Park View evens the score with Potomac Falls

By Joe Conroy/Loudoun Times-Mirror

Special to Loudoun Prep Sports

Sterling (Feb. 7, 2007) – Thomas Mulabah scored 23
and Amechi Anyaugo added 21 points in a fast-paced game in Sterling
Tuesday to give the Park View High School boys basketball team a 88-78
victory over Potomac Falls.

The Patriots took a page from the Panthers’ offensive
playbook deciding to run-and-gun, using fast breaks and quick scores to
keep their opponent off-balance.

“That surprised us a little bit to be honest, running
the way they did,” Panthers’ coach Jeff Hawes said. “That’s the game we
want and if we play them again, I hope they want to run the ball again.”

The Patriots took a 40-38 halftime lead and – pardon the pun –
ran with it. Once the high-octane game was finished, with another fast
break score by Park View, the crowd needed to catch its collective
breath.

The win, coupled with Heritage’s 77-69 victory over Freedom, creates a three-way tie at 10-3 among the top boys’ teams.

“That was our goal tonight, to see what we could do
to mess things up for everybody else,” Patriots’coach Jeff Schneider
said. “Last time we played them we let Potomac Falls dictate the tempo
of the game. We didn’t push the ball up the court so they got their
defense set. Tonight we were bound and determined to not let them do
that.”

Even into the fourth quarter the packed crowd seemed
to sense Potomac Falls had something left and could strike the
finishing blow at any moment. Ben Biber scored 18 of his 23 points in
the second half, many of which came running the same slash play. Biber
was able to cut to the basket with the ball and beat his man several
times resulting in multiple scores and foul shots.

But the Patriots always had an offensive answer for
it, whether it was Mulabah underneath or Anyaugo from outside. Park
View’s free throw shooting down the stretch was also key in the win.

“I think our biggest weakness has been free throw
shooting,” Schneider said. “As a team, we’re probably shooting around
mid-50 [percent], so that was great to see that we could have that
poise and step up. I told the players at one of our last time outs,
‘They’re going to pressure you, they’re going to make runs. You just
have to keep your head and keep cool, step up to the line and hit your
free throws.'”

The Patriots and Panthers can rest for only two days
before playing another important game. Park View heads to Broad Run
Friday while Potomac Falls travels to Dominion and Heritage faces
Loudoun County on the road, each a must-win to stay alive for a chance
at playoffs Saturday.

Box

Park View 88 Potomac Falls 78

PF: Biber 23, Ahmed 20, Kott 8, Hogue 7, Flickinger 6, Byrd 5, Anfindsen 3, Hancock 3, Richards 3. Totals 25 25-33 78

PV: Mulabah 23, Anyaugo 21, Foley 15, Freeman 11, Jackson 9, Smith 4, Leizear 3, Harvin 2. Totals 31 19-22 88.

3-Pointers: PF 3 (Biber, Houge, Anfindsen), PV 7 (Anyaugo 3, Foley 2, Jackson, Leizear).