West Springfield Wins Patriot District, Defeats T.C. Williams 64-50

The West Springfield Spartans defeated the T.C. Williams Titans 64-50 Friday night at Lake Braddock High School to win the 2011 Patriot District Championship. West Springfield completed their 2011 sweep of the Titans, winning all three games this season.

Fans from both schools were present in large numbers to support their team. A vocal West Springfield student section countered the T.C. Williams pep band, adding a nice energy element inside of the gym.

T.C. Williams’ Johnee’ Lewis scored the game’s first points, garnering loud approval from the Titans fans in attendance. West Springfield’s April Robinson answered back with a two-point field goal of her own. The teams traded baskets in a physical first quarter, which resulted in T.C. Williams being called for eight fouls. Taking advantage of T.C. Williams’ mishaps, West Springfield led 19-15 at the end of the first.

The teams started the second quarter with impressive defensive efforts, West Springfield blocking several Titan shots. The Titans struggled to make baskets which allowed West Springfield to go on an 8-0 run. However, the Titans made the necessary adjustments and closed the gap late in the quarter. As the last second ran off the clock, T.C. Williams’ Gabby Moss made a half-court shot. But it didn’t count as the clock expired before the ball left her hands. As both teams headed to the locker room at the half, West Springfield led 29-24.

The third quarter was West Springfield’s from start to finish. Following some words at halftime from head coach Bill Gibson, the Spartans put on one of their best quarter performances all season.

“We talked about it and worked on some zone against them,” said Gibson. "We started off and scored two buckets, and once we got that 12-point lead, I said let’s go zone now and make them do something. And [T.C. Williams] sort of froze on it.”

The Spartans dominated in every category of the third quarter, going on a 15-point run before T.C. Williams would score a point. The Titans were menaced and harassed on offense, having at least five of their shot attempts blocked in the quarter. At the end of three, West Springfield held a commanding 46-26 lead.

T.C. Williams’ attempt at a fourth quarter comeback was unsuccessful. The reality realized when Titan leader, Gabby Moss, fouled out of the game with a little three minutes left. Both schools gave their bench players the chance at tournament minutes as the game came to a close. As the final buzzer sounded, West Springfield prevailed 64-50.

For her efforts, Spartan point guard April Robinson was named the Patriot District final Most Valuable Player. The junior scored 16 points in the victory.

“She’s a heck of a player. She’s got great skills, she’s a good shooter, knows the game, she’s a hell of a player and was very well deserving.” said Gibson of his point guard.

When asked what the win means for his team as they head into next week’s round, Gibson said, “Warm-ups are done, as they say. We are into the real stuff now.”