Most people expected a high-scoring game between John Handley and Broad Run Tuesday night in the Class 4 State Quarterfinals. Both teams averaged over 70 points a game during the year, and are adept at pouring in points both from beyond the arc and in the paint.
But this is the playoffs, where things get physical and defensive, and so it came as somewhat of a surprise it was only 25-23 at halftime, with Broad Run up.
In the second half Handley’s combustible offense caught fire, however, as the Judges erupted for 31 fourth quarter points to defeat Broad Run, 70-62. The game’s turning point came midway through the fourth quarter when seniors Kyren Oglesby and Jaevon Brisco, who scored all of his 14 points in the second half, hit back-to-back threes to put the Judges up 51-46.
The packed John Handley gym erupted, and the Judges never looked back.
“They’re as physical team I’ve ever seen come out of Loudoun County,” said Handley Coach Zach Harrell-Zook of Broad Run. “They brought it, and they made us elevate it. They tested us, they challenged us, they made us grow as a group. But when you play three shooters, when you leave one of them [open] at times, it’s a gamble, and our guys came through late.”
After those two three-pointers, Broad Run senior guard Ben Bolle scored in the lane to cut it to 51-48. But senior Christian Dinges then found freshman Asher Mattison open for his first three-pointer of the ballgame, immediately stopping Broad Run’s momentum and re-igniting the crowd. Broad Run never got that close again.
The Judges (22-5) now advance to play Varina at Highland Springs near Richmond on Friday. Last year that team knocked John Handley out on their home floor in the semifinal round.
Though John Handley will be playing in a less-friendly environment this time around, the end result could very well different. The Judges are healthy now, after missing junior sharpshooter Will Braun-Duin to injury for much of the season. Braun-Duin had 13 points Tuesday, and did a good job guarding Broad Run star Ryan Brzezanski in the first half.
Braun-Duin, known for his shooting, had two threes early, but he was content to attack the rim in the second half as the Broad Run defense marked him on the arc. His teammates had five three-pointers total in the second half, meanwhile. Oglesby had two of those, on his way to 17 points on the evening. Dinges finished with 17 of his own, attacking the paint and getting to the line.
Then there was Brisco, the senior who will play at Virginia Union next season. He wasn’t much of a factor in the first half, but came up big in the second half.
“Same thing at E.C. Glass [regional championship] when he had 13 in the second half,” Harrell-Zook said of his guard. “He’s a four-year varsity player, he doesn’t care who gets the credit, he just wants to win. And when it’s his time to make a shot, he will.”
“He’s going to do what the game requires to do what the game requires him to do to win the game. He did a great job stepping up tonight in big-time moments.”
A memorable season concludes for Broad Run (22-4), which graduates four starters but will return considerable younger talent. Brzezanski, who will play for Mt. St. Mary’s next season, finished his high school career with 18 points and nine rebounds. Fellow senior Adam Perdue, who will play at Swarthmore, caught fire in the second half, scoring 18 of his game-high 21 points after break.
“Those guys are really good…they were prepared, they executed, they brought it,” said Harrell-Zook. “It was so clear why they were in it, here.”
–Chris Jollay