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Whitney Garrett (right) dishes to Callie Doyle in the second half of Centreville's victory over Mount Vernon. Garrett led the Wildcats with 21 points.

Garrett’s 21 powers #13 Centreville past Mount Vernon, 57-45

Junior guard Whitney Garrett scored 21 points and visiting Centreville used a 7-0 run at the start of the third quarter to take control, defeating Mount Vernon 57-45 in a non-district clash.

Garrett, a transfer from Paul VI, has been an important factor this year for the Wildcats’ (6-1) solid early season start. She leads the team in scoring and has made Centreville more explosive on offense than last year, when the team only hit 50 points five times all year.

“I think she could have been the all-time leading scorer in Centreville history if she’s here all four years,” Wildcats coach Tom Watson said after the game. “She was this good as a freshman over there, too.”

Garrett was good on this evening certainly, also contributing significantly on the boards and on defense. But it wasn’t easy against the Majors (3-5), who showed up ready to defend their home court. Senior guard Norissa Solomon exploded out of the gate with eight quick points as Mount Vernon forged to a 13-10 lead after one quarter. Junior guard Ebony Bordley was also impressive grabbing rebounds, distributing the ball, and leading the Majors in transition.

Garrett even drained a three at the end of the third just after the buzzer.
Garrett even drained a three at the end of the third, but it was just after the buzzer.

But Solomon picked up a few quick fouls and Majors coach India Thomas had to sit her. That’s when Centreville started to forge ahead. She was very good in the second quarter, using her quickness to get good looks at the rim and draw more fouls on the Majors. By halftime she had 13, and the Wildcats led 27-23.

After the half Centreville adjusted its defense and started to clamp down on the Majors. The 7-0 run to begin the third quarter forced Thomas to call a time out three minutes into the half. She made a good adjustment to get the ball inside to her posts for better shots, but the Majors could only manage to play Centreville roughly even for the rest of the quarter.

Then in the fourth Centreville could play the game it likes to while ahead by double digits–in a sort of semi-stall. The Majors continued to fight, clawing to within five points on three occasions, but could draw no closer. A dish from Garrett to forward Callie Doyle resulted in a three-point play to give Centreville a 53-45 lead, and that was that.

Solomon finished with 16 points for Mount Vernon, while Bordley had a typical nice all-around game with 12 points, six boards and four assists. Senior center Susannah Anderson led the Majors’ attack inside, coming off the bench to contribute nine points and seven rebounds. The Majors will now play a friendly at Friendly (HS) on Thursday, before competing in the Joe Cascio Tournament at Falls Church after Christmas.

The Majors' Ebony Bordley shoots over Aleigh Gambone. Bordley had 12 points.
The Majors’ Ebony Bordley handles the ball against Aleigh Gambone. Bordley had 12 points.

Garrett got support from the likes of the senior Doyle (nine points, five rebounds, four assists), plus athletic junior guards Aleigh Gambone and Ashley Martin. Gambone, a soccer whiz who already has a soccer scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill, has been unable to practice with the team much so far this year because of her soccer commitments. That’s one reason Watson feels his team will get even better.

“We played well tonight,” he said. “We’re a still a team trying to figure out who we are and we haven’t had Aleigh but for two games this year, so down a point guard we haven’t been fluid. We have put together some nice quarters and a few nice halves but we haven’t put together a full game yet.”

The Wildcats will play in a tourney down in South Carolina next, continuing to prepare for Concorde District play after the break.

–Chris Jollay

all stats are unofficial

MOUNT VERNON FG FT TP RB AST
SCARLET A. 1-2 0-0 2 3 0
MUHAMMAD 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
BORDLEY 3-8 5-6 12 6 4
FLOYD 3-7 0-0 6 5 0
SOLOMON 6-12 2-2 16 5 2
Larkins 0-5 0-0 0 6 2
Susannah A. 4-7 1-3 9 7 1
Nixon 0-2 0-0 0 1 0
Edwards 0-1 0-0 0 0 0
TOTALS 17-44 8-11 45 33 9
Threes: Solomon 2-3, Bordley 1-3, Larkins 0-2, Nixon 0-1
CENTREVILLE FG FT TP RB AST
K.SQUIREWELL 1-4 0-0 2 1 2
HALL 2-4 0-0 5 1 0
MARTIN 3-7 3-4 9 6 3
DOYLE 3-9 3-5 9 5 4
GARRETT 7-17 6-7 21 5 1
Gambone 2-9 5-6 9 4 2
Sanders 0-2 0-0 0 0 0
Naderi 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
J.Squirewell 1-2 0-0 2 1 0
TOTALS 19-54 17-22 57 23 12
Threes: Hall 1-1, Garrett 1-4, Martin 0-1, K.Squirewell 0-2, Sanders 0-2, Doyle 0-3