The Loudoun County boys basketball team was trailing Tuscarora by six points heading into the fourth quarter of the Dulles District Tournament Championship. The Huskies were the top-ranked seed and they had already beaten Loudoun County twice on the season.
But Captains head coach Mark Alexander trusted his team’s experience and grit to turn the game around.
“These guys have been in big games like the State Final last year, they know what they’re doing I just let them go,” Coach Alexander said. “I told them to just keep playing, and see what happens. There’s no six-point shots. You’ve got to value every possession, and start getting stops.”
The Captains would use a 12-2 run in the fourth to help secure a 56-47 win to be crowned Dulles District Tournament Champions. The comeback effort was led by senior forward Joey Fitzpatrick, and senior guards Brax Griffin and Jack West.
Fitzpatrick recorded a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Griffin finished the game with 14 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. West also contributed 13 points, and two assists.
“We knew we had what it takes, we just had to rally the troops and get everybody riled up,” Fitzpatrick said. “We suffered a couple losses to them during the regular season so it feels good to get them back.”
The Huskies (21-4) were led by junior guard Jayden Johnson, who recorded 17 points and seven rebounds.
It was a closely contested matchup right from the tip-off as Griffin dished a pass to senior guard Zach Henson who sunk a three-pointer to begin the game. Tuscarora responded on the next possession when Johnson banked a three-pointer in off the glass. The teams traded baskets throughout the quarter, but the Huskies led 13-12 at the end of the first.
It remained a one-score game throughout the second quarter, but a critical moment occurred late in the half when Tuscarora senior forward Gavin O’ Malley left the game and did not return after receiving an injury to the head. The Huskies led 21-20 at halftime.
The momentum seemed to shift as Tuscarora held the Captains to just five points in the third quarter and led 32-26 heading into the fourth. So Coach Alexander made some minor defensive adjustments in hopes to slow down the Huskies shooters.
“Tuscarora is a fantastic team,” Coach Alexander said. “They’re full of athletes and talented ball players, and are very well coached by Michael Newkirk. They were running good stuff and TJ Duggan was killing us. So we decided to change some things we were playing and still focus on Jayden (Johnson), he’s a phenomenal player. Once we did that things started to turn our way, the crowd started getting into it, and our guys were unphased.”
Fitzpatrick opened the quarter with a big three-pointer to cut the lead to three, but Tuscarora responded with consecutive buckets to maintain a 36-29 lead. Loudoun County junior forward Devon Chrisner hit a jumper on the ensuing possession, and Coach Alexander called a timeout with six minutes remaining in the game.
After the timeout, the Captains would begin their 12-2 run to take the lead. The charge was led by Griffin, who started the run with a three-pointer and scored six fast break points off of turnovers.
Tuscarora finally responded with a three-pointer, to bring the Captains lead to 43-41. But Fitzpatrick would convert a clutch three-point play after getting fouled on a layup. Loudoun County closed out the game with Fitzpatrick and West sinking seven of their eight free throws.
“We just kept on playing defense,” West said. “We hit our shots in the fourth quarter, so that helped a lot. My teammates got me the ball, and I just hit the shots.”
The Loudoun County crowd was cheering all through the final minutes of the fourth quarter as their team completed the comeback.
“It feels great to know you have the whole school behind your back,” Fitzpatrick said.
The Captains will travel to John Handley high school for the regional semi-finals on February 21st.
“We’re playing a good Handley team, very athletic – I gotta go to work,” Coach Alexander said. “I’m going to go to work as soon as I get home. Zach Harrell is a great coach, so we’ve got to be ready.”
–TJ Davis
@Ttown316