Lady Trojans Hold Off Churchill 69-44

Despite a slow start Friday night, the Gaithersburg girls basketball team remains undefeated after defeating Churchill 69-44.

Neither team shot particularly well to begin the game, but Churchill was able to keep it close with a few timely 3-pointers from senior Leeda Jewayni and sophomore Shira Racoosin. Jewayni was Churchill's most productive player, scoring 15 points, including nine off of 3-pointers.

Gaithersburg's usually aggressive defense seemed completely absent in the first half and the Lady Trojans gave up an unusual amount of turnovers. Head coach Adrian McDaniel was noticeably frustrated. By the end of the half, Churchill trailed by only eight points. It was no small feat against a team that regularly limits its opponents to single digits per quarter.

McDaniel said he took a step back in between halves. He said he let the players talk amongst themselves during halftime and once the second half began, the normally loud and enthusiastic coach sat quietly in his seat, speaking only to substitute players or give advice to his bench.

"We weren't playing our game," McDaniel said. "They needed to settle down ... I just sat back and let them play their game."

Meanwhile, it was largely Kara Marshall directing traffic on the court. She and the rest of the Lady Trojans came alive during the second half, and the team began to look like its old self again. The players' intensity on defense returned, and they started to produce turnovers and steals. Gaithersburg held Churchill to just seven points in the fourth quarter.

Marshall made some spectacular drives to the basket worthy of a highlight tape. Jackie Jackson also stepped up her game in the second half. The junior forward was aggressive at getting offensive rebounds. Marshall and Jackson both led the team with 17 points each. Colleen Marshall also had a big game with 16 points.

Churchill's shooting woes, especially on open layups and free throws, did not change, however. Head coach Kate McMahon said she wasn't "disappointed at all with our center play."

Churchill is missing their starting center, junior Serafina Arthur-Williams, due to injury, she noted. Sophomore Erika Lindsay also suffered an ankle injury during the fourth quarter when she was knocked into a wall. She had to sit out the rest of the game and was taken by ambulance to Shady Grove Hospital.