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Varsity Girls Basketball - Last season, the Varsity Girls played a tough game against Foxcroft, losing on the road. While the team never quit, Tandem did not score double digits, while Foxcroft had 41. Imagine their surprise when the 25-26 Tandem Varsity Girls Badgers entered the gym.  

 

Tandem held their opponent to twenty total points, earning their third victory of the season. The Badgers won 27-20, and are currently 3-4 in the conference, having improved dramatically - both from last season but also from the start of this season! In practice this week, Reggie had the team work on full court lay ups, and playing through contact, and that was on display up in Middleburg. Annie continues to be the kind of leader coaches covet, handling the ball handling duties, attacking the basket, and setting up her teammates. 

Defensively, Annie works closely with Juli, who had a big three at Stuart Hall, and forces tons of turnovers. "We won because our press was so effective," Maya reflected after the game, and she is a big reason why. Maya plays at the top of the press, guarding the inbounds passer, and getting lots of deflections. On the rare occasion Foxcroft got across half court, Ginger was there for a steal - and Marilyn for rebounds. Aoife was dominant inside on both ends - scoring at the rim and defending the paint! What a presence! Sophie continues to be an offensive threat,  while the Badgers also got key contributions from Leelee, Maeve, Catriona and Nieve!  

Varsity Boys Basketball - Blue Ridge. Regents. Stuart Hall. The Boys Varsity Basketball team took on three tough opponents in three days, all on the road, and still had a lot of energy to take on Virginia's top team on the road last night in Staunton. Always ready for big games, Sin got the scoring going with a tough contested three in the corner! Stuart Hall had a huge back line, and Tandem matched their physicality by inserting Mason into the starting line up, who scored a difficult lay up early. While Stuart Hall was able to get out in transition, Sean walled up, playing excellent defense without fouling. The Badgers forced an early timeout for the opposition.

 

Trailing by 2, Tandem drew up a beautiful sideline out of bounds play during the timeout, and Quis demonstrated excellent body control as he got to the rim for a tough lay up. The game was tied at 9 before Stuart Hall hit a three at the top of the key. Unconcerned, Issac hit a big time three on the other end. After a strong rebound and put back for Keeman among the trees, the Badgers took a 14-12 lead into the second quarter.

Varsity Indoor Track and Field - As Frank Sinatra warned us, "baby it's cold outside." That has not stopped our Indoor Track and Field team from practicing - outside - as they challenge themselves against the elements. Yesterday's competition at Woodberry Forest was the first meet for our squad since December 10th, and the Badgers were ready to take their efforts to another level.  

 

Already the school record holder in the 100 Meters, Nari has lofty goals for Track and Field this season. He used an incredible start to run 7.22 (a PR of .11) in the 55 Meter Dash, qualifying him for the VISAA State Championships! Congratulations to Nari, our top sprinter, who showed off an incredible burst of speed! He returned to the track in the 300 meters, running a blazing 42.23 and pacing our trio! He will represent the team in February! Eli debuted in the event in 42.23, while Peter was hot on his tail in 45.58 - a new PR!

MS Girls Basketball - When we played Grymes in December, the Badgers scored just eight points. Today, Tandem scored nine... in the first quarter! Executing beautifully off the of the opening tip, Sam batted the ball ahead to Hadley, who scored a smooth right-handed lay-up to give Tandem an early lead. Wasting no time, Zoey deflected the inbounds pass, which found its way to Hadley yet again. She scored another basket, and Grymes called timeout.

Making her first start of the season, Cora was a force inside. She commanded her spot on the block, rebounding and throwing great outlet passes. Most notably, she had a beautiful block to block assist to Zuri! After Grymes scored a second quarter three pointer, Hadley immediately came down and matched it, showing off her range from the perimeter!

Check out this article in The Daily Progress about our Varsity Boys Basketball team! And check out these great photos of some varsity players taken by senior Oscar D - click on the headline to see a few more.

 

Congratulations to Coach Sam, Coach Carter, Coach Mary and the squad - what an amazing run to date! They had so many high scorers this weekend vs FUMA in a big win - Derion hit 10 three pointers across two games, Isaac had 20, Quis 15, Sean 14, Keeman 10 and Sin 9! 

Aoife won the opening tip, and sprinted to the block. Annie, earning one of her four assists this afternoon, showed great court vision and chemistry with her classmate. She fired the ball into the paint, her astute passing drawing the attention of Sin, a fellow point guard. Aoife scored on that possession, and again moments later, when she earned a trip to her line. Neither of her foul shots touched anything but the net!

 

Highland has held every conference opponent under ten points this season. The Badgers had other plans, led by Maya, who got to the line three seperate times this afternoon. In the final period, Maya got the hoop and the harm, scoring four points in the fourth! With Aoife in foul trouble, Marilyn was pressed into duty and she played her best game of the season! Marilyn was strong with the ball, commanding her position on the block! She went to the charity stripe twice, and her shot is so smooth! I see you, Marilyn! Your basketball tool kit is expanding!

Varsity Girls Basketball - Picking up right where they left off in December, the Girls Varsity Basketball Badgers held their opponent to just one field goal in the entire first half. Their defense was suffocating - whether it was of the full or half court variety. Juli has improved her lateral speed, deflecting the ball away from opposing guards. Ginger leapt into action, diving on the floor and earning another possession for Tandem. The ball would eventually travel into Maya's hands - and her lights out shooting streak continues!  Maya has now scored in double digits for three consecutive games, all Tandem victories, and has converted from three point land in all of them. Tonight, Maya had a game-high 12 points, eight rebounds and six steals! Sheesh!

 

MS Girls Basketball - With 6:00 to go in the contest, the score was tied at 18. Zoey made a beautiful inbounds pass to Sam, who spotted Zuri posting up on the block. Zuri turned, used the backboard, and gave Tandem the lead. On the ensuing possession, Peabody tried to work the ball into the paint. Sam deflected the pass, got the ball and got the ball ahead to Hadley who dribbled to the right wing. Zuri was posting up again. When Zuri got the ball, she turned and faked a shot. With the defender in the air, Zuri stepped through and scored another lay up. 

It has been exactly thirty three days since our lengthy post game conversation at CCS.   Bruised and battered, Zuri sat in the middle of our circle with ice on her thumb and shoulder, while we reflected on our execution - defensively, on our baseline out of bounds plays, and in our half court offense.  The team was frustrated - we had trailed by just one point at the end of the first quarter, despite the fact that both Sam and Hadley were saddled with foul trouble.  The deficit was only four points at halftime, and over the course of the game our team scored what was, at the time, our largest offensive output of the season (17 points.) Still, we lost by 7.

 

In the days since, this squad has put in an enormous amount of work, pushing one another each day in practice. So it was no surprise to me that our full court press looked rather different today.  CCS quite literally had no space to operate - Sam stole the ball on their first four possessions.  Hattie, just like in practice on Friday, forced the ball to the left side - and the turnovers just kept coming. The Badgers converted those steals into six quick points, forcing a CCS timeout.   

6th Grade Boys Basketball - The Badgers are back in the Den, and the 6th Grade Boys took advantage of their opportunity for more playing time. Eli was smooth right off the opening tip, faking a pass to a teammate and driving down the middle. He used this move throughout the game, resulting in two trips to the line, a three pointer, and 11 total points! Will got to the line as well, and was constantly in attack mode! He made both foul shots. The Badgers led 8-7 after the first quarter, and Kai got the scoring going. He used a quick first step, got the defender on his hip, and beat him to the basket. Kai had 6 in the first period, and finished with 12. He worked closely with Gabriel, who had several assists, using an effective give and go.