Westfield High Weekly Sports Review

Bulldog boys’ basketball team on cruise control

The Bulldog boys’ varsity basketball team (17-3, 8-0) continued its thrashing of Concorde opponents last week, with victories over Robinson, 55-50 and , 55-36 to remain at the top of the district standings.

Quentin Basil led his Westfield squad with 15 points, including a strong 7 of 8 performance from the free throw line. Julius Rosa knocked down two of Westfield’s three three-pointers and totaled 14 points against the Wildcats. The two have found strong chemistry during the second half of the season, along with big man Zach Elcano (six points) who has controlled the paint all year. The Bulldogs have won eight straight games since losing in the second round of the Bulldog Bash holiday tournament on Dec. 29.

Just two games remain on the regular-season schedule: Herndon and , before the Bulldogs begin their quest for a Concorde banner. And while still undefeated in the district, Westfield looks poised to snatch the No.1-seed in the district tournament.

Westfield hosts the (9-10, 4-4) on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Gymnasts qualify for regional tourney

Coach Holly Richbourg and her team of expert gymnasts stood their ground against a wealth of competition in the Concorde tournament on Jan. 30. Westfield placed fourth in the district as a team but advanced two gymnasts: Katie Freix and Hannah Marker to the Northern Regional tourney.

Freix dominated the competition to become the 2011-12 season’s Concorde All-Around Champion with a total score of 37.45. She also won bars with an 8.9, floor with a 9.75, and beam with a 9.8. The sophomore added a third-place finish on vault with a 9.0 to round out an outstanding meet.

“Katie had a great meet,” said Coach Richbourg. “She ended up first in everything except vault and she finished third with a fall.”

Marker, in her first year of high school competition, impressed her coach, teammates and fans alike, scoring a 9.3 on floor to finish third.

“She had a great floor routine and she just hit it,” Richbourg said. “She’s excited as a freshman to go to regionals.”

Unfortunately, sophomore sensation broke her left foot in three places during practice one week before districts, while performing a switch-leg leap on beam. Richbourg said she felt terrible for Elliott and the team definitely missed her and the talent she would have showcased at the tournament.

“We were fighting for at least that second spot,” Richbourg said. “So, I think it would have been close but without her there, it made it too hard.”

The schools finished in the following order in the tournament: , Chantilly, Oakton, Westfield, Herndon, and Centreville. 

The northern regional tournament will be held Feb. 9 at at 3:10 p.m.

Girls’ basketball earns big OT win

Coach Pat Deegan said his team’s half-court defense has improved throughout the latter half of the season. His girls backed that opinion up last week when . Westfield bettered its record to 12-8 overall and 3-5 in the Concorde with the win.

“We got up by a couple early on and stretched it to 12,” said Coach Deegan. “They came back to widdle it to eight and they went ahead by two. I think it was Hayden put a lay up in to tie it up.”

Both squads slowed the tempo in overtime and did little scoring. That was until the Wildcats fouled Bulldog Maggie McInturff in overtime. She hit one of her two free throws to go ahead by one with six seconds left, which proved the game winner. Lauren Hayden would also knock one down from the stripe seconds later for good measure. Jules Abruzzo, McInturff and Hayden have all stayed consistent in the top three in scoring for the Bulldogs, while specializing in different areas on the court.

“Maggie’s out best outside scorer and Lauren is our best flasher outside,” Deegan said. “Jules has done a real good job around the rim although she can float that 14-footer too.”

The coach said his team has not looked ahead to the postseason but instead focuses tunnel vision on the next opponent.

“I haven’t been able to think about the district tournament because every game has been such a challenge to us,” Deegan said. “So, we’re really focused on Herndon because they provide some athletic challenges for us.”

Westfield plays at Herndon on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Co-ed indoor track comes up big in Concorde with team relays

The indoor varsity track team showed well at districts with first and second place finishes in the boys’ and girls’ 4X800 meter relays respectively, on day one of the competition (Jan. 26.) Meanwhile, Tony Richardson garnered a first place in shot put as well. Coach Kelly Deegan said she was impressed with both relay results and looking forward to the second day of district meet competition.

Feb. 2nd results will be updated when the information is received. The Northern Regional Tournament will be held at George Mason University on Feb. 18 at 8:30 a.m.

Note: Westfield’s co-ed swim & dive team will be updated in next week’s recap.