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Highlander junior guard Caitlin Baker beats the third-quarter buzzer with this jump shot. It was Baker's only field goal, but provided pivotal momentum entering the final quarter.
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By Phil Murphy
Senior Multimedia/Content Manager
Washington D.C. Metro Area

After allowing 13 first-quarter points to Langley, McLean knew it would need to shift its focus to make it low-scoring game.

A no-scoring game proved even more effective.

The Highlanders held the Saxons scoreless for over 14 minutes -- including the entire second quarter -- and controlled the pace in their 32-24 road win in the opening game of Friday's double-header.

"We went away from our zone a little bit and went with our man, which is our base defense," fifth-year McLean coach Mike O'Brien said. "We win a lot of low-scoring games. If you look at our history against Langley, rarely do we ever have games in the 40's."

Added junior forward Melissa Wilson: "Coach O'Brien really stresses defense. We just wanted to hold Langley under 40, so we could win it.

"And we held them under 30."

A defensive focus is not customary in game of this magnitude, but that was the Highlanders' aim.

McLean and Langley tactfully and deliberately played out a chess match in front of capacity crowd, which leaked onto the floor.

That scene is typical of a Rotary Cup match -- the multi-annual game between the Highlanders and Saxons across all sports. The rivalry has evolved into one of the most heated in the Northern Region.

"I really wanted to win it for the seniors," said Wilson, whose team beat Langley, 35-31 at home, on December 19. "You really have to focus, get your head in the game and stay in the zone.

"Everybody's screaming and the whole time, with the atmosphere, there's so much adrenaline pumping. It's an amazing feeling when everybody screams when the buzzer goes off."

Added O'Brien: "The kids, all day long, they get jacked up for this game. The fans come in support, so it's great to get a win in front of your fans.

"And to beat Langley, it never hurts."

Offensively, McLean looked to Wilson keep a win in sight.

She scored a game-high 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds -- four on the offensive end -- to ferociously control the paint and earn the Highlanders pivotal second-chance points.

"I'm just on her hard at practice, I'm on her hard at games," said O'Brien, whose Highlanders increased their win total in each of his first four seasons. "I push her hard. She responded well when I put her back in the game. That's what I expect out of her.

"She's potentially an All-District player if she plays like that every game."

Added Wilson: "I guess I started off slow and Coach O'Brien yelled at me on the sideline, told me to get angry.

"I went back in there and wanted to prove to him that he was wrong."


Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com


McLean    4    7   13   8   --  32
Langley   13   0    8    3   --  24

McLean -- Wilson 5 2-6 13; Flint 2 2-2 6; Romness 1 2-3 4; Ansell 1 0-2 3; Baker 1 1-2 3; Pascoe 1 0-0 3. Team totals: 11 7-15 32. 
Langley -- Dotson 3 0-0 6; Gallagher 2 0-0 4; Warrick 2 0-0 4; Kody 1 0-0 3; Doherty 1 1-2 3; Watts 1 0-0 2; Benson 1 0-2 2. Team totals: 11 1-4 24.
Three-pointers -- McLean 3 (Ancell, Pascoe, Wilson); Langley 1 (Kody).