Annandale senior Erik Etherly put on a show for the Green House crowd, throwing down three highlight-reel slams, including this fourth-quarter gem, in the Atoms' 80-64 win over the host Lancers.
Annandale coach Anthony Harris calls his boys together during a second quarter timeout. Whatever he said worked; the Atoms closed the quarter on a 22-3 run.
By Phil Murphy
DigitalSports.com
**Video player with highlights and interviews at the bottom**In a game representative of Lee's 2007-08 season, the Lancers came out of the gates against Annandale on fire. However, take a dash of cold shooting from the outside, season it with fervent play by the opposition -- throw in a sprits of foul trouble and "another notch" of misfortune -- and it proves a potent recipe for disaster.
Lee, after beginning the season 7-1, lost its fourth straight game Friday night, 80-64, to visiting Annandale at the Green House. It is the Lancers fourth consecutive loss to a Patriot District opponent.
The Atoms, conversely, began the season at just 3-6 but have reeled off four consecutive district victories.
"Lee is a tough team and they got off to a hot start," Atoms' Coach
Anthony Harper said. "They've been a kind of surprising team ... I knew it was going to be a tough contest. I know we lost last year here at the buzzer.
"I knew coming in here, it would be a tough game. All Patriot District games on the road are tough."
The Lancers (8-6 overall) seemed to be putting an end to their January woes in the first quarter, utilizing the outside shooting of senior
Alex Granger (nine points) and the reliable post presence of senior
Tad Dickman, who scored eight of his game-high 20 points in the first period. Dickman was not available post-game at the request of Lee Coach
Michael Harris.
Trailing 23-14 after the opening period, Annandale scored 18 unanswered points as part of a 22-3 run to close the first half with the lead.
"I think it was just something inside of us," senior forward
Erik Etherly said. "None of us really wanted to lose. We don't like losing.
"We had won three in a row so far in the district and we were trying to keep our spot at number two. We lost to TC [Williams]; that was enough. Other than that, we were like, 'We're going to win the rest of our games in the district.' "
The Atoms (7-6 overall) leaned on the depth of their bench, a pleasant surprise to some, to clinch the win in the final quarter. Senior guard
Jay Washington led five players in double-figures scoring with 17 points, 13 of which came after half time.
"We're getting everyone to buy into the team system," Harper said. "You look at the last few games and we've had at least four or five kids in double figures and we're sharing the ball. It's not just the Erik Etherly show. It's a team effort."
But for the fans who stuck around, Etherly did put on an aerial display that made the night worth the price of admission for all. The Northeastern University-bound swingman had three highlight-reel dunks, including one off of a steal in the fourth quarter that sent Lancer and Atom supporters alike into a frenzy.
"I got the steal and, on a fast break with a big crowd like that, it's an adrenaline rush," Etherly said. "I wanted to get our crowd in the game and dunks get our crowd in the game ... so I did."
Annandale takes aim on its fifth straight Patriot District victory Tuesday against West Potomac. The Lancers hope to stop their skid on the same night at West Springfield.
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
Annandale 14 24 18 24 -- 80
Lee 23 9 18 12 -- 64
Annandale -- Washington 8 4-5 17; Etherly 5 3-4 13; Bush 5 1-1 11; Stalp 4 3-3 11; Booker 5
0-0 10; Boyce 2 3-4 8; Anderson 3 0-0 6; Robinson 2 0-0 4.
Lee -- Dickman 8 3-3 20; Griffin 5 0-0 13; Woldu 5 0-0 11; Granger 3 0-0 9; Gatlin 3 0-4 7; Cherry 1 0-0 2; Sakellarides 1 0-0 2.
Three-pointers -- Annandale 2 (Boyce, Washington); Lee 9 (Griffin 3, Granger 3, Dickman, Gatlin, Woldu).