WL #54
Washington-Liberty's Elijah Hughes (19 points) bullies his way to the basket in the second half of the Generals' victory Tuesday night.

Boys 6D Regional Quarterfinal: Washington-Liberty tames Wildcats, 67-54

There aren’t many boys basketball teams that came out of the COVID-19 situation stronger than Washington-Liberty. The Generals’ roster was in shambles for much of the first month of the season, and then the team fell to Arlington County’s 10-day public-school shutdown.

There were a few early-season losses and the raggedness of an unsettled practice schedule – if they could get on the court at all.

It seems so long ago.

Coach Bobby Dobson’s regrouped squad has strengthened its performance and now “keeps doing what it’s been doing,” Dobson said after Tuesday’s 67-54 win at home over Centreville in Region 6D first-round tournament action.

W-L (17-6) will host the Concorde District’s No. 2 seed Madison (19-5) on Thursday. The Wildcats’ season ends at 12-12.

Senior Jakhi Beale kept turnovers to a minimum and also led the Generals' pressure defense.
Senior Jakhi Beale kept W-L turnovers to a minimum and also led the Generals’ pressure defense.

The Generals were outmanned in an early-season loss to the Warhawks. They also fell to Centreville in the second game of the season, getting overpowered underneath by the Wildcats’ tall, inside scorers.

On Tuesday, those post players were neutralized as W-L constantly doubled them down low as soon as they touched the ball, resulting in miss after miss from point-blank range if not a turnover.

The Generals, led by senior Jakhi Beale and  junior guards James McIntyre and Brian Weiser (who had 14 steals in two Liberty District tournament games), used their press to pester Centreville’s ball handlers enough to force turnovers and wear them down.

The Generals and junior Brian Weiser got several breakaways off their good defense.
The Generals and junior Brian Weiser got several breakaways off their good defense.

W-L jumped to a 6-0 lead and never trailed. The Wildcats rallied to eventually tie the game at 16 before McIntyre and his down-low teammate Elijah Hughes sparked a big second quarter and a 34-20 lead at the half.

McIntyre had 10 points at the break and then hit two three-pointers in the third quarter as the lead grew to as much as 19.

“As soon as their bigs touched the ball we made sure we doubled them immediately,” McIntyre said. “We also had to look out for Doyle Brown [game-high 25 points] and be ready to help out on him.” Brown hit four three-pointers in the second half.

McIntyre used his drives to the basket to set up open shots. He hit back-to-back three-pointers in the first quarter and eventually led his team with 20 points.

James McIntyre (20 points) again provided the offensive firepower for Bobby Dobson's team.
James McIntyre (20 points) again provided the offensive firepower for Bobby Dobson’s team.

“The team does a good job of getting me the ball when I get to my spots,” McIntyre said. “Yes, the three-point line, but I like to start the game driving to the basket to find out how they are going to defend me and then adjust and look for step-back shots. When I’m scoring, the others start scoring, too.”

The most impactful “other” was Hughes (19 points) who at times became almost un-guardable in the second half. After Centreville crept to within nine with 5:11 to play, Hughes scored the game’s next three baskets, all from underneath, using his big body to create space.

Said Dobson, whose team went 11-1 in the Liberty District before winning the district title to gain a No. 1 seed, “Our guys really stayed together during that first month. I’m so proud of them and how we’re playing. They deserve it.”

–Paul Bergeron
@PaulBergeron3

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