When Virginia Academy took a 17-point third quarter lead over Potomac School Tuesday night, it appeared the Patriots might coast the rest of the way. But as the visiting Panthers slowly clawed their way back into the game to tie it up at 52 late, Virginia Academy suddenly needed somebody to step up.
Sydney Moore was happy to oblige. Moore, a junior guard who had just checked back in the game a few minutes prior, buried two threes in quick succession, helping the Patriots earn an eventual victory, 62-58.
Both key three-pointers came from crisp passes from her teammates–the first Hazel Grepps, the second Leah Keyes. Moore, who had drilled two three-pointers in the first half as well, said there was no hesitation.
“My role on the team is to be a shooter,” she said.
Moore, who did not start but was first off the bench for Coach Walter Hamilton, certainly filled that role Tuesday night. She finished with 14 points. The senior Keyes, a George Mason signee, led the way with 17 points on efficient shooting, staying in the game until the end despite some foul trouble. Point guard Aliza Murray also had 14 points.
Virginia Academy led most of the game, enjoying a ten-point lead at halftime. Coming out of the locker room the Patriots ramped up their defense, forcing steals off traps and not allowing Potomac School so much as a field goal attempt the first three minutes of the quarter.
Potomac School, slightly undermanned with only eight players available but still potent with most of their rotation pieces present, slowly started to fight back. Senior Catherine LeTendre hit a long three-pointer to get the Patriots’ lead back down to ten points to begin the fourth.
“We gave them a little momentum heading into the fourth,” said Coach Hamilton.
Potomac School ran with that momentum, amping up its defense and beginning the fourth quarter with an 11-1 run to tie the game. Even with the 17-point swing, the Patriots didn’t panic.
“I told them to relax, I felt like we got a little tight toward the end of the third quarter,” said Coach Hamilton. “For some reason, closing quarters has been a problem with us so far this year.”
Moore squashed the Panthers’ momentum with her three-pointers to help her team relax. Even so, the Panthers had the ball with under thirty seconds left down only 61-58. Murray came up with a key steal, however, and hit a free throw on the other end to provide the final margin of victory.
LeTendre’s devastating inside-outside offensive game was huge for Potomac School, which fell to 1-2 on the young season. A very tall wing, she consistently got to the rim and was often fouled. LeTendre finished with 22 points. Sophomore point guard Sabrina Anderson added 13 points and four assists, while senior small forward Zora Burrell added 10 points and was relentless on the glass, finishing with 16 rebounds.
Virginia Academy (3-0) remains undefeated on the season, and the Patriots seem poised to again be a strong favorite to repeat as VISAA Division II state champs. While inconsistent, they’ve flashed the ability to be even better than last year.
We asked Moore what the key to doing exactly that might be.
“I think just trusting our teammates, trusting Coach Walt, and trusting what we’ve built here at Virginia Academy,” she responded.
–Chris Jollay
all statistics are unofficial
| VIRGINIA ACADEMY | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| MURRAY | 4-10 | 5-8 | 14 | 2 | 4 | |
| CARAUS | 1-8 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| GREPPS | 1-3 | 2-4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | |
| SMOOT | 3-5 | 3-4 | 9 | 2 | 1 | |
| KEYES | 8-11 | 0-0 | 17 | 8 | 3 | |
| Moore | 4-8 | 2-3 | 14 | 2 | 1 | |
| Weiss | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Washington | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Bryant | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | 22-53 | 12-19 | 62 | 25 | 14 | |
| Threes: Moore 4-8, Keyes 1-2, Murray 1-4, Smoot 0-1, Weiss 0-1, Washington 0-1, Bryant 0-1, Caraus 0-5 | ||||||
| POTOMAC SCHOOL | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| ANDERSON | 5-15 | 0-0 | 13 | 5 | 4 | |
| ELDREDGE | 3-8 | 0-0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | |
| LeTENDRE | 7-10 | 7-10 | 22 | 6 | 2 | |
| SEWALL | 2-7 | 0-0 | 4 | 8 | 3 | |
| BURRELL | 3-7 | 4-8 | 10 | 16 | 3 | |
| Hilliard | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | 20-48 | 11-18 | 58 | 39 | 12 | |
| Threes: Eldredge 3-8, Anderson 3-11, LeTendre 1-2, Burrell 0-1, Sewall 0-4 | ||||||