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Cavalier senior Dylan Robeson (14 points) hit timely -- and emotional -- 3-pointers in Woodson's district clinching victory.
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By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager
Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area

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Two weeks ago, Woodson's season finale at Madison on February 13 appeared to be the Liberty District game of the year.

So much for that.

The Cavaliers locked up the top seed in next week's Liberty District tournament -- regardless of its result against the Warhawks -- with a 48-44 home win over the Saxons on Tuesday.

The victory also earned Woodson an automatic berth in the 16-team Northern Region tournament the following week.

"We had some tough losses early in the year, but our kids just fought through and really came together as a team," Cavalier coach Doug Craig said. "It feels really good, especially this year in this district. It just seems like you're not safe.

"You could be playing in the 2-7 game and you could be going home."

Added forward Stephen Stepka: "When we lost Max [Lenox] at the beginning of the season, we had guys who needed to step up. When we lost games we probably normally win -- against Marshall and T.J. -- and in the season teams were tied-up.

"And we knew we'd have to win out to get the first seed."

Craig alluded to three pre-season goals and -- although he would not mention any by name -- said a regular-season Liberty District title was not among them.

But if having the Liberty District Player of the Year is on the Cavalier wish list, Craig and company may have their first check mark.

Stepka, one of five senior starters on Senior Night, scored a game-high 26 points to go along with a game-changing effort on the glass.

Of his 26 points, 16 came in the second and third quarters, as Woodson turned a 13-5 first-quarter deficit to a 35-29 lead through three.

He scored 14 of the Cavaliers' 20 first-half points and hit 10 of their 16 field goals for the game.

"Since the first time we played Langley -- I think he had one bad half against Marshall -- but since then he's been a horse," Craig said. "And we've been riding him as much as we can, especially early in the game tonight.

"That's what you want your best player to do ... We don't really make an effort -- like 'Stephen's got to get 20 shots tonight' -- he's just going to get his shots."

Added Stepka, who missed the first two weeks of practice with a broken nose: "All our guys get me the ball in good position to score and set good screens, then it's just making shots. I felt that they couldn't guard me and I kept going up with it."

But in the fourth quarter, Stepka and the Cavaliers cooled off.

They struggled from the free-throw line -- part of a collective 18-for-31 performance -- and allowed the Saxons to trim what was an 11-point spread at the 4-minute mark to four points with 1:57 left.

Woodson turned to well-rested senior Dylan Robeson, who sat for a majority of the first half with two personal fouls, to put the game away with his steady hand.

"I was frustrated early, being in foul trouble," said Robeson, who scored nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter. "It made me a little antsy. I knew I had to come in and make some shots for my team and do what we had to do for a victory."


Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com


Langley     (15-6, 8-5)     13    7    9   19   --   48
Woodson  (14-7, 10-3)    5   15  15  19   --   54

Langley -- Baker 7 3-5 18; Hunter 4 3-3 11; McLindon 3 0-0 8; Justus 2 2-5 6; Pritchett 1 2-5 4; Kody 0 1-2 1.
Team totals: 17 11-20 48.
Woodson -- Stepka 10 5-9 26; Robeson 3 6-8 14; Pochekailo 0 5-10 5; Schoof 1 2-4 4; Noe 1 0-0 3; Boehling 1 0-0 2.
Team totals: 16 18-31 54.
Three pointers -- Langley 3 (McLindon 2, Baker); Woodson 4 (Robeson 2, Stepka, Noe).