Basketball Briefs

Marshall Boys

After playing hard but emerging with only one victory from a holiday tournament appearance, the Statesmen rattled off a series of three straight wins to push their record to 8-5 on the season and 4-1 in the Liberty District. The highlight of the win streak has to be a 44-39 victory over rival Madison last Friday. Senior Alex Shek and sophomore Qaiser Ahmed combined to score 24 points to lead the effort. Shek also added eight rebounds and four assists. Junior Jordan Culbreath scored eight points, while senior Bilal Ahmad added six.

Prior to the Madison victory Marshall defeated Lee on the road, 50-39. Again Shek led the way with 16 points, while junior Ian Wisecarver scored nine.

Fairfax could do little to cool off the streaking Shek as he poured in a career high 28 points in addition to pulling down eight rebounds and four assists. Bilal Ahmad scored seven points and added six rebounds. A tough test awaits the Statesmen Friday as they travel to W.T. Woodson, currently ranked No. 18 in the region by the Washington Post. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.

Marshall Girls

The Lady Statesmen absolutely blew up against Robert E. Lee High School, eradicating their foe by a final score of 80-36. Junior Amanda Brown led three Marshall players in double digits with 18 points, followed closely by senior Anna Steg with 17. Sophomore Cary Spoden chipped in with 11.

Kaitlyn Johnson and Nicole Harrison added nine and eight points respectively. Like their male counterparts, the Marshall girls also bested rival Madison on Friday, squeezing past by a score of 59-57. Steg and Kaitlyn Johnson combined for 28 points (13 and 15 respectively), while senior Sara Tibbs and Brown added seven each. Spoden added six points in the victory.

Marshall followed up the win over their rival with a 53-41 defeat of Fairfax on Tuesday. Brown, Kaitlyn Johnson and Harrison all scored in double digits with 14, 11 and 12 respectively. Steg added nine points in the victorious effort. The victories push the Statesmen’s record to 10-3 (5-0 in the Liberty District).

“This is the best team that Marshall has seen in several years,” Marshall Head Coach Noel Klippenstein said. “We have a clear focus, good student leaders and players who are willing to work hard year round.”

Marshall’s success sets up a clash for first place in the Liberty District against Woodson at home Friday at 7:30 p.m. Woodson is the only other unbeaten team in the district, posting an 11-2 overall record.

“I hope it will be a great game,” Klippenstein said. “I think it will come down to which kids play well and who comes out determined to win. I hope that we’ll be inspired by a vocal home crowd.”

McLean Boys

McLean’s record may stand at 2-10, but they can take comfort in the fact that they defeated rival Langley 49-43 Tuesday to account for one of those victories.

Freshman Tarek Ammoury scored 17 points in the win, while senior Basem Ammoury added seven points and seven rebounds. Senior Brendan McCook added seven points and six rebounds. The win is the first for the Highlanders since their defeat of J.E.B. Stuart Dec. 29.

Prior to beating Langley, McLean dropped its Friday game against District-leading W.T. Woodson 74-57. McCook and Tarek Ammoury led the team again with 14 and 13 points respectively, while junior Josh Shapiro added 12 points. The Highlanders next face South Lakes at home on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

McLean Girls

The Lady Highlanders fell to Woodson 58-26 last Friday. Sophomore Ashleigh Cole led the team with seven points, while senior Mary Ellen Pascoe contributed five points. The loss drops the Highlanders’ record to 2-5 and 0-3 in the district. The team next faces South Lakes away at 7:30 p.m.

Stuart Girls

The Raiders failed to top rival Falls Church in last Friday’s grudge match 58-32. Sophomore Betty Appiah led Stuart with 12 points, while seniors Lauren Singer and Amanda Thompson each scored seven in the loss. This Friday the Raiders are slated to travel to face Wakefield at 7:45 p.m. Stuart’s record currently stands at 1-9 overall and 0-3 in the National District.

Falls Church Girls

Senior Whitney Stan scored 12 points to lead Falls Church over their local rival, the J.E.B. Stuart Raiders 58-32. Freshman Mary Pat Abraham scored eight points while junior Nabil Gomez and freshman Ali Gibbons added seven apiece. Eleven different players recorded at least one point in the Lady Jags’ first win of the season.

The victory improves Falls Church’s record to 1-11 overall and 1-3 in the District. The Lady Jags next face Thomas Jefferson High School at home this Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Mike Hume may be emailed at mhume@fcnp.com