This Week in Sports - Week #23

Beginning way back in November, the Girls Middle School Basketball team has approached every day with a seriousness of purpose. They learned their offensive sets, focused on defensive positioning and have been constantly tweaking their shooting form - always with the goal of getting better. They have accomplished that goal with flying colors.

 

Yesterday's battle against Covenant showed off some of the best the Badgers have to offer. The team held their opponent to only four points in the first half, with Zuri giving her all to get every rebound. She boxed out, dove on the floor and even showed off her offensive game, getting around defenders and scoring at the rim. Her tough, tenacious play has been emblematic of the way this group has carried themselves throughout the season. Her front-court mate Sam had five rebounds of her own, and a fourth quarter basket, proving to be tough to cover in the post! While Zoe has been out for the last few games, Zoe brings them the same level of intensity in the paint - she is a force to be reckoned with!

 

Malena scored again! She has been on fire over the course of the second half of the season, often lighting up the scoreboard for as many as six points. She has a beautiful jump shot, and it's always timely, as her basket yesterday got the Badgers on the board to start the second half. Raquel assisted her - she has scored regularly down the stretch as well - her basketball IQ and skill have taken the team to another level.

 

Covenant brought a full court press yesterday, forcing Tandem to work together. Under pressure, Sophie is as reliable as they come. She's patient and smart, finding the next pass, cutting and then attacking the basket. Her game has grown astronomically. The backcourt duo of Hadley and Annie is as talented as any in the state - Annie powerfully drives the ball to the basket and draws the ire of any defender unlucky enough to be assigned to stop her, while Hadley smoothly dribbles around her defender, or beats them down court, and cashes in during transition. Hadley's ball handling, passing and shooting have been invaluable to the team! Annie has led the Badgers in scoring nearly every game this season, amassing nearly 100 points total!

 

The Badgers won three of their last four games, including a win against an opponent that had beaten Tandem earlier in the year. A very impressive run for a special team - congratulations! Special thanks to Dev and Chloe for their hard work at the scorer's table. Thank you also to the families and coaches who supported our players. See you on the frisbee, track or soccer field in March!

Calm. Composed. Patient. The Varsity Boys Basketball team has truly come together this week. They took on two high level non-conference opponents, including New Covenant, the defending state champions. After a one day break to collect themselves, the team returned to the floor for two GPAC games in the Den - first against Quantico, which the Badgers won easily, and then tonight versus King Abdullah Academy - a rematch of a tight battle from early December on the road.

 

Taking on a fast, high-flying, flashy opponent, Tandem's offense was effective because the team worked together. KAA came out in a full court press - and the Badgers used that to their advantage. Dipping his shoulder and constantly getting lower than his defender, Sin controlled the tempo. He drew three fouls in the first minute, and Tandem was in the bonus only three minutes into the game. For the rest of the quarter, the Badgers spent a lot of time at the line - earning seven free throw attempts. 

 

The first foul shot came when Quis showed off his elite first step - quick as lightning -  leaving his opponent with no choice but to hack him on the way to the rim. Quis converted the layup at the rim, got fouled, and cashed in for a three-point play. Tandem then found Sean in the post for an easy bucket, and the Badgers increased their lead. In the full court, KAA was in attack mode, but Amir set his feet and took a charge! In the half court, KAA attempted to penetrate the zone, but when they saw Sean, they reconsidered. Instead, they settled for long, contested three pointers - shooting a very low percentage. The Badgers led 14-9 after 1.

 

Sean was dominant in the post in the second. He scored seven in the period, including a smooth up and under move. He had already hit a three in the first, so KAA had figured out there is really nothing they could do to contain him. A logical conclusion - most realize this eventually. They tried doubling, but then the Badgers executed back screens, and Sean hit Quis on a beautiful give and go from the elbow.  

 

Sin took over offensively, getting whatever he wanted. He knocked in a tough three from the corner, and also somehow weaved through the trees to convert in the paint. Sin was fouled, but that didn't matter - he played through the contact, calmly went to the line and completed an old fashioned three-point play.

 

The Badgers extended their lead to 16 with Quis defending at a high level - he was an absolute pest at the top of the 1-3-1 zone, deflecting passes and tying up KAA guards for jump balls. The Badgers led 31-15 at the break - a truly excellent team defensive effort. When the team works together they are unstoppable.

 

Amir opened the third quarter with a bucket in transition. Then, he fired up a deeeeeep heat check all the way from Louisa - and cashed in from a distance! Amir's 5-0 run gave the Badgers their biggest lead of the game, but KAA fought back and cut it to ten with 8:00 to go.

 

In the final period, Tandem went back to their bread and butter: Sean on the block showing off his back to the basket game. Or Sin putting his defenders on skates - with players falling to the floor nearly as much as his shot was falling through the basket. But most of all, the Tandem defense was electric tonight. Sin had a nasty block halfway through the fourth quarter, and snatched a rebound away from his opponent - a center - who stood six inches above him. Shaan had "the closeout of the year," when KAA thought they were open for a three, and the player was so intimidated he slid his feet, traveled and handed the ball to the ref.

 

KAA cut the lead to 7 with 2:00 to go.  There was every opportunity for the Badgers to lose their composure, momentum and focus on team play. But the team stayed together, locked in, and found Sean inside for another key bucket plus a foul. The Badgers pulled away and earned a double-digit lead against a tough opponent - their second GPAC win in as many days.

Congratulations to our Coach Sam - he does so much to support these players as students, people and basketball players. Let's go, Sam! I am honored to work alongside you!