In the very beginning of the season, we saw the McLean Highlanders announce themselves as a contender in the Liberty. Last night, aspirations became reality as the Highlanders scored a 58-50 Liberty District Final victory over their crosstown rivals, the top-seeded Langley Saxons.
The game was played at Yorktown due to a power outage at Langley but featured plenty of electricity, with both schools’ hype squads loud and present. Rivalry games are always a treat, and after the Highlanders and Saxons split their regular season meetings, this third meeting for the Liberty crown was intense and hotly-contested.
The opening quarter had lots of nervous energy and went back and forth. Both teams wanted to get up the floor for easy buckets to help swing momentum their way. It tilted in McLean’s favor as the second-seeded Highlanders (18-7) went on a 6-0 run towards the end of the quarter to lead 15-8 after one.
Two three-pointers by sophomore guard Anya Rahman (30 points, seven rebounds, two steals), and junior forward Brianna Borcherding (nine points, five boards, one steal) got the Saxons (20-5) right back in it. But basketball is a game of runs, and McLean went on a run of its own to lead by as many as eight in the second. Sophomore post Vilte Kacerauskaite (eight points, three rebounds, one steal, one block, two assists) found her teammates Alyssa Evans (17 points, five rebounds), and Brooke Thomas (six points) for jumpers to give the Highlanders a 26-23 lead at the half.
An indication of what was to come in the second half might’ve been hinted at in the difference in turnovers between the two teams. McLean only had three at halftime, compared to Langley’s nine. It has been a point of emphasis for the Liberty District Champions through their (now) eleven-game win streak.
“We’ve been focused on that for the last month and a half, and they’ve been really good at executing that,” said McLean Head Coach Jen Sobota of her team.
The third period saw McLean get to one of the things they do best, three-point shooting. Evans and sophomore guard Tatum Olson (16 points, three rebounds) found their groove on offense while Kacerauskaite went to work on the defensive end. They led by as many as eleven in the quarter and went to the fourth up 45-38.
Despite the Saxons throwing everything they could at McLean down the stretch, the Highlanders were able to maintain the lead and close out the contest. After a three by Rahman cut the lead to two at 49-47, an Olson bucket pushed the lead back out, and Langley soon had to foul to stop the clock for possessions. McLean managed to hit free throws and not allow a basket until an inconsequential three from Rahman at the buzzer, capturing their first district title since 2019.
Another strength that Sobota noted, is evidenced by the fact that everyone who stepped on the court last night scored.
“I feel like every game, you could try to find somebody, but I really do believe that the reason we’re winning is because we are a true team. From the bench, they don’t see the floor a lot but the role they play in encouraging their teammates in practice is huge and I think that’s what makes us tough. They could take Kara Bremser out of the game but now they gotta worry about xyz, and when I say take out of the game, she draws so much attention that she’s still doing her job even when the numbers aren’t on the scoreboard.”
Although Langley takes the loss, they enter the 6D Regional Tournament next week with an opening home game against South Lakes. If Anya Rahman plays the way she did last night and Langley can take care of the basketball, they will be a tough out, if not contenders in the region.
McLean will host Centreville in the opening round of the tourney.
–Max Nagle
@MaxWritesHoops