Washington-Lee Forfeits Three Victories
After discovering the team was using an ineligible player, the Washington-Lee boys varsity basketball team was forced to forfeit all three of their wins this season, as confirmed by Coach Bobby Dobson.
The student, a senior transfer, was in violation of a Virginia High School League rule that requires a student to have guardianship in his or her residence. The rulebook states a “student shall not have enrolled in one high school and subsequently transferred to and enrolled in another high school without a corresponding change in the residence of his/her parents, parent or guardian.”
The student in violation began the year at Falls Church High School. When he turned 18, he moved into his aunt’s house in the Washington-Lee school district. Dobson noted that the move was spurred due to a “hardship with his family,” according to an article in the Washington Post.
Because of this violation, the Generals’ wins over Jefferson, H.D. Woodson and Falls Church will be forfeited; however, Dobson has already begun an appeal process with the Virginia High School League. The forfeit gives the Falls Church High School Jaguars their first win of the season. To this point, the Jags had sported a record of 0-16.
Marshall Boys Varsity Basketball
On Friday, Jan. 25, the George C. Marshall Statesmen boys varsity basketball team stayed competitive for a half, but collapsed down the stretch against the James Madison Warhawks, losing 57-41 at Madison High School. Senior Nate Whittington scored four baskets, including two three-pointers, and added three foul shots for a total of 13 points. However, the Statesmen could not compete with the depth and balance of the Warhawks. Despite trailing 26-22 at the half, the Warhawks came out firing in the second half, and had two scorers in double-digits by the end of the game.
The Statesmen were looking for a chance for their second conference win on Tuesday night, but fared no better against W.T. Woodson, falling 69-50.
Senior guard Scott Bugby, one of two Statesmen in double figures, led the team with 16 points, while Bryan Whittington added 12.
The losses dropped Marshall’s season record to 5-12, with a 1-8 district record. The Statesmen take to the road Friday, Feb. 1 to face Thomas Jefferson High School. They'll return home on Monday, Feb. 4 to battle Stone Bridge, the lone district team Marshall has beaten to date.
Marshall Girls Varsity Basketball
The Marshall girls varsity team faced a tall order on Friday, Jan. 25, as they found themselves matched up against the 12th ranked Madison Warhawks at home. This game pitted two teams with virtually opposite seasons against each other; the Warhawks boasted a 14-1 (7-0) record entering the game, while the Lady Statesmen were looking to bolster their 4-10 record with their first conference win of the year. However, it was not to be, as the Madison Warhawks soundly beat Marshall, 63-28. Despite two three-pointers each from sophomores Theresa Hackett and Carlie Zirkle, the Lady Statesmen found themselves overwhelmed by the offensive prowess of Madison. Eight different girls scored for Madison, with senior Marygrace Jay leading the way with 20 points, while only six Statesmen found themselves on the stat sheet, none scoring in double digits.
Marshall's lack of offense was again its undoing on Tuesday night, when the Lady Statesmen dropped a 59-36 decision to W.T. Woodson. Zirkle and Hackett again led the team with seven points apiece.
Marshall, whose record now stands at 4-12 overall and 0-9 in the Liberty district, host Thomas Jefferson on Friday, Feb. 1 before traveling to face Stone Bridge on Monday, Feb. 4.
McLean Boys Varsity Basketball
The McLean boys varsity team found itself on the road Friday night against a tough Langley team and ultimately could not overcome their Liberty Conference rivals, losing 60-49. Langley, whose only two losses this season have both come in-conference, was looking to avenge a 50-48 loss to McLean from earlier this season, and did so primarily thanks to the hot shooting of senior guard Ryan Davenport, who drained four three-pointers on his way to a 24-point scoring outburst. The Highlanders had no answer for Davenport’s stroke all night, despite an equally impressive performance from senior guard/forward Tarek Ammoury, who scored 22. Despite relatively even three-point shooting from both teams — a 6-5 advantage for Langley — the Saxons found ways to penetrate McLean’s defense repeatedly, with three scorers in double digits by the end of the game. The win moved Langley to 14-2 overall, 6-2 in the district.
The Highlanders rebounded on Tuesday night with a 53-41 win over Thomas Jefferson. Ammoury again led the way, posting 21 points, including a 10 of 12 performance from the foul line. Junior guard Peter Brosnan also finished in double digits with 11 points.
The weekly split moved McLean's record to 10-7 overall, with a 5-4 record in Liberty play.
A pair of tough games await, as the Highlanders square off against W.T. Woodson at home this Friday, Feb. 1 then travel to take on Madison on Tuesday, Feb. 5. McLean fell to both teams in their first meetings this season.
McLean Girls’ Varsity Basketball
A pair of free throws by McLean's Becca Altmeyer sent the Highlanders' Tuesday night game against Thomas Jefferson to overtime, where McLean would eke out a two-point victory by a final margin of 40-38. Jessica Stillman finished with seven points, all in the final quarter and overtime to contribute in the clutch. The Highlanders (11-5 overall, 6-3 in the Liberty District) were led by eight points from freshman guard Andie Romness, while Altmeyer finished with seven points.
The win erased some of the bitterness stemming from Friday's loss to rival Langley, 43-37. The game between two teams with identical 5-2 district records at the time started as all Langley. The Saxons jumped out to an early 21-11 lead by halftime. However, the McLean Highlanders were not going down without a fight, and rode four three-pointers to give the Langley girls a scare. Langley featured three girls in double figures, while McLean’s only double-digit scorer was Romness. Both teams missed a number of free throws, with the Saxons going 12-21 and the Highlanders going 11-18; however, in the end, the Saxons emerged victorious at home, bumping their conference record to 6-2 and overall record to 9-6.
Trinity Player Nets 1,000th Point
Trinity at Meadow View boys varsity basketball player junior John Mysliewiec scored the 1,000th point of his high school career against Hearts Home Schooled team. John is the first Trinity player to reach this milestone. Under the coaching of Ron Kerstetter, Trinity went on to beat Hearts 76-28 and John had scored 24 points by halftime. Both the Trinity Boys team and the Trinity Girls team remain undefeated in their conference.
