Thursday night the Alexandria City Titans started the game in a box-and-one against Lake Braddock senior standout Sarah Pritz. That held Pritz to reasonable first quarter numbers, but the Bruins still managed to score 21 first quarter points. So, the Titans understandably came out of the defense to play a more conventional one.
Pritz responded to that with a scoring blitz, which left us thinking Lake Braddock is ready for playoff basketball. She finished with a career-high 30 points as the Bruins won their eighth game in their past eleven contests, 63-34.
“Sarah was obviously huge for us tonight,” said Lake Braddock Coach Liz Reed of Pritz, who is closing in on 1,000 career points at Lake Braddock. “But we also got strong contributions from multiple players.”
While the road win wasn’t unexpected against a game but inexperienced Alexandria City team still searching for its first district win, the margin of victory perhaps was. The Bruins are known as a solid team, but one that doesn’t necessarily blow many teams out. Alexandria City meanwhile, had been playing better of late, and the Titans had shown they could be a good defensive and rebounding team on occasion.
While the Titans did win the battle of the boards 41-22, Pritz still just didn’t miss that often, scoring with high efficiency. She delivered from beyond the arc three times, mixing in drives to the hoop both in the halfcourt offense and off steals. She also grabbed eight rebounds and delivered four assists.
Pritz did it all, and played the game in a protective mask as she had been doing since an injury to her face in December. She wasn’t the only player that missed time due to injury or illness earlier this year, but now the Bruins are healthy, and playing well.
“I’m really proud of my team for sticking together and battling through a horrible run of injuries before the holidays,” said Reed. “That definitely knocked us back but we like where are at heading toward postseason play.”
The win kept Lake Braddock (7-5, 10-10) in the top half of the tough Patriot District, and in line for a first round playoff home game. Seven Bruins scored, and many more played significant minutes. Senior Elena Small added 13 points for Reed’s team, while junior guard Emily DePaul added six points and three assists. Freshman Pacey Magnuson had five points and five rebounds off the bench.
Alexandria City (0-12, 2-16) has endured a tough run in Coach Ariel Gonzalez’s first year, but showed elements of why they are very likely a program on the rise under him. Junior Victoria Patrick scored 11 second half points en route to 17 total, while senior forward Alisha Jackson added seven points and 17 rebounds.
Lake Braddock’s pressure defense was able to hold the Titans to one second quarter point and 15% field goal shooting in the first half. That was enough for a 37-10 lead at the intermission.
–Chris Jollay
all statistics are unofficial
| LAKE BRADDOCK | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| SMALL | 4-9 | 3-4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
| PRITZ | 10-15 | 7-10 | 30 | 8 | 4 | |
| HOLLIDAY | 1-2 | 0-0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
| DePAUL | 2-5 | 1-2 | 6 | 2 | 3 | |
| CAJCHUN | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| Ali | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Birye | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lastra | 0-4 | 4-4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
| Scott | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| Magnuson | 2-5 | 1-2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| Arellano | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| So | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | 20-48 | 16-24 | 63 | 22 | 14 | |
| Threes: Pritz 3-6, Small 2-6, Holliday 1-1, DePaul 1-3, Ali 0-1, Magnuson 0-1, Arellano 0-1, Cajchun 0-3, Lastra 0-3 | ||||||
| ALEXANDRIA CITY | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| O’BRIEN | 0-5 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| PATRICK | 7-17 | 1-3 | 15 | 6 | 3 | |
| JACKSON | 3-8 | 1-4 | 7 | 17 | 0 | |
| GOETZ | 1-11 | 1-4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | |
| #44 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
| Rivera Escalante | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Dickerson | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Sakyi | 0-1 | 1-2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| Sejour | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Cox | 1-1 | 0-0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Perman | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| McLenahan | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| TOTALS | 14-54 | 4-13 | 34 | 41 | 9 | |
| Threes: Cox 1-1, #44 1-3, Rivera Escalante 0-1, O’Brien 0-2, Patrick 0-4 | ||||||