church Friday, before returning home to take on Mt. Vernon next Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.

Stuart Girls

Hoping to build on their lone victory of the season Dec. 18 against Barrie, the Raiders have been unable to do so, dropping their latest contest to Yorktown Tuesday, 56-21. Sophomore Betty Appiah led Stuart with nine points, while senior Daisha Grayson added six. Stuart next faces Falls Church away at 8 p.m. this Friday. The Raiders’ record currently stands at 1-8.

Mike Hume may be emailed at mhume@fcnp.com