Early Deficit Is Too Much for Panthers

Orange County Scores First 16 Points

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Potomac Falls took the floor Tuesday night for its Virginia AA Region II first-round game against Orange County riding the momentum of winning the Dulles District championship.

Also, the Panthers were facing a team they had defeated, 55-27, in a three-quarter preseason scrimmage.

But the Hornets, winners of the Jefferson District tournament, swarmed their hosts from the opening tip with relentless full-court pressure and cruised to a 78-59 victory.

The game was quite different from a preseason scrimmage between the teams that lasted three quarters. The Panthers won the scrimmage, 55-27.

"We read some stuff on the internet that said they stomped us earlier so it probably wouldn't be a problem for them to beat us again," Orange County senior guard Ryan Van Hook said. "So that really got us hyped and we wanted to prove to everybody that we can play."

On Tuesday, the Hornets (17-9) scored the game's first 16 points. They hounded the Panthers in the back court with a full-court zone trap and turned eight first-quarter turnovers into easy transition baskets.

"We just didn't handle things well early," Potomac Falls Coach Jeff Hawes said. "They really brought the pressure, and we didn't handle it well. But for some reason -- I don't know if it was such an emotional weekend -- but this maybe just seemed like a secondary thing."

Alex Kott's runner with three minutes left in the first finally put Potomac Falls on the board, but that was it for the Panthers, and they trailed 18-2 after one quarter.

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Potomac Falls Loses in Region II Playoffs

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Potomac Falls' No. 20 Robert Hogue drives right up the middle between Orange's No. 20 Carnell Perkins and No. 40 Phillip Barge to make a basket with 2:36 left in the second quarter of Tuesday's Region II playoff game. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Potomac Falls' No. 33 Gregory Woodlief fakes a hard drive straight up the middle to the basket and passes off to No. 44 Aaron Sweger, who makes the basket. On defense for Orange is No. 10 Antrell Johnson and No. 20 Carnell Perkins. Sweger scored with 47 seconds left in the second period. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Potomac Falls' No. 23 Alexander Kott goes up for two points over Orange's No. 21 Evan Price in the first quarter. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Potomac Falls' No. 44 Aaron Sweger goes up between Orange's No. 20 Carnell Perkins and No. 11 Chris Rollins during Tuesday's Region II playoff game at Potomac Falls. Sweger missed the basket with 4:22 left in the fourth quarter. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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During the third period with 3:06 left, Potomac Falls' No. 33 Gregory Woodlief drives up the middle, past Orange's No. 40 Phillip Barge. Woodlief, fouled by Barge, doesn't make the basket but goes to the foul line. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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The Potomac Falls student section shows support for one of their players at the free-throw line during the third quarter of Tuesday's playoff game against Orange. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Potomac Falls Head Coach Jeff Hawes talks to his team before the start of the fourth quarter. Potomac Falls lost to Orange 59-78 during Tuesday's Region II playoff game at Potomac Falls. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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The Panthers (17-8) settled down in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 10 with five minutes left in the half.

But Orange County responded with several back-door layups and continued defensive pressure to increase its lead to 35-17 at the break.

"Defense has been our main focus throughout the year, and I feel like when we play good defense we have some good results out of it," first-year Orange County Coach Keyo'de Rogers said.

The Hornets pushed their lead to 21 in the third quarter before a 14-7 Panthers' run keyed by junior guard Greg Woodlief 's scrappy play got Potomac Falls back within 12 at 47-35.

But Orange County took over from there, breaking the Panthers' press for open layups and knocking down free throws to put the game away.

"We just dug too deep a hole, and we were trying to climb out of it all night long," Hawes said.

Junior guard Quinton Hunter, who missed the preseason scrimmage, led the way with 19 points and seven rebounds for the Hornets, who advance to face top-seeded Millbrook in today's Thursday's region semifinals. The junior guard, who missed the pre-season scrimmage, nearly brought down the house with a rim-rattling one-handed alley-oop dunk, but it clanked off the back of the rim.

Senior guard Ryan Van Hook had 17 points and three steals and calmly handled Potomac Falls' pressure.

"From the beginning of the season, we were placed low in our district coming into the preseason," Rogers said. "People just overlooked us. And they've been playing with that chip all year and hopefully they can keep it up."

Senior forward William Mears scored 12 points, and Woodlief added 10 for the Panthers, who shot 1 for 14 from beyond the arc. Senior guard Alex Hogue, who set the school record with seven three-pointers and scored 31 points in Saturday's district title game against Loudoun County, made one three-pointer and finished with five points.

"We got a little flustered and we were rushing everything, and that hurt us, not scoring," Hawes said. "But fantastic year for these kids, and I'm so happy for them that they got to see a lot of success after the way things were. It was a good run for them."

Tagged: basketball, high school sports, post season, Potomac Falls High School

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