Jaguars Edge Raiders, Win Streak Reaches Three

Maybe Falls Church High School should seek a sponsorship from Gillette? Coming off a three-point win against Mt. Vernon, the Jaguars added two more close shaves to the win column. Friday Falls Church topped rival J.E.B. Stuart 49-46 on the strength of a dominant second half, and Tuesday night eked past Washington and Lee 64-63.

Torrean Alexander drained a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Jaguars the victory over the Raiders after Stuart leapt ahead to a 25-19 halftime lead.

The Raiders were flying in the early going, applying pressure at both ends of the court, with junior Nader Shehadeh picking the pockets of many a Falls Church player.

But in the second half the Jags gathered themselves to knot the game in time for one final possession, setting the stage for Alexander’s game-winner.

“We struggled most of the game,” Falls Church Head Coach Antonio Harris said. “Those final possessions we really stepped up and created some turnovers. Fortunately that shot went down.”

Alexander led all scorers with 13 points, while Chris Jerro added 10. Chris Edwards also scored seven for the Jags. Mahad Farah led the Raiders with 10 points, while being complimented by Darrin Hammond and Dionte Beatty scoring nine each, and Derrick Bowman’s eight points.

Falls Church kept their hearts pumping Tuesday night with its win over Washington and Lee which leaves the Jags’ record at 4-8 overall and 3-2 in the National District.

The adrenaline rush doesn’t show any sign of ending either as the Jaguars next travel to Thomas Jefferson Friday at 7:45 p.m. Falls Church lost earlier this season to Jefferson by a 47-46 final score, an instance where the Jaguars snatched defeat from the jaws of victory according to Harris.

“There are two games that I’ve been trying to erase from my memory,” Harris said. “That was one of them.” Currently the Jags sit second overall in the National District behind powerhouse Wakefield. The recent three-game win streak is a pleasant turnaround from some early season struggles for the team.

“Early in the season we had two players leave the team to focus on football. But the more time we’ve been able to spend learning the system the better we’ve been,” Harris said. “Right now we’re feeling pretty good. Wakefield is clearly the most talented team, we’ll have to play a perfect game to compete with them. But we’re trying to shoot for the second of third spot. And if we fight hard and play smart to get there then anything can happen in the tournament.”

Mike Hume may be emailed at mhume@fcnp.com