2023.02.17 Girls Basketball: Potomac District Championship, Briar Woods @ Woodgrove

Purcellville, VA (February 17, 2023) - The Woodgrove Wolverines and Briar Woods Falcons were clearly the cream of this year's Potomac District crop, so it was no surprise to find them meeting in the tournament championship. The Wolverines' only district loss came at the hands of the Falcons, and one of two Briar Woods losses came by way of the Wolverines.

Woodgrove had the home court advantage for this one, but other than that there was virtually no discernible separation between the two teams. Both would advance to the Region 5D tournament, but only the winner would get a home game to start.

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

Behind sharp shooting from Annika Rohs, Woodgrove jumped out to an early 8-2 lead. The Wolverines were on cruise control and their interior passing was the key to their fast start. Briar Woods closed the gap as the first quarter ended with the Wolverines still in front, 15-12. 

In the second period, the momentum gradually shifted Briar Woods' way. But first they had to stop Jenna Steadman, who opened the quarter with two quick baskets to expand the Woodgrove lead to 20-10. With four straight baskets, the Falcons cut the lead to 20-18, but the Wolverines' Lyla Brown hit a three-pointer to put her team back in front, 23-18. 

The Falcons kept on coming, and when Noelle Cabiness hit the basket to tie it at 23-23, Briar Woods would never trail again. Two more baskets for Chen put the teams in the locker room with all of the momentum and the lead in the Falcons' hands, 27-23.

After halftime, the Briar Woods strategy was clear. Pound the ball inside, and make the Wolverines respond. And the plan worked like a charm. With just over a minute remaining in the period, their lead had ballooned to 45-32. A late basket from Woodgrove's Angelina Nice, got the margin under ten at the break, 45-34.

Getting production from everywhere, the Falcons poured it on in the final period. With about four minutes left, Woodgrove called timeout now down by nearly twenty points, 53-35, and they would never get any closer. The offensive combination of Chen, Hope Drake, and Sienna Casillas, were just too much for the Wolverines to handle, and Woodgrove never consistently cracked the Briar Woods defense on the other end.  

Final Score: Briar Woods 61 - Woodgrove 42