Keith Eastman spends his days as the manager of a printing fulfillment center. But his day job isn't what defines him. His real passion is basketball. And so when he was asked to coach Langley's Girls Varsity Team on Monday, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition.
"I've been wanting to be a varsity coach for years," Eastman said. "I've been coaching for 19 years. My first high school job was as girl's freshman coach at Yorktown. I wanted the varsity job, but I could never get it. They wanted someone with experience and that wasn't me."
Eastman finally got his chance, but the Saxons (0-4) dropped their first game under his leadership, 50-36, at McLean on Friday night before a full house of nearly 2,000 rabid spectators.
Find out what's happening in McLeanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Highlanders (3-3) led throughout the contest, thoroughly outplaying the Saxons in every facet of the game.
"We went inside early, which opened up some perimeter shots for Andie Romness (12 points, six rebounds) and some of the other guards, but I thought we did real well early going inside," said McLean Coach Mike O'Brien.
Find out what's happening in McLeanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Highlanders' defense was stifling in the first half, limiting Langley to just 11 points. Meanwhile, sophomore forward Lisa Murphy had something of a coming-out party for the Highlanders, scoring a career high 15 points, while grabbing eight rebounds.
"It's definitely one of my strongest games," Murphy said. "I was on JV last year, so I have something to prove. I just played hard and kept all the hype out of my mind."
Her coach felt like the game might mark a turning point in her evolution as a player.
"I had real high expectations for Lisa," O'Brien said. "We've been getting on her a little bit, because I didn't think she's been playing aggressive enough early on, and it looks like its gotten through bit by bit and today was by far her best game. For her to be playing this well, this early on her career bodes well for our future."
Despite the fact that the result was never in doubt, the large, boisterous crowd was engaged throughout, often taunting each other but never failing to have fun in the process.
"I tried to zone the crowd out and just kept pushing forward," Murphy said. "This is the loudest game I've played in, and it definitely gave me a lot of energy."
The Saxons were led by the Kleinknecht sister act, Jennie, a sophomore, and Sarah, a senior, who both scored 11 points. The sisters grew up squaring off in heated battles in their driveway, and know a thing or two about rough play.
"I've taught her pretty much everything," said Sarah. "She pushed me into a car once, but I came away with just some bruises. It was good preparation for this league."
Jennie was quick to note that she'd been "beating her older sister ever since she learned how to foul."
The Highlanders also received another strong performance from Romness, who is headed to the University of South Carolina on a soccer scholarship next year.
McLean will play host to Thomas Jefferson on Tuesday, while Langley will look to give Eastman his first win at home against Centreville Tuesday night.
