Basketball: Region II Quarterfinals

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Leesburg (Feb. 25, 2009) – They probably gave Loudoun County High School senior Joe Bushrod the “game ball” too early Tuesday night. The Raiders stopped their AA Region II Division 4 boys basketball quarterfinal with Dulles District foe midway through the fourth quarter to honor Bushrod for having broken the career 1,000-point milestone moments earlier.

At the time Loudoun County had a comfortable 49-41 advantage and had led by as many as 14 in the first half, but gritty Park View made a late run, highlighted by Marcus Freeman scoring five points in a six-second span with less than 20 seconds to go to tie the game at 62-62. That is when Bushrod, who had a game-high 26 points, earned his second “game ball” as the point guard, who is often a human highlight reel of swoops, slashes and no-look passes, took the ball up the court and drew a foul as he stumbled to squeeze through the double team of Freeman and Jordan Owens.

The controverial foul call with 2.2 seconds left sent Bushrod to the foul line where he went 12 of 14 on the night and he made both shots to lift LC into the semifinals with a 64-62 victory.

“I’ve lived at the free throw line most of the time, at least this season, and that is what this game came down to today,” said Bushrod who has gone to the line more than 200 times this season. “I’m glad when people foul me … they called two timeouts back-to-back, I guess they were trying to ice me … I didn’t really feel any pressure.”

Park View coach Mike Koscinski was proud of the way his team refused to give up in the contest. It was a tough lockerroom for PV as four seniors — Freeman, Smith, Donnie Royer and Brandon Absher — had played their final game for the Patriots.

“I haven’t seen the last play at the end … tough way to lose,” said Koscinski. 

Rick Cottom added 21 points for the Raiders and Tim McLister had nine points, including two big 3-pointers.

The Patriots were led by Freeman (20 points) and freshman Ryan McCarter (16 points), who was a mid-season call-up to varsity and played on Tuesday like a star in the making. Smith added 11 for the Pats and had a huge steal in the final seconds to set up a Freeman 3-pointer to tie the game after Freeman had knocked down two free throws with 19.1 seconds to go.

“No one wants to lose this last game,” said Loudoun County coach Brian Blubaugh. “Right now, you lose, your done. You go home and you hand in the uniforms.”

Loudouin County (17-7) opened the year 5-0 only to lose five straight. Since Jan. 9, however, the Raiders have been hot, going 12-2, and now they are one game away from qualfying for the state tournament but they must win that game on the road Thursday night at No. 1 seed Charlottesville.

“It’s going to be an uphill battle against Charlottesville. They are a great basektball team,” said Blubaugh. “Our guys know what is on the line.”

Park View (9-16) came into the game six games under .500 but the Patriots acted like they belonged as they led much of the first two quarters. While the Raiders concenrated on slowing down the All-District selection Freeman, it was McCarter, Royer, Smith and Owens doing the damage … much to the delight of the Patriot Nation that showed to cheer them on.

(Full disclosure: OK, it wasn’t really a “Nation” of fans … in fact it was mostly five very rowdy friends on the first row, close enough to reach out and pat their teammates on the bench. When I pointed out to them, that five does not make a Nation. They said to call them the “Band of Brothers”. And they wondered if I could give them a “shout out” on DigitalSports … my friends, Internet real estate is much, much too valuable to take up space mentioning Jake Ridings, Jonathan Mason, Jack Stone, Steven Balik and Aaron Swiggart … ooops … Now if he Raider Riot demands equal air time … we are in trouble as the LC fan section was well represented … back to our story …)

The Raiders took the lead in the final minutes of the first half with a 7-0 run and never trailed again. McLister hit a 3-pointer to start the run and Bushrod made 1 of 2 from the line followed by a basket by Mahir Mrkonjic and then one free throw by Terrence Ferrell. That gave LC a 25-21 halftime cushion.

In the third it was a one-point game after a McCarter 3-pointer, 29-28 LC, when Cottom went tough inside and that triggered a 13-0 run that gave the Raiders a big 42-28 advantage. During that run, Bushrod hit two free throws, drove in for two and gave Cottom a nice assist. McLister hustled for a follow and finished the run with a trey.

Park View did make two late 3-pointers, one each by McCarter and Freeman, to slice things to 42-34 heading into the final quarter.

It was more outside shooting that got Park View within shouting distance as Owens and Freeman hit back-to-back 3’s to make it 49-47 LC. 

After Bushrod went 1 of 2 from the line with 3:55 to play, Park View had a chance to tie with another 3-pointer but settled for a Smith jumper from the top of the key to make it 50-49 with 3:31 still left.

Bushrod drove in for a big basket to make it 52-49 with 3:18 left. The two teams then traded free throws as Owens made two and Cottom and Ferrell were both 1 of 2. That left 54-51 with 2:05 left. Park View couldn’t score and Bushrod was right back with another drive, kissing the ball off the glass for a 56-51 edge with less than two minutes to play.

The Raiders defense, however, had a lapse as McCarter was left unguarded at the block on an inbounds play to make it 56-53 with 1:19 to play. Bushrod was fouled and he made both shots. Freeman came right back and hit a pull-up jumper to keep it a 3-point game at 58-55. Forced to put Bushrod on the line yet again, the Raider made two more free throws with one minute left to make it 60-55.

Royer kept the Pats hopes alive with a putback. LC gave PV more life as McLister and Cottom each made just 1 of 2 from the line but on the offensive end, Park View could not score to take advantage. Down 62-57, Freeman drove inside and was fouled with 19.1 seconds left to set up the dramatic finish. After he sank his shots, Smith not only intercepted the inbounds pass in the backcourt but the big center showed some nice footwork, staying inbounds along the sideline where the Raider Riot sits and he flicked the ball to Freeman set up in the corner, who swished it through to tie it up with about 10 seconds to go.

Ashburn – While the Broad Run High School girls basketball team has players looking forward to defending AA state titles in softball and soccer this spring, tryouts for these girls will have to wait as the Spartans moved into the semifinals with a win over James Wood Tuesday at home. Click here to read Carl “King of Loudoun Media” Lukat’s story in the Loudoun Times-Mirror! If they ask, Tell ’em the LPS Monkey sent ya.

Potomac Falls ends the season 14-10 after opening the year 9-2. The Panthers, however, struggled down the stretch, losing four of their final five including a first round Dulles District tournament loss at home to Park View.

D.J. Brown led Orange with 23 points and Kevin Bartnick paced the Panthers with 19.

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