Whitfield's Season Ends With Overtime Loss In District Final

enjoyed the opportunity to compete for the Class 3, District 6 title in front of a home crowd Friday night, as it hosted the final against fourth-seeded, Orchard Farm. Following a dramatic overtime win over John Burroughs two nights earlier, the Warriors were unable to replicate the performance, as they went to overtime, again, but this time fell by a score of 57-44.

Whitfield struggled early to establish its offensive rhythm, but a 3-pointer by sophomore Justin Thomas, midway through the first quarter, helped the Warriors jump out to an 8-5 lead. With two minutes remaining in the opening quarter, Whitfield saw a strong move in the paint from freshman Dimitri Rucker, who scored from three feet out to make it 10-5.

As the second quarter got underway, Orchard Farm trailed 14-7, but the Eagles continued to play an aggressively physical game, generating seven consecutive turnovers, four of which resulted in baskets to tie the game at 16.

Whitfield eventually ended the Eagles’ run with a string of four successful free throws, and the Warriors took a 20-16 lead to into halftime.

After trading baskets to open the second half, the teams remained locked in a tight contest, but Webb gave the Eagles their first lead two minutes in, with a layup that made the it 23-22, in favor of the visitors.

The Eagles were clicking, and after senior Preston Steinhoff drove the lane for a layup, and gave Orchard Farm a 33-27 advantage, the home team called for a timeout, seeking to stop the bleeding.

Darrion Harris, who starred in the Whitfield semifinal win over Burroughs, was clearly affected by a right ankle injury, and as the game wore on the junior struggled on defense. But, in the fourth quarter, Harris hit a long-range jumper to bring Whitfield back within four points.

The Warriors battled back to tie the game at 38, on a close range basket by senior Trevor Ullman.  Seconds later, Steinhoff answered from short-range to keep the score knotted at 40, and with one minute left the crowd sensed another overtime in the offing.

Whitfield maintained possession, with just 30 seconds remaining in regular time, and after a loose ball foul, the Warriors took a time out to consider their options. After looking for an opening, and as the clock wound down, Whitfield got the ball to Thomas, who was open in the exact same spot in the corner where Harris made the key shot against Burroughs, but his attempt from three point territory bounced off the rim, as the buzzer sounded.

“I was in the same mindset as where Darrion (Harris) was, and I was thinking if I made that shot we were going back to state, it didn’t happen, but next year we’ll be back at it,” said Thomas.

Webb opened up the scoring in overtime, to send the Eagles up 42-40. On its next possession, Whitfield missed a shot, and the Eagles countered at the other end with a Steinhoff layup. With two minutes to play, a four point lead, and the ball, the Eagles seemed poised to bring home the district title, and advance to a sectional matchup against reigning state champs, Cardinal Ritter, who defeated Maplewood in overtime earlier in the night.

After the game, Whitfield coach Mike Potsou reflected on the last second shot by Thomas that bounced off the rim, and sent the game to overtime. 

“You put the ball in the players’ hands and believe they’ll make the play, and sometimes it goes, like in the game the other night, and sometimes it doesn’t…we’ve fought for everything, all year, and we hoped to get a chance to continue, but we weren’t good enough tonight, and credit to Orchard Farm for coming ready to play,” said Potsou.