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54-38 win over Loudoun Valley puts Bobcats at 5-5
Winners of five of their last six, the Battlefield boys emerged from last Friday night's game as a squad that proved it knows how to not just take leads, but to hold on and win.It's a big transition from the beginning of the year.
Lacking three of their current starters due to the varsity football team's run to the state playoffs, BHS (5-5 overall, 2-0 district) played competitively in three of their first four games this year, only to lose all of them in the end, including two games by a combined six points.
In their 54-38 home-court win against Cedar Run District opponent Loudoun Valley (3-7, 0-2), the Bobcats built on a three-point lead after the first quarter by outscoring the Vikings at a nearly 3-to-1 clip (11-4) in the following period.
"(We) hit the passing lanes effectively," said BHS assistant coach Jerry Lewis about his team's second-quarter offense.
Even after a classic 3-point play by senior forward Kyle Kohnen pulled Loudoun Valley within 10 points with about 2:30 left in the third quarter, the Bobcats used a physical style of play to block a shot (credited to junior Ryan Dandrea), create turnovers and blow the game back open.
Battlefield reclaimed a 15-point lead after senior guard Jamie Robinson (13 points) dribbled an inbound pass the length of the court for a basket and foul shot opportunity.
When he missed the freebie, there was senior Bo Revell (8 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks) to grab the board and put it right back up, securing Battlefield's final points of the quarter.
"I think our big men are very unselfish," said post player Kevin Bonsu, who spent a large chunk of time playing alongside Revell and Robinson. "It's an honor to play with guys like that who are willing to bust their [rears]."
Though BHS could not convert every turnover into a hoop, forcing the Vikings into making mistakes stunted any burst of potential momentum in the second half.
Loudoun Valley kept the Bobcats off the scoreboard for about two full minutes toward the end of the third quarter and chipped six points off the BHS lead.
Within five seconds though, Robinson and Revell managed to neutralize that run. By the end of the quarter, LVHS managed to cut Battlefield's 32-16 margin at the 3:31 mark down by only two points at 38-24.
"Blaine (Mason), Jamie and Bo are still getting into basketball shape," said Battlefield coach Al Ford.
Ford explained one of his keys to victory this season is being able to balance height and strength with ball-handling skills.
"The ability to be able to go small and big; most teams don't have the ability to do that," said Ford, later adding, "This is the first time where we have that ability to say we're going to get tougher and tougher and tougher."
If need be, Ford can start an entire lineup of players at or above 6-foot-4. However, there are seniors like Mason (6-foot-1) and Evan Payton (5-foot-11) who are quick enough to be defensive threats if Ford opts to out-finesse the opposition.
Such a scenario played out against Loudoun Valley in the fourth quarter when 5-foot-7 freshman Roman Hall snatched the ball from LVHS and dished it off to junior Troy Allaire, who finger-rolled it into the hoop and sank the subsequent foul shot with 2:04 left on the clock.
"It comes down to our bench play," said assistant coach Ray Chambers. "We spread it around."
According to Bonsu (6 points, 5 rebounds), Battlefield simply outworked Loudoun Valley in earning the win.
"I think honestly it's us rebounding, getting lucky and playing defense," he said.
Added Ford: "Everyone is going to rise to the occasion. Everyone on the team is holding each other to a higher standard."
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