This Week in Sports - Week #21

Dave Levy, Athletic Director
This week was an exciting one for Tandem! On Wednesday, four of our teams were in action - both the Middle School teams won at Charlottesville Day School, avenging losses earlier in the season. The Varsity Girls amassed their highest point total of the season, and the Varsity Boys defeated Fredericksburg Academy to improve their league record to 3-1. Go Badgers! Check out some photos taken at the varsity games against Fredericksburg Academy.

Varsity Badgers Deliver Excellent Effort in the Den! - 1/23/25

On the first possession, Fredericksburg Academy hit a three to take the lead. Their bench erupted with enthusiasm. That energy changed over the course of the game, because for the next thirty-one minutes, Tandem controlled every facet of the game. Without Sean in the middle, the Badgers played a patient, cerebral style of basketball. Their execution against FA's zone involved lots of down screens, cutting and passing. On some occasions, Tandem would take over a minute off the clock just moving the ball around. As a result, they held their opponent to only 7 points in the first quarter and only TWO POINTS in the second quarter. Tandem led 19-9 at the half.
 
Quis tallied double-digit rebounds, ripping the ball off the rim and pushing it up the floor. Amir settled the team down into their offensive sets, swinging the ball to Sean on one wing, cutting through, and having Tre'Sean curl around to replace him at the point. Tre'Sean played mistake-free basketball - efficient passing and no turnovers.
Sin got the scoring going in the opening period with a smooth baseline drive going left to right. He split the defense, found a little space under the basket and contorted his body for a reverse lay-up. He followed that up with a step through move into the paint, picking the ball up high and stepping through a double team in the paint for a score. Throughout the game, Sin got lower than his opponent, using his strength and footwork to get himself space. 
 
Following his teammate in transition, Quis had his head even with the top of the backboard as he got an offensive putback. He was relentless in the way he attacked the zone, getting in the middle and scoring at will. Even when he was fouled hard across his shooting arm, Quis went right through the contact - scoring the basket and completing the three point play at the foul line. The half concluded with Shaan picking the pocket of his opponent, taking the ball the length of the floor and scoring a left-handed layup at full speed: the Badgers were on a roll!
 
After a slow paced opening half, Tandem came out in a press in the second half and their opponent was rattled. The team came away with several steals and Amir took advantage with a layup on the other end. When Tandem settled back into their half court offense, FA packed their defense in, daring the Badgers to shoot. From then on, it was a barrage of three pointers. On consecutive possessions, Derion, Amir and Sin each knocked in long-range shots all the way from Fluvanna! Sin looked around as if to say are you really going to give me this much space?  He stepped into a long-range triple - he had a beautiful rotation as it swished through the hoop.
 
The Badgers continued to take time off the clock as their lead became double digits. They led by 19 after Mason assisted Quis for a three off a baseline out of bounds play in the corner, and finished the game with a convincing 55-35 victory. The team improves to 3-1 in GPAC conference play. Ranked #10 in VISAA Division III, the Boys Varsity Badgers are well on their way to a lengthy postseason.
 
For the second contest in a row, Sin led the team and finished with more than 20 points. Tonight, he tallied 27 - including 9 in the final quarter to put the game away. Amir added 13 and Quis 10. The team returns to the floor on Friday at Wakefield at 5:30.
 
Down 6-0 early in the first quarter, Tessa swiped the ball from her opponent, earning a trip to the line. Moments later, Maya got an offensive rebound and scored in the paint to make it 6-4. With Madeline rebounding in the post and Sophie fighting for every loose ball, the Badgers rallied and trailed 12-7 after the first period.
 
Working together to break the press, Catriona inbounded the ball to Tessa who fired it up the court to Juli on the wing. She did a reverse pivot and took one dribble to the middle, finding Maya for a mid-range jumper! Maya scored, was fouled, and completed a three-point play the old-fashioned way. On the next possession, Annie split the defense, went all the way to the rim, and scored her first varsity points. The Badgers had cut the lead to 1.
 
Tandem had a four-shot possession with every player fighting for rebounds. Ginger set up Elisabeth from the short corner, and she held her follow through as her shot went in! On the next possession, Tessa stole the ball from FA and used perfect footwork to score in transition -  the game was tied at 15. The Badgers went on a heck of a run - Elisabeth scored off of a deep pass, then got the ball to Tessa in transition twice! Tandem took a five-point lead and truly had all the momentum when Elisabeth planted her feet and drew a charge! Badgers by 5 at the half!
 
The second half was highlighted by Lucy chasing down her opponent for a massive block in transition, Maya showing off her pump and clear move, Madeline scoring a put back and Tessa beating the buzzer at the end of the game! Despite an FA run in the second half, the Badgers never quit, scoring thirty points and competing on every possession. Maya and Tessa both scored double digits, Annie had her first varsity points, and the team had six different players score. The Varsity Badgers return to the floor on Friday at 4:00 at Wakefield.
 
Congrats also to the Middle School Girls and Boys who beat CDS on the road! The Middle School Girls lost at CDS back in December, but won today 30-26. Annie and Hadley each had 10! The Middle School Boys also lost in December, but won today 42-24. Mason, Dalin and Jayceon all scored in double digits.
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Tandem Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for grades 5-12 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
 
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