Dulles Race Gets Trimmed After Big Night
STERLING, VA - Four teams went into Thursday night tied for the Dulles District top spot, and only two survived, as all four teams were in action against each other. In the closest Dulles boy's basketball race that anyone can remember, the Loudoun County Raiders, Potomac Falls Panthers, Park View Patriots, and Heritage Pride all shared the lead, with 5-2 records. This would all change going into Thursday's action, as Park View traveled to take on the Raiders, and the Panthers ventured to Leesburg to battle Heritage.
At Loudoun County high school, the Patriots, who have struggled since the Holiday break, but managing to keep pace, have been looking for some consistency from their starters, other than having to rely on the big man, Thomas Mulabah, to rule the boards, and be the constant scoring threat in games. Teams of late have managed to neutralize Mulabah's effectiveness, by shutting down the other cast of players. The Raiders, on the other hand, have had consistent scoring from a few different contestants, including Joe Bushrod, Donne Lucas, and Brett Tagg. Park View needed an answer, and a spark, to be able to come away from the hostile environment in Raider Nation, and stay in the Dulles lead. Enter junior guard, Marcus Freeman! Freeman knew he had to step up for his team coming into the night, and he picked the right time to find his stroke. Nailing all 7 of his 3 point shot attempts, Freeman poured in a career high 29 points, neutralizing Joe Bushrod's 22, and the Patriots prevailed, on the road, 73-67, and now share the Dulles lead.
In the other top flight match-up, the Potomac Falls Panthers, arguably the hottest team in Dulles District play recently, looked to keep pace, and continue their hot streak, against the Heritage Pride. The Panther's Alex Hogue came out firing at the start, and helped his team hold the early lead, but it was the overall team defense of the Pride, and a quicker, guard oriented lineup, led by Preston Findley and Stephen Shockley, that helped Heritage prevail with the 66-53 victory, and now share the District lead with Park View, each at 6-2.
Neither team can rest on their respective laurels, as they are scheduled to square off on January 29, at Park View. The Pride lost the 1st contest between them, at Heritage, in a thrilling 55-54 loss, with Thomas Mulabah hitting 2 free throws with :07 left in the game, to lead his team in victory.
