Potomac Falls, VA (January 27, 2023) - Neither the Briar Woods Falcons nor the Potomac Falls Panthers looked sharp to open this game. In fact, midway through the first period the score was just 2-2. The pace was intense, but every shot was challenged by a defender or just slightly off the mark when not defended well. Potomac Falls led for the whole quarter, but the margin at the break was just 6-5.
Chas Sumser Photography was there to capture the action and emotion and posted a gallery of images from the game.
But something lit a fire under the Panthers as they outrebounded the Falcons and tightened their defense to start the second period. Briar Woods called a timeout at 5:35 to slow things down, but the Falcons were now trailing 13-7. The break worked, and they were able to keep the margin from increasing much before halftime. As the teams went to the locker room, the Panthers led 17-10, but it still felt like neither team had established their usual rhythm.
To start the third period, Briar Woods employed a stronger defense and trimmed the lead to three points twice behind a huge three-pointer from Devon Pettibone. But the Panthers pushed the lead back out each time the Falcons came close. By the end of the period, even though Briar Woods seemed like the better team in the quarter, the Panthers had actually increased the lead slightly to 29-21.
Early in the fourth period, the Falcons would come as close as they would get. When Jackson Kelly hit for three, the Panthers' lead had been whittled down to just 33-31. But Potomac Falls surged again--behind a big shot from Gavin Griffith--to make it 35-31. Briar Woods would not score again as the Panthers finished the game from the foul line.
Final Score: Potomac Falls 40 - Briar Woods 31
