Lady Cougars Too Much For Chantilly, 41-28
CHANTILLY, VA - The Chantilly Lady Chargers had the chance to pick their poison this past Friday night, in a home Concorde District match-up with rival Oakton, and unfortunately, they got the worst of both Zora Stephenson and Jackie Shewmaker. The duo, which combined for a total of 26 points, helped lead their Lady Cougars to a decisive 41-28 victory, which was heard worldwide, on the Gameday Radio Network.
Initially for Chantilly, they got a heavy dose of freshmen star Stephenson early on. Sinking 4 huge three pointers in the first half, she would finish with 12 points in the 1st 2 frames, to help give her team a slim 3 point lead at intermission. However, it was the experienced senior Shewmaker, who down the stretch, opened things up big in the second-half to preserve a key win for the Cougars.
Thanks in part to Stephenson, the freshmen gave her team a big lead early in the first quarter. With all her points coming from behind the arc, she became a dangerous scoring threat in the early going. Yet that comfortable first quarter lead quickly shriveled away once the Charger offense found its groove.
Going inside to senior forward Christina Patten , with alternative guard play coming from Lauren Gural, the Chargers were able to creep back into the game. Down only three points at the half, Chantilly had even managed to pull to within a field goal several minutes before.
The key to their success? Limiting turnovers. In the opening few minutes, Chantilly committed four turnovers which directly resulted in the Stephenson three pointers for Oakton. With Charger point guard Lisa Comerford guiding her troops down the court, with much more control and patience, Chantilly soon found themselves going toe-to-toe with first-place Oakton, all the while chipping away at the once comfortable lead the visitors once enjoyed.
Unfortunately for Chantilly, the Shewmaker show took center stage in the second half. Instead of relying on outside shooting from Stephenson, it was Shewmaker who ran her team's half-court offense to perfection. Finding back door cuts and going hard to the hoop, Shewmaker helped open up a 27-17 lead midway through the third quarter, a lead they would never relinquish.
By the time the first-half had come to an end, only three players had scored for Oakton, but by the time Shewmaker was through operating, she was able to get six players involved in the act.
For the Lady Chargers, on the other hand, the second-half brought about offensive futility. With no player scoring more than 10 points on the night, Chantilly struggled offensively, particularly in the fateful second-half. Scoring 13 points in the final two frames, the Chargers weren't able to keep pace with the surging Cougars, and never fully recovered.
Oakton, with the win, now moves to 17-2 overall and 8-1 in the Concorde District, keeping them tied for first-place with Centreville, who defeated the Herndon Hornets, on the same night. The Chargers meanwhile slip to 10-8 and 4-5 in district play, but still hold onto the 4th place spot, which, if they can hold serve the rest of the way, will ensure the Lady Chargers a 1st round home game in the District tournament. Next up for the Lady Cougars comes the Herndon Hornets, at home, on Tuesday, February 5. The Chargers will now go on the road to meet the Robinson Rams on the same night. Both games are slated for 7:30 pm start times.
Chick-Fil-A Players of the Game:
Lauren Gural - Senior Guard, Chantilly Chargers
Finishing the night with a mere 6 points, Gural was the "work horse" for the Lady Chargers all night long, in the paint, and on the boards. Beatin' and bangin' her way underneath the glass, she was able to provide a strong inside presence for Chantilly that was key to their second quarter run.
Jackie Shewmaker - Senior Guard, Oakton Cougars
Instrumental in her team's big second-half surge, Shewmaker, who finished the night with only 7 points, was the key playmaker from start to finish, calmly distributing the ball, oftentimes while being heavily guarded, and creating opportunities for her teammates. Her court presence was an invaluable asset for the Cougars Friday night.
