Last night saw another chapter added to one of the best rivalries in the area between the South Lakes Seahawks and Herndon Hornets. These two strong programs have gone back and forth the past few years, and that continued this year in their one and only meeting as Herndon avenged its loss from 2021 to win, 48-37.
Head Coach Mike Wills knows the two have always matched up quite nicely, and prepared accordingly. “We prepared like it was a rivalry game. The better team doesn’t always win. And we felt like it was time for us to step it up.”
The host Hornets got off to a solid start, leading 12-9 the first quarter. They opened the second shooting hot from the floor to take a seven-point lead into the half. Their senior backcourt of Aylin Humpherys and Annelise Castillo showed their experience on varsity, combining for 17 first half points. Castillo knocked down two triples and hit the boards, going for nine total. She finished with 15 points.
It was Humpherys who pushed Herndon forward in the second half, though. She went for two threes each in the third and fourth quarter, with one to open up the fourth that confirmed victory was near.
“I just thought, we’re gonna win. We’re not losing this game. We all wanted it and hitting that three just set it up. I think it gave everyone that last bit of energy to push to the end,” she said.
She finished with 25 points and two steals. It was a culminating moment in her four-year varsity career, and the first home victory against South Lakes for her class.
“I thought Aylin stepped up big. Hit big threes. And we moved her to the point this year. Last year she didn’t play point,” said Coach Wills.
“Coming into this game I was honestly really nervous, but I just took the words from my teammates and coaches to stop thinking, just play, play as a team, lean on each other, and I think that’s what we did and that’s how we were able to beat them,” Humpherys said.
The Hornets definitely showed they wanted it in the paint, with Natalie Branson going for 10 boards and Diarra Diagne going for six. While Humpherys led the charge, she had the whole team right behind her.
South Lakes (2-1) suffers its first loss of the season in a game not without promising play. Jess Dornak (nine points, nine rebounds, two blocks) displayed gutsy rim protection and some momentum-swinging blocks that kept the Seahawks in it early. Renee Timbers (11 points, three steals) showed plenty of grit in moments when it looked like Herndon (3-2) might blow it open.
Perhaps one of the most impressive freshmen this season, South Lakes’ Madison Washington, displayed flashes of brilliance and plenty of comfort on the floor in her first rivalry game with three points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal. The Seahawks will look to bounce back against Wakefield next week.
Meanwhile, having lost to No. 5 Robinson by only four, Coach Wills is now seeing the necessary characteristics in his team to compete with anybody.
“We gotta stay up here. We’re starting to become disciplined on offense. Knowing time and score, when to push, when not to push. We want to play fast, but when we’re up eight, nine points, slow it down. So they gotta get used to that, but I think it was good.”
The Hornets continue their season next week against Washington-Liberty.
–Max Nagle
@MaxWritesHoops
We have Annelise Castillo with 18 points and 11 rebounds for her second double/double this season(to go with 21pts 14 boards vs Heritage).