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Tiger veterans lead team to opening day win
The Brentsville District varsity girls basketball team really could not have asked for a better start to the season, considering the circumstances.Even absent their senior go-to 3-point shooter Chelsie Tooke, the Group AA Tigers consistently played even-or-better against home-team Osbourn last Thursday, ultimately pulling out a 45-40 win over the Group AAA Eagles in Manassas.
Power forward Kelsey Taylor led all scorers with 21 points while senior point guard Kayla Baltimore chipped in another 14. Kelly Jacobson (5 points), Chai Fuller (2 points), Stephanie Pratapas (2 points) and Lauren Brown (1 point) all contributed offensively too.
Veteran leaders like Baltimore and Taylor have a combined seven years of varsity experience on a team where even bench players are familiar faces to the Tiger faithful.
"We learned to adjust to each others playing and find each other on the court," said Taylor.
"Yeah, we kind of learned what each other can and can't do, strengths and weaknesses," added Baltimore. "We've grown stronger as a team, even since the second half of last year. We're gradually getting better and better."
Head coach Rob Weaver noted Brentsville needed to develop a stronger perimeter game compared to last year, which means more than just Baltimore penetrating and kicking the ball back outside.
"That's still kind of my essential game but I've learned to, like, find other ways to score besides driving, pull up and stuff. And when I penetrate, I mostly dish to (Taylor) because everyone collapses on me," said Baltimore.
"When they do collapse, I move to the open spot where they haven't been. So, it's an easier pass for me" to handle, said Taylor.
Ball-handling skills is a vital element to every player if the the sling-happy Tigers are to execute a high-tempo offense played at a pace not much different than powerhouse Stonewall Jackson.
"Our strength as a team is still running the floor, but we've learned at the right moment to slow it down, so we can get things up so we get better looks instead of rushing everything," said Baltimore.
Taylor added that Weaver "taught us to slow down and peek at the basket and get in position to be triple threats, to be able to drive or shoot or penetrate, whatever you want to do. I think that's helped us get inside."
Weaver said he paid attention to how Raiders coach Nsonji White focuses on "fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. And that's what makes this team so strong."
The Tiger coach could be heard during a time out telling his players to "get up and rebound and be strong" during the fourth quarter against Osbourn.
Taylor said she wants the Tigers, coming off a .500 season, to prove they can keep up with everyone.
"We are better than anybody gives us credit for," she said.
"Truthfully," added Baltimore.
The Tigers routinely qualify for the regional playoffs each year. Despite losing their long-time head coach Eugene Baltimore and two of the program's all-time best players (Kimmy Hopkins and Aly Jacobson) to graduation at the end of the 2007-08 season, Brentsville (12-12) still managed to qualify for a regional berth last year, though they lost in the first round.
Now that the players and head coach alike have had a full year to get to know each other, hopes are high for the veteran-heavy squad.
"Our goals are just to slow our game down, keep playing how we did tonight and just hopefully getting all the way," said Taylor.
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