Centreville Girls Fall to Rams in Semifinal Game

Chantilly High School hosted the Concorde District double-header semifinal Wednesday night, as Oakton defeated Westfield to lock up a spot in the District championship game. The Cougars coach and players watched as No. 2 Robinson and No. 3 Centreville took the floor in the second game to decide whom Oakton would play.

The Wildcats and Rams battled back and forth for three quarters while neither team lead by more than three points. Despite Chaney Forbush scoring a game-high 17 points and five boards, Centreville could not survive a 10-0 Ram run in the final five minutes of the game and lost to Robinson, 46-32.

With 5:35 remaining in regulation, Centreville closed in on the Rams behind dominant defensive rebounding from Forbush to help cut the lead to 32-30. But Tyler Hansen had a hot streak, scoring all six of her points during a 10-0 run that stretched the Ram lead to 12 points to end the Wildcats’ hopes of a Concorde championship.

“The first three quarters I was a little frustrated because a lot of things weren’t working for me,” Hansen said. “But coach talked to me and said, 'Don’t worry about it if your shots aren’t dropping,' and I settled down.”

Centreville started out slow while Robinson got out to a decisive lead in the first quarter. High-percentage shooting from Lauren Denham and Megan Green, who combined for 20 points in the game and looked to end things early.

Yet Centreville would leave its heart on the court Tuesday night, as it mounted a comeback in the second quarter when Taylor O’Hara took a charge under the basket. The momentum swung Centreville’s way, and Erin Meador hit a pair of free throws to knot the game up at 17 as the teams headed to the locker rooms for the break.

The Wildcats had trouble hitting free throws, but managed to keep it tight throughout the quarter. Forbush crashed the boards for five rebounds, while Meador found her way through the paint for seven points. But Crenshaw fought hard at the end of the third and drained a couple of 12-foot, circus-like floaters for the Rams to take a two-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Forbush said it was frustrating in the fourth quarter.

“They just went on a run and we were never able to get back into it,” Forbush said. “They penetrated and kicked and had wide open lay ups which really hurt us."

Centreville had several opportunities to stay with Robinson in the fourth, but missed free throws plagued the Wildcats, and momentum shifted back to the Rams as Crenshaw and Hansen combined for 10 points down the stretch to keep Robinson’s championship dreams alive.

“In the fourth I was more into the game,” Crenshaw said. “I hustled more and pushed myself.”

Hansen said she is excited to play Oakton in the final and believes they can win.

“We started slow with them [Oakton] before and tried to learn from our mistakes,” she said. “Our theme this year has been redemption.”

Robinson coach T.J. Dade said Centreville played well, but they adjusted at the half and Hansen came up big for the team at the end.

Centreville coach Wallace Horton said the final quarter made the difference in the game.

“Our shots stopped falling in the fourth quarter and frustration sets in,” Horton said. “Down four, you are still in striking range but when you get down eight, it is tough and there are not a lot of quick fixes.”