Everybody in the Cardinal District is accustomed to looking up at Woodbridge. Now, for at least the time being, the rest of the Cardinal is looking up at Forest Park.
On Thursday night the Bruins (5-1, 8-5) had four players score in double figures and made 20 of 22 free throws to defeat defending district and state champion Woodbridge, 58-49. It was Forest Park’s fifth straight win and second consecutive big district road win, as the Bruins defeated Colgan earlier this week.
The victory also was Forest Park’s first over Woodbridge since 2014.
“It feels good, it has been a long time since we won here,” Forest Park coach Chris Baynham said. “We’ve never won at Colgan before Tuesday–to get these wins in back-to-back games I think is big for the program. It helps us understand and believe we can come out and compete with whoever.”
The Bruins came out of the gate in this one clearly ready to compete. They raced to a 12-4 early lead and forced an early Woodbridge time out, holding a 15-8 lead after one quarter.
Woodbridge tightened the game back up in the second quarter, going on a 6-0 run at its onset. The Vikings couldn’t take the lead until the fourth quarter, when Woodbridge’s depth and height advantages seemed to wear down the visitors. Vanessa Laumbach found Naja Ngongba on a high-low to open the fourth quarter, then junior guard Desiree Cross converted a layup to give Woodbridge its first lead at 43-42.
Forest Park ended the game as it had begun it–on fire. The Bruins went on a 7-0 run, capped off by a steal by sophomore guard Angel Jones and a pass to Janiah Jones for an and-one layup. Angel Jones then answered a Woodbridge three-pointer with a driving finish. She was fouled and buried a free throw to put her team up 52-46 late.
The made free throws were a common theme all night for the victors. The Bruins hit their first 18 attempts at the line, with forward Kayla Burton hitting all ten of her attempts. That, and Angel Jones’ ability to handle and finish late, proved the difference in the game.
Woodbridge (3-2, 5-7) was led by sophomore Amani Melendez, who had 13 points. Cross impressed with her defense and rebounding (11 boards), while George Mason signee Laumbach had eight points and eight rebounds.
Janiah Jones led Forest Park with 15 points, while Burton had 14, Lauren Palmateer 13, and Angel Jones 11 for the Bruins.
–Chris Jollay
all stats are unofficial
| FOREST PARK | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| A.JONES | 4-9 | 3-4 | 11 | 5 | 5 | |
| GLENN | 2-3 | 0-0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | |
| PALMATEER | 3-10 | 5-5 | 13 | 3 | 5 | |
| J.JONES | 6-17 | 2-3 | 15 | 6 | 0 | |
| BURTON | 2-7 | 10-10 | 14 | 6 | 1 | |
| Chambers | 0-4 | 0-0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Adkins | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | 17-50 | 20-22 | 58 | 27 | 11 | |
| Threes: Palmateer 2-6, Glenn 1-1, J.Jones 1-2 | ||||||
| WOODBRIDGE | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| MELENDEZ | 6-13 | 1-3 | 13 | 2 | 2 | |
| #21 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |
| CROSS | 3-8 | 0-0 | 6 | 11 | 0 | |
| DENWIDDIE | 2-8 | 1-2 | 7 | 5 | 3 | |
| LAUMBACH | 2-6 | 4-6 | 8 | 8 | 4 | |
| Ngongba | 3-13 | 0-1 | 6 | 8 | 2 | |
| Burke | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Stewart | 2-2 | 1-2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Turner | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | 20-55 | 7-14 | 49 | 36 | 11 | |
| Threes: Denwiddie 2-2, Melendez 0-1, Laumbach 0-1 | ||||||