With momentum from last Friday’s win against Thomas Edison High School, the Falls Church High School Jaguars went into their Jan. 23 game against Yorktown High School looking to continue their rock solid defense they had established earlier. 
But it wasn’t enough as the Thomas Edison Patriots lights-out shooting dominated the Jaguars, who lost the game 61-49.
The last time these two teams met on Dec. 19, 2008, both teams seemed to be evenly matched. Jaguars looked to avenge their loss against Yorktown, which won that game, 46-42.
From the start of the game, the Jaguars showed off their defense, and after a missed shot attempt from Yorktown, drew first blood with a three-point shot from sophomore Nizar Alamin. The Patriots answered back with a lay-up of their own.
This back and forth scoring expedition continued for the majority of the first quarter with 3:10 left, while Yorktown led by three points. However, the Jaguars regained the lead with a pair of lay-ups from junior Nate Jones, and held their 11-10 lead through the rest of the first quarter.
With another three-point shot made by the Jaguars to start the second quarter, it seemed like déjà vu as the Patriots answered back. Neither team would give in until, with only 4:43 left in the half, the Patriots would go on a 10-0 run, scorching the Jaguars defense with combinations of lay-ups and three-point shots. From then on the Jaguars defense was in shambles.
“Yorktown was able to get quick shots, a tribute to Yorktown’s talent,” said the Jaguars Assistant Coach Joe Cascio.
After a timeout taken by Falls Church, the Jaguars roared back, trailing by three, 25-22. But without a strong defense, the Jaguars could not hold the Patriots back, allowing them to go on a 7-0 run to end the first half 32-22.
The Jaguars needed to get something going to take the edge back in the game. With a quick fast break lay-up from senior Sam Gerima, it looked as though Falls Church was on the brink of regaining the lead. Yorktown held strong, however, and with 5:40 left in the third quarter, had a commanding lead at 40-26. Jaguars senior Kyle Gotcher would spark a small run as he drained a three-point shot near the end of the quarter.
As the game continued, the Jaguars could not stop the scoring attempts of the Patriots, making a number of questionable shots and facing a powerful defense. “Shooting too many quick shots was a big factor in our loss,” said Cascio. “However, we are developing a good balance of patience and quickness.” The third quarter closed with Yorktown up 49-36. The Jaguars attempted to make up for lost ground, as junior Nate Jones fired his team up with a quick lay-up to start the fourth quarter. With 4:11 left in the game, Jaguars put in their last shot attempts to take the lead going on a 6-0 run.
“This team, this Falls Church team, has a number of good days ahead of it. We are building on something positive here,” said Cascio. Facing off against National District powerhouse J.E.B. Stuart High School next on their schedule, the Jaguars will have to recover from this week’s loss and prepare for an all-out war home game at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27.
