Poolesville Goes Into Double OT, Comes Up Short
Walkersville moves on to the Regional Final game and will face North Carroll.
Photo by: Suwan Ohrt / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Kevin Baker was the leading scorer for Poolesville with 29 points.
Photo by: Suwan Ohrt / GamedayMD.com | VIEW GALLERY
Written by: Susan McClure
POOLESVILLE, MD - In a wrenching loss, the #4 seed Walkersville Lions eliminated the #1 seed Poolesville Falcons at home in front of a capacity crowd. The tightly contested battle went into double over-time and ended with a score of 74-67.
Both coaches' pre-game predictions of a close contest proved true. Poolesville coach Tom Lang said, "In my opinion Walkersville is the best team in the region...they have scorers from all 5 positions, a deep bench, and one difference maker in [ senior guard Scott] Morris...no doubt it will be a tough game."
For his part Walkersville coach Ryan Burkey said, "We're going to have our hands full defending [senior Brendan] McFall and [senior Kevin] Baker." With remarkable prescience he added, "Anytime you go up against a very good team that has two great players like McFall and Baker you just hope to keep it close and be in a position at the end to make a play."
The first quarter was defined by outside shooting. Walkersville's junior center James Hughes hit 2 3-pointers, and at the end of the first a 7 point run by the Lions bought them the lead at 18-16.
Although Morris started the 2nd quarter scoring, Poolesville then returned the favor with a 11 point run of their own, 6 coming from McFall; meanwhile Walkersville's offense was impatient and rushed off some poorly chosen shots.
In the final minute of the half Poolesville stalled the pace to hold their 31-23 lead, but a last second 3 pointer by scrappy 5'5" junior point guard Orlando Rosa cut the lead to a more manageable 5 points going in to half time.
Midway through the 3rd Poolesville had an 8 point lead and they looked calm and confident.
They maintained a comfortable lead through the middle of the 4th, but then as Rosa began to contain Baker, and Morris wore on McFall, the lead slipped away.
A strong drive to the basket by Morris and a fake-out pass to Rosa on the outside, who hit a 3 pointer, tied the game at 51-51. Poolesville senior Zach Zapata fought back for the lead with a jump shot coming off rebounds of his 1st two missed shots. He was fouled but missed from the free throw line, and a basket from Hughes tied the game at 55-55 with 1"45 remaining.
The Falcons had possession and tried to run down the clock, rotating their offense and looking for their golden opportunity, but with 1.9 seconds remaining, a double-dribble by McFall turned the ball over to Walkersville. Rosa heaved a mighty shot from half court that hit the rafters and sent the game into overtime.
Poor foul shooting continued to plague both teams in overtime. With less than a minute left in overtime, and Poolesville down by 2, Zapata missed on a one and one bonus shot from the free throw line.
Poolesville's Baker hit a 3 to take the lead 63-62 with 20 seconds left, but he fouled Morris. Morris missed one of his two, forcing a double overtime.
With both coaches urging their teams for maximum intensity, Walkersville took a quick 5 point lead in double overtime and Poolesville missed several 3 pointers. Baker fouled Morris who was clutch at the line this time, hitting both shots. Two more free throws from Rosa sealed the deal for Walkersville, with a final score of 74-67.
Langs' response to the loss was pragmatic. "We ended the 1st overtime with the ball in the hands of our best player (Baker). We left it all out there, and came up short. [Walkersville] made more 3's in the 1st half than we wanted to give them. In the 4th quarter, they had some easy opportunities from the foul line and the loose balls just went their way."
Burkey summed up their winning strategy: "We put Morris on McFall, and Morris won. I'm happy as heck he's wearing the blue and gold. We tried to limit Baker's shots--Rosa, Zimmerman and [Ricky] Pardo were all on him--but you can't stop him. You just have to make him take tough shots."
Going forward, Walkersville faces North Carroll Saturday night. Injuries are a concern for coach Burkey. In a scramble for the ball Brett Zimmerman had a nasty smack to the head that stopped the game with 35 seconds left.
After several minutes on the floor he made his way groggily to the bench with his elbows draped over the trainers' necks. Zimmerman appears to be ok but he will be monitored for a concussion.
Rosa played tonight in just his 4th game after being out for 5 weeks with a broken wrist. "We have to take care of our bodies, " said Burkey. "We've been through a war."
SCORING LEADERS
Poolesville:
Baker- 29 (3-3s)
McFall- 15
Zapata- 10
Walkersville:
Morris- 31
Hughes- 17 (3-3s)
Rosa- 13 (3-3s)
