0:09
Stuart senior Raymond Watson drives for the basket -- and picks up the foul -- in the Raiders' big victory at Wakefield.
More VideosView All
Story By Jeffery Gibert
West Potomac Senior, DigitalSports Intern

Photos and Videos By Sam Briggs
West Potomac Student, DigitalSports Intern

Stuart turned what was supposed to be a closely-contested game into a blowout Wednesday night with a 71-47 rout of host Wakefield in the semifinal round of the National District tournament.

"We played well," Raider senior Raymond Watson said. "So we got a victory."

Stuart took advantage of Wakefield standout senior Johnathan Ford's early injury by jumping out to a quick 10-2 lead. The Warriors struggled to get back into the game as Ford (12 points) never returned to his typical, explosive fashion.

"[We] played [him to] his left because he always goes right," Watson said on how his team slowed Ford. "And [we] played good defense."
   
Watson, meanwhile, had a huge night. Wakefield had no answer for him in the post as he tallied a game-high 23 points.

"I play hard, practice hard, and get physical," Watson said.
   
Senior Dominique Kosh was also a big boost for the Raiders off of the bench. Kosh got all of his points during very crucial points in the game -- the beginning and the end. He finished the night with 12 points.
   
With a comfortable 36-22 lead entering the second half, the Raiders made sure that there would be no comeback by holding the Warriors to only seven third-quarter points as they rolled into the final quarter with an 18-point lead, 47-29.

"We just played hard like we were supposed to," Watson said.
   
Stuart will travel to Mount Vernon to face the top-seeded Majors at 9 p.m. Friday for the district championship. The Majors swept the regular-season series, but both games were extremely close. Mount Vernon defeated Stuart 58-56 on Jan. 13 and 63-62 on on Feb. 6.