McLean Wins Basketball Doubleheader Sweep Against Langley

McLean swept a boys and girls basketball doubleheader with Langley on Friday night, turning away late rallies by the Saxons in both games.

The win was particularly significant for the girls, who ensured themselves a home game against Fairfax in next week's Liberty District tournament. While the boys had already been assured the No. 2 seed, they will certainly carry some extra momentum into a match up with Madison. 

 The Highlanders took advantage of a height mismatch in the post as Lisa Murphy, Lexi Slotkoff and Maia Lee combined for 20 points and 13 rebounds to pave the way for a 43-29 win. The score didn't nearly reflect how close the game was, as the team traded baskets possession for possession for much of the first 24 minutes. Neither side led by more than three points until McLean extended the margin to five in the final seconds of the third quarter.

Even after falling behind by as many as eight early in the fourth, the Saxons didn't pack it in. Grace Goettman, who finished with nine points, helped engineer a quick run to cut the deficit to two. It was when the Saxons switched to a zone defense that Murphy and company pulled away again.

"We prepared so much for their zone, and when they switched to it is when we went on our run," head coach Mike O'Brien said. "We just tried to get the ball into some playmakers hands and create some three-on-two situations. For other teams, it's a hard match up to continually play 28 minutes on three post players that good."

Shellie Kanuit added 10 points for the Highlanders (12-10, 8-6), who finished the season on a four-game win streak.

The Highlanders had opportunities late to put the game away with free throws, but even when their shooting went cold, their physicality and hustle carried them. Evelyn Robinson earned three trips to the line but missed the front end of a one-and-one each time. The 5-foot-4 guard collected her own rebound after the first miss, Lee grabbed the second, and a tie up after the third kept the ball in McLean's possession. Kanuit finally hit a pair of free throws to score the final points of the game.

O'Brien was more than pleased with the crowd turnout, as the stands filled up early for a senior night presentation and left dozens of students waiting in the lobby by tip-off.

"The fans were here early, it energizes them," he said. "I love being in it [the Langley game] twice a year, you can't beat this atmosphere."