Potomac Edges Osbourn for Regional Title

Some of the Osbourn boys sat on the sideline staring at the floor while others sat motionless on the court, heads buried in their hands. The Eagles had just suffered their second loss of the season and this one came in the regional championship game.

The Potomac Panthers came into Osbourn’s home gym and grabbed a victory by the skin of their teeth to take the regional title. It was a game that stayed tight from start to finish, and in the end, Potomac outlasted the Eagles, beating them 66-64.

The gym was jam packed on both sides as fans from both teams were giving their team the utmost support. Both sides could be heard throughout the game starting chants in an effort to pump their team up.

Potomac won the opening tip, which doesn’t happen often against Osbourn with the presence of 7-foot-tall, Izzy Freeman jumping. Potomac scored quickly and Osbourn answered right back. The teams traded baskets and the fans could see that it was going to be a dog fight early in the game.

The two teams play a similar style of basketball: a very fast-paced game, which more often than not, tires one team out to the point where they simply can’t keep up anymore. With both Osbourn and Potomac being accustomed to the style of game, it was obvious the two teams were going to give the fans a hard-fought game.

After the first quarter, the teams were tied at 16.

Both teams kept up the fast pace and the intensity in the second quarter as they continued to trade baskets. Towards the end of the first half, Potomac got a couple of quick baskets to give themselves a slim lead. They were able to hold on to the lead for the remainder of the second, and at the half, the Panthers led Osbourn 33-29.

The fans began buzzing again as the teams came out of the locker room for the second half. Everyone knew it was going to be intense and that neither team was going to give in easily. 

As the third quarter got under way, Osbourn showed some serious fight as they came out playing solid basketball. The Osbourn crowd  erupted every time the Eagles made a basket and they were just as supportive when the team was on defense.

Potomac’s fans were hyped up as well, but they were not nearly as loud as the Osbourn crowd. As the clock wound down in the third, Osbourn had outplayed Potomac in the third. The Eagles outscored the Panthers 21-17 in the quarter, which set the stage for a great finish as the teams would begin the fourth tied at 50.

The gym was as loud as it has ever been and the players on both sides were fired up for the fourth quarter. Emotions were running high and players were showing frustration as well as excitement, depending on how each possession played out.

At one point in the fourth, Potomac point guard, Shawn Andrews got upset about something and actually walked over to the Osbourn bench area to speak his mind to one of the Osbourn players. He was attempting to get around Osbourn coach, Mike Dufrene, to get to an Osbourn player before the referees finally forced him to back off.

The Osbourn fans were livid and with good reason as the actions of the Potomac guard should have led to him getting a technical foul, which would have given the Eagles a free throw and possession of the ball. The fans made it known they did not agree with the referees handling of the situation.

The incident further fueled both teams and the Osbourn fans, who rose to their feet, many remaining there for the rest of the game. The teams traded baskets for much of the quarter with each squad holding the lead at least twice in the period.

Potomac went up by five at one point, but Osbourn nailed some clutch shots down the stretch. Junior guard, Robert Carter knocked down a late three to give the Eagles the lead and the fans erupted as it seemed like Osbourn may be able to hold on for the win.

Potomac answered right back and seemed to be unphased by the pressure. The two teams ended up being tied as the final minute began ticking off the clock. Potomac decided to hold the ball and pass it around as the seconds dwindled off the clock in an effort to take the last shot.

With about eight seconds left, the Panthers saw an opening and went for it as they got the ball to the open man who was able to get a lay-up to drop with just over four seconds to go.

Osbourn called a timeout to come up with a plan of attack: with four seconds to go, they in-bounded the ball to Carter who had been very hot late in the game, but ended up losing control of the ball as he crossed half court.

The final buzzer went off and Potomac’s players and fans stormed the court as the Panthers had just earned the title of Northwest Region champions, beating Osbourn 66-64. The leading performers in the game were:

--Cedric Delaney with 15 points

--Jay Lane and Robert Carter who each scored 12 points

--Jahaan Roberson with 10 points and 10 rebounds

The Eagles also got seven points from Corey Bedford, six points from Izzy Freeman and a very good defensive performance from Lucky Whitehead. Potomac was led in the game by Jordan McCain who scored a game-high 25 points.

It was obvious the Osbourn players were crushed by the loss, but it will be very important for Osbourn to stay focused in preparation for the state tournament,which begins next Saturday. If the Eagles remain confident and play good basketball, they can still make a serious run at a state title.