Senior center Natalie Terwilliger had 24 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks to lead West Potomac to a 54-42 victory over host Falls Church on Friday night in the title game of the Joe Cascio Tournament. It was the Wolverines’ second Cascio championship in as many years.
The Wolverines’ height and strength inside proved to be too much for the Jaguars, who were out-rebounded 51-23. Terwilliger was the driving force behind the rebounding disparity, but the Wolverines’ other starters and back-up center Gabriella Hopper also did a nice job on the glass. West Potomac didn’t allow the Jaguars second chances on offense and continually got multiple looks at the basket on offense thanks to its workman-like effort on the boards.
While the Wolverines led for much of the game they couldn’t put a fiesty Falls Church team away until late. The Jaguars trailed by seven after one quarter and by four at the half, but managed to tie the score at 38 late in the third quarter with Terwilliger on the bench. Jaguars guard Sierra Kennard was a big reason for that. The junior had 18 points through three quarters and calmly knocked in shots from the perimeter.
The Wolverines didn’t panic and soon regained the lead. That allowed West Potomac coach Brian Colligan to rest/protect Terwilliger, who had three fouls, for a few more minutes. It was West Potomac’s team defense that sealed the victory. After tying the score at 38 the Jaguars only managed one more point roughly the next eight minutes until Kennard knocked down a three-pointer with only 22 seconds left in the game. By then it was too late.
Kennard finished with 21 for Falls Church (7-3) and was often the beneficiary on the wing from a pass from senior guard Rasha Benhamida. Benhamida finished with seven assists. Sophomore guard Amari Faust added eight points for the Jaguars, who will resume their season with a National District tilt at Edison on Tuesday.
With the victory West Potomac (8-4) avenged an earlier two-point loss to Falls Church this season. Freshman guard Danea Mackey had a nice all-around game for the Wolverines, contributing 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. Dejah Essex played her typical good defense and had eight boards, while Hopper was key playing alongside and filling in for Terwilliger. She finished with seven rebounds and four assists.
–Chris Jollay
all stats are unofficial
| WEST POTOMAC | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| MACKEY | 3-9 | 3-4 | 10 | 6 | 5 | |
| ELLIS | 2-11 | 0-0 | 4 | 6 | 3 | |
| ESSEX | 1-7 | 0-0 | 3 | 8 | 2 | |
| T.MACKIE | 1-1 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| N.TERWILLIGER | 10-20 | 2-5 | 24 | 16 | 0 | |
| A. Terwilliger | 1-3 | 0-1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
| Redfearn | 2-7 | 2-2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | |
| Hopper | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | |
| TOTALS | 21-60 | 7-12 | 54 | 51 | 15 | |
| Threes: Mackey 1-1, T. Mackie 1-1, N. Terwilliger 2-7, Essex 1-3, Ellis 0-1 | ||||||
| FALLS CHURCH | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| BENHAMIDA | 3-9 | 0-0 | 6 | 1 | 7 | |
| PENDLETON | 1-6 | 2-2 | 4 | 8 | 2 | |
| FAUST | 3-18 | 1-2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | |
| KENNARD | 7-13 | 2-2 | 21 | 7 | 0 | |
| THOMPSON | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Shaw | 1-9 | 0-0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | |
| TOTALS | 15-57 | 5-6 | 42 | 23 | 11 | |
| Threes: Kennard 5-8, Faust 1-5, Shaw 1-6, Benhamida 0-5 | ||||||
