Another Tuesday night, another incredibly competitive Potomac District game.
Rock Ridge traveled to John Champe on Tuesday and fell in overtime 91-84 to the Knights, who rebounded nicely from a loss to Potomac Falls the night before. It was a tough loss for the Phoenix, who have now played six overtimes in their last three games.
The first quarter was hectic with turnovers and fast breaks turning the game into a track meet. The game remained close for the entirety of the quarter, ending at Champe leading 20-17. The second quarter saw the pace slowed down with more set-up offense, but Rock Ridge’s pressure up top led to a few turnovers giving them the 39-34 halftime lead.
The second half got off to a hot shooting start with Alex Fitch hitting three treys for the Phoenix and Lee Goodson and Cerico Conway both scoring eight for Champe in the third quarter. Things cooled off in the fourth with the game remaining tight and both teams missing a lot of shots. Down the stretch both teams relied on their star players to put up the points with Rock Ridge’s Fitch and Andrew Sanderson and Champe’s Tyler Savage all scoring six points apiece.
Rock Ridge had a chance holding the ball for the win in regulation when the game was tied at 78, but an Alex Fitch buzzer-beating three was just a tiny bit strong, sending the game to overtime.
End of Regulation: Alex Fitch misses last shot to win Rockridge 78 John Champe 78 pic.twitter.com/ue0uZO4TwR
— Grayson Alto (@Grayson_Alto) December 12, 2018
Overtime was all John Champe as the Knights scored with relative ease and won the extra period 13-6. In overtime Goodson put up six, and Savage contributed five.
Standouts for the Knights were the senior guard Conway with 16 points, 6’8″ senior Sam Watkins with 26, and the 6’3″ junior Savage with 15. Watkins showed himself to be one of the best post players in Loudoun showing range, as well as strength in the post.
Rock Ridge was led by the 6’4″ senior Fitch with 36 points. He is the favorite to be the highest scorer in Loudoun this year. 6’5″ senior Sanderson made his presence known tonight with 20 points of his own, as well as getting blocks and steals on the defensive end.
Champe (1-1, 4-2) is back in action on Friday against Tuscarora, while Rock Ridge (1-1, 3-2) travels to Park View on Wednesday.
–Grayson Alto