2022.02.04 Girls Basketball: Loudoun Valley @ Broad Run

Ashburn, VA (February 4, 2022) - It just doesn't get any bigger than this. With a week left in the regular season, the top two teams in the Dulles District met with first place on the line. The Broad Run Spartans had the better position at 17-1 overall and 12-0 in the district, but the visiting Loudoun Valley Vikings were right behind them at 15-3 and 11-1, respectively.

Broad Run lost its very first game to LCPS powerhouse and still undefeated Woodgrove, but has not lost since. But Valley was rolling, too, with six wins in a row. One of the Vikings' few losses came to these very same Spartans just a few weeks ago.

Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action and emotion and posted a gallery of images from the game.

The game started well for the Vikings with Alex Phillips hitting a three-pointer to lead the team to an early 9-5 lead. But Sajol Thornhill hit two three's of her own to get the Spartans closer. And then Phillips hit a bookend three to give Loudoun Valley a solid lead to end the first quarter, 16-11.

After Loudoun Valley coach Bill Reynolds picked up a technical foul, Broad Run went on a short run--fueled again by Thornhill--to take the lead for the first time, 17-16. From that point the lead exchanged hands multiple times ending in a halftime tie, 27-27.

As the third quarter began, the Viking strategy was clear. Get the ball inside to Elizabeth Thornton and let her make full use of her height advantage in the middle. The plan worked and Loudoun Valley surged to a 45-35 lead with under two minutes to go in the period.

And that's when the magic happened. Behind forward Sydney Sokol, the Spartans began a furious rally to close out the third quarter trailing, but just barely, 45-44. Amazingly, the surge continued into the fourth quarter, and when Valley scored again it was only after twenty straight points from the Spartans. Even when sharpshooter Yvonne Lee was not scoring with regularity, her interior passing was key to the Spartans' incredible run.

With just four minutes remaining, with Broad Run leading 55-47, the Vikings finally got untracked, but the damage was done and they could get no closer than six points.

Final Score: Broad Run 65 - Loudoun Valley 55