Lightridge’s girls basketball program has been slowly but surely improving since the school opened earlier this decade. And now, currently in first place in the Potomac District for the first time this late in the season, the Lightning don’t appear ready to leave that perch just yet–if ever.
Thursday night against a young but dangerous Stone Bridge team Lightridge got points from every player that played en route to a 54-48 road victory. The win gave Lightridge a season sweep of Stone Bridge, and kept the Lightning in sole possession of first in the Potomac.
It was another step forward for the Lightning and Coach Ed Knox.
“The other night against Valley, we had been waiting a long time for that one,” said Knox, reflecting on his program’s progression, and his team’s victory over Loudoun Valley Tuesday night. “Offensively we get a little bit from a lot [of players]…as of late we’ve had a lot of girls step up and score.”
Sophomore Gabrielle Dillard did a lot of the heavy lifting Thursday, tallying 13 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Riley Thomas had nine points and eight rebounds, and Molly Bollhorst, Mikayla Bowe, and Ella Kalinsky had seven points apiece–Bowe and Kalinsky’s production coming off the bench.
Lightridge needed all those offensive contributions and more to escape Stone Bridge, which was coming off a big win over Potomac Falls. Bowe, who also had five assists, was especially key down the stretch, as she hit five of six free throws to put away the game after Stone Bridge closed to within 49-45.
“It was really nice to see that,” said Knox. “Mikayla did some really nice things for us–those free throws were huge…it was great to see that.”

With no seniors on the roster, Lightridge still has a lot of upside for this season and next. To realize that upside, Knox says the key is on the defensive end.
“Our kids were really moving well on defense [tonight],” he said after his team held Stone Bridge to 5-28 shooting from behind the arc. “They’re starting to buy into the defense we’re playing…we just focus so much on the defensive end more than anything.”
Defense was key for the Lightning (5-1, 14-4) to stretch their lead in the first half. Midway through the second quarter Knox took a timeout up 18-17. After that his team held Stone Bridge scoreless until sophomore Sheila Suarez knocked down a three right before halftime.
The Lightning extended their 25-20 halftime lead to double digits in the third quarter, and never looked back.
Suarez led the Bulldogs (3-3, 9-8) with 16 points, and freshman Keeley Billings added 10. With the loss, Stone Bridge dropped into a three-way tie with Briar Woods and Riverside for third place in the competitive district.
–Chris Jollay
all statistics are unofficial
LIGHTRIDGE | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
BOLLHORST | 3-10 | 0-3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | |
GARCIA | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
DILLARD | 6-13 | 0-0 | 13 | 9 | 2 | |
CHILDRESS | 2-6 | 0-0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
THOMAS | 4-9 | 1-1 | 9 | 8 | 2 | |
Kalinsky | 3-7 | 0-0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | |
Bowe | 1-5 | 5-6 | 7 | 2 | 5 | |
Sombillo | 1-3 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
TOTALS | 21-57 | 6-10 | 54 | 33 | 14 | |
Threes: Childress 2-5, Sombillo 1-2, Dillard 1-2, Kalinsky 1-3, Bollhorst 1-5, Thomas 0-2 | ||||||
STONE BRIDGE | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
STREAKER | 1-8 | 3-3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | |
SUAREZ | 7-18 | 0-0 | 16 | 13 | 3 | |
SKORUPSKI | 3-7 | 0-0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | |
BROWNLEE | 1-6 | 0-0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | |
BILLINGS | 5-9 | 0-0 | 10 | 6 | 1 | |
Newton | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
Borley | 2-6 | 2-2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | |
TOTALS | 19-55 | 5-5 | 48 | 33 | 11 | |
Threes: Skorupski 2-5, Suarez 2-8, Borley 1-4, Newton 0-1, Billings 0-1, Brownlee 0-4, Streaker 0-5 |
They are so fun to watch! Young team but massive talent and upside!