Forward Alyssa Andrews scored 22 points and fellow junior Kennedy Fuller added 14 as Colgan won its first basketball regional title in school history, 46-43 over Osbourn Park.
On a Friday night where the lines to get in Colgan’s gym were long and the stakes were unprecedented for both schools, the teams struggled to contain their nervous energy early. Osbourn Park led 10-7 after a quarter, but Colgan shut down the Yellow Jackets in the second quarter to take a lead it would not relinquish. Led by Fuller’s multiple steals, the Sharks allowed only a single basket by Osbourn Park in the second, forging to an 18-12 lead at halftime.
It might have been a bigger lead if Andrews hadn’t picked up three fouls in the first half. She didn’t foul again, however, and Colgan (21-5) came out of the half hot, her and Fuller doing all of the damage. In fact, those two accounted for all of Colgan’s offense midway through the third quarter. Then sophomore Najah Perryman started to score, and senior Josie Rodas buried a three to give the Sharks a 33-23 lead.
Osbourn Park (19-6) recovered nicely with help from an unlikely source. Reserve freshman guard Alana Powell got hot, and five straight points from her capped a 7-0 Jackets run. Andrews stopped the bleeding with a nice bank shot, but Osbourn Park continued to gain on the home team, eventually cutting the lead to 44-43 on an Alex Harju three late in the fourth.
Andrews sank two free throws late to make it 46-43, but missed the second free throw of two with 12.1 seconds left, giving Osbourn Park a chance to tie late. Unfortunately for the Jackets, Jo Raflo missed a three-pointer as time expired, sending the Colgan crowd into a frenzied celebration.
Colgan celebrates as a last-ditch try from Jo Raflo is off. Sharks defeat the Jackets 46-43, box score and story to come. pic.twitter.com/X35ZXf18Ms
— Novahoops.com (@novahoopsCom) February 29, 2020
Andrews was the major factor in the victory, as Osbourn Park’s defense couldn’t really stop her. Andrews got to the line 17 times in the victory, more than three times more than Osbourn Park could as a team. Her offensive ability was the key in a game which featured tough defensive play and big game nerves.
Powell led Osbourn Park with 11 points as eight Yellow Jackets scored. The visitors never really got in sync offensively, though, going 2-18 from long-range. They did manage to attack the rim well in the second half when their threes weren’t falling, but it just wasn’t enough.
Both teams advance to the Class Six State Tournament for the first time next week. Colgan with a “home” game (at a Northern Virginia gym) and Osbourn Park on the road.
–Chris Jollay
all stats are unofficial
COLGAN | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
ANDREWS | 5-14 | 10-17 | 22 | 9 | 0 | |
PERRYMAN | 1-1 | 3-4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | |
FULLER | 5-9 | 4-5 | 14 | 2 | 2 | |
RODAS | 1-3 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
McWHINNEY | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
Ray | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
Damato | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
TOTALS | 13-33 | 17-26 | 46 | 25 | 7 | |
Threes: Andrews 2-2, Rodas 1-3, Fuller 0-1 | ||||||
OSBOURN PARK | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
KELLOGG | 3-10 | 0-0 | 6 | 4 | 1 | |
RAFLO | 3-7 | 0-0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | |
LEMANSKI | 3-5 | 0-0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | |
OSARO | 1-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
SCAR BOROUGH | 1-6 | 0-0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
Harju | 1-5 | 2-2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | |
Epps | 1-2 | 2-2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | |
Powell | 5-8 | 1-1 | 11 | 3 | 0 | |
Nguyen | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Cole | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
TOTALS | 18-45 | 5-5 | 43 | 21 | 5 | |
Threes: Raflo 1-5, Harju 1-5, Lemanski 0-1, Powell 0-2, Kellogg 0-2, Scarborough 0-3 |