Panthers Win The Broadway Tip-Off Tournament
STORY BY: MICHAEL MARZZACCO / GAMEDAYMAGAZINE COLUMNIST
POTOMAC FALLS, VA - Last month, the Panthers won the first game of the Broadway Tip-off Tournament. The second game was snowed out and the make-up date was one month later, making this a long tournament. The game was also moved from Broadway High School to Potomac Falls giving the Panthers a huge home court advantage. Broadway has beaten Potomac Falls in this tournament for four straight years. Broadway is also ranked number 7 in the state. The Panther Pit was really loud and knew that even though this was a non-district game it was still important.
Broadway started the game off with a 3-0 lead, but the Panthers came back with Mickey Wagenhoffer scoring a basket to cut the lead to one. Then Wagenhoffer stole the ball, and Brendon Chesson scored to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead. After that, Lukas Mihailovich made the score 6-3 in favor of the Panthers. Broadway came right back and cut the lead to one. After the Panthers scored again, Broadway made a three-pointer to tie the game at 8.
There were several ties throughout the game. The Panthers retook the lead when Greg Graves made a basket with the score 10-8. After that, Zack Curran scored to put Potomac Falls up 12-9. Then, Broadway tied the game at 12 with another three. They eventually took the lead and were up by four, but the Panthers cut it to two with Matt Hoover's basket. The Panthers would score again late in the first quarter on a jump-shot by Tarrell Owens to make the score 20-16. At the end of the first quarter, the Panthers were winning 20-18.
In the second quarter, Zack Curran made a lay-up to give the Panthers a 23-18 lead. After that, Broadway went on a 7-0 scoring run that gave them a 25-24 lead with 3:22 left in the half. The Panthers responded with a basket by Matt Hoover and a three by Tarrell Owens to put the Panthers up 29-26. It was a 5-1 scoring run for the Panthers. After that, Lukas Mihailovich made a lay-up, and Greg Graves made a basket that gave the Panthers a 33-27 lead. At the end of the second quarter, Potomac Falls was winning 35-27.
Broadway came right back in the third quarter, and the quarter ended with a one point game with the Panthers up 39-38.
In the fourth quarter, Greg Graves extended the lead with a basket and a foul. The Panthers were up 42-38. Then, Lukas Mihailovich made a basket that gave the Panthers a 44-39 lead. Broadway then made a three to make it a 46-42 game. They proceeded to cut the lead to one with a basket and a foul. The score was 46-45.
After that, the Panthers started to run away with it as Tarrell Owens made a basket to give the Panthers a 50-46 lead. Then, Lukas made a basket and a foul to make the score 53-46. After Broadway scored, Lukas continued to roll as he made a lay-up that gave the Panthers a 55-48 lead.
When the game was over, the Panthers had won 63-50. They were the Broadway Tip-Off Tournament Champions. Mickey Wagenhoffer was named to the All Tournament Team and Lukas Mihailovich won the Broadway Tip-off Tournament MVP.
On winning the tournament and MVP, Lukas Mihailovich said, "Winning MVP felt good, but it's more important that we won because it's a tournament that we haven't won in a while. It felt great to get this win." Lukas was the leading scorer for the Panthers in this game with 18 points.
Greg Graves added 14 points, Tarrell Owens scored 9 points, Mickey Wagenhoffer had 7 points, Zack Curran scored 5 points and Brendon Chesson had 4 points.
The leading scorer for Broadway was Chris Knight with 11 points. Mike Richardson added 10 points, while Adam Caplinger and Kyle VanOrden both scored 8 points.
Coach Hawes was proud of the way the team played and the energy of the crowd. He said, "It was a good win for us. They're tough and we knew it was going to be a dogfight. They're very well coached. They play hard and physical. We're real excited to get this win tonight."
With the victory, the Panthers are now 12-1 overall. The Panthers will play two straight games against one of their Sterling rivals, Park View. The first game is on Wednesday, January 20 at Potomac Falls. They will then meet again on Friday at Park View. Both games start at 7:30PM.
