Doug Ewell’s boys’ varsity basketball squad (12-3, 3-0) continued district competition last week with dates against and archrival . Led by a stalwart defense and hot-handed Zach Elcano, the Rams and Wildcats both by double-digit margins, 58-40 and 64-35 respectively.
“We have some seniors who are busting their butt doing their jobs,” said Ewell regarding the team’s success. “We just have to find a way to keep it going."
Elcano, who averages 13-points per game, led the Bulldogs with 15 against Robinson, while Chris Mullins tallied 11 points and knocked down a team-high three 3-pointers. Julius Rosa and Quentin Basil each hit one from downtown and racked up nine points apiece. The Bulldogs have won three straight and six of their last seven games. They now sit atop the Concorde alone at 3-0 ahead of Robinson and . Each have district records of 2-1.
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Ewell said his offense, with more depth than seasons past, frustrates opponents since they must focus on shutting down multiple players.
“He has definitely picked up his game, but he’s getting more help,” Ewell said regarding star player Zach Elcano. “They just cant game-plan for Zach, which is nice for us.”
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However, missed free throws have hampered Westfield at times this season and Ewell said his boys must improve in that area before playoff time.
“We still need to do a better job from the free throw line,” he said. “We’re one of those teams who wants to attack the rim and if you get fouled, you have to make them.”
plays at Herndon on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Westfield girls’ basketball team puts wheels back on track
After suffering a tough losses to Chantilly and Robinson at the start of district competition earlier this month, the varsity girls’ basketball team (10-5, 1-2) found success last week to put the train back on the track with the win, 59-53.
Maggie McInturff, Jules Abruzzo and Lauren Hayden all hover just below 10-points per game. With reliable shooters like this, Coach Pat Deegan feels confident his young Bulldog varsity girls are gelling together at the right time of the season.
“We’ve got so many new players on varsity but I think they’re getting more comfortable,” said Deegan. “We had a lot more energy both on offense and defense. We got all five kids involved in most of the play - something we hadn’t been doing.”
McInturff scored a team-high 20 points against the Wildcats. She was a solid 5 of 6 from the free throw line and drained three 3-pointers. Abruzzo followed closely behind with an impressive 15-point performance. But freshman Meghan DiPippa, whom Deegan says is quite versatile, steeped her game up big time, adding 13 points including one bucket from beyond the arc.
“She’s one of those intangibles for us and we can also play her inside when Abruzzo gets in foul trouble. We are sort of an ensemble cast and generally speaking we always have two or three kids who have a very good game each time out.”
Deegan will count on his ensemble to continue thriving as it hosts a Herndon Hornet team who started off the season 6-0, but has struggled in recent weeks in district play.
“Were in a very, very competitive district,” Deegan said. “And you have to make sure you get as many (wins) at home in order to stay competitive.”
Westfield hosts Herndon (8-6, 0-3) on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Bulldog gymnastic team gaining ground
Holly Richbourg’s varsity Bulldog gymnastic team garnered an impressive combined score of 131.45 to finish second behind the hosting McLean Highlanders in a six-team (Annandale, Centreville, West Springfield, Marshall, McLean) meet on Jan. 9.
“The team finished second right behind McLean,” said Richbourg. “My girls in the Top Ten are continuing to finish there.”
Those “Top 10” girls are Delaney Elliott, Katie Freix and Hanna Marker. Delaney shined brightly once again, finishing her night second in all-around. She also place second on beam, third on floor and bars and placed fifth on the vault. Freix finished just behind Elliott in all-around, placed second on vault, fifth on floor and took down the competition with first-place finishes on bars and beam.
Although Richbourg has one junior gymnast, she has been injured throughout the 2011-12 season and the team therefore the competition team consists entirely of freshmen and sophomores. Despite its youth, Westfield, in Richbourg’s opinion, has a solid shot at postseason honors this winter. Marker added fifth place finishes in all-around and floor, and a sixth place on beam.
“We basically had the Concorde district meet on Dec. 21 and Westfield finished third,” she said. “The goal being the top two teams go to regionals, and that is our goal. It is a realistic possibility and definitely realistic to catch Robinson and a little bit tougher to catch Chantilly.”
While the top three scores from the team have been consistent each meet, the coach said every girl has played a critical role in earning that all-important fourth score for the squad in each meet.
Westfield competes in the Washington & Lee Invitational on Jan. 21 at noon.
