After watching the boys' varsity team of Episcopal High School (Alexandria, VA) secure a satisfying victory, the Maroons' girls' squad took over the home floor for the second portion of the school's doubleheader. Matched up against the Wolves of Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School (SJPG) (Dumfries, VA), Episcopal's first-round contest in the VISAA Division I state tournament ended up as an all-out battle between the two programs. With several lead changes and frequent scoring runs, the gym intensified by the minute, as it was pretty much anyone's game for the first 3.5 quarters. Episcopal maintained enough focus for 32 minutes to capture the victory, however, as both the boys and girls programs succeeded in protecting their home floor for Day 1 of the state playoffs.
Final Score
Episcopal ' 57
SJPG ' 48
Some Game Notes
- Episcopal did well early on throughout the first quarter in turning their defense into offense and scoring against SJPG's half-court zone defense. However, SJPG went on an offensive surge during the last two minutes of that opening period to take over the lead, up by five. The second quarter didn't start off too pretty, as both teams kept competing hard for hustle points and 50-50 balls. Still, this hinted at the notion of both programs planning to keep things close.
- In the second period, SJPG started giving Episcopal more trouble with their traps on the perimeter and full-court press. This led to a few turnovers and the Maroons decided to call a quick timeout so they could get their composure back together. It proved beneficial, as they began to play more aggressively; working their way into the bonus and grabbing several second-chance attempts off of offensive rebounds. Momentum started to swing more toward Episcopal's way and they found themselves taking the lead once again, 25-23, entering the half-time break.
- The third quarter's first chunk saw plenty of traded baskets, but Episcopal started getting stops and scores to finally extend their lead over double-digits around the three-minute mark. Nonetheless, SJPG once again showed they're more than able to make a turnaround in a matter of seconds. The Wolves forced three consecutive turnovers and scored off of each possession to make it only a five-point game heading into the final eight minutes.
- Episcopal continued to put points on the board during the fourth and final quarter; the same didn't work as easily for SJPG at first, however. SJPG eventually started to find their scoring again, mainly from free-throws, but Episcopal had reached the double bonus by that point. After the Maroons scored off of some broken plays, SJPG was forced to foul late in the quarter, with the game pretty much determined. Both teams gave it their all; Episcopal made a couple of more perimeter shots down the later stretch.
Tuesday Night's Standouts
Haley Sabol '20 ' Episcopal: The 6'1' forward dominated for every minute she spent out there on the floor, showing a skilled game as a stretch-4 who can produce at all three levels. SJPG couldn't do anything to slow down her scoring; I remember her piling up nine straight points in a 1.5 minute span during the second quarter. Her rebounding compared just as nicely to her ability to fill up the scoring column; Sabol went after the boards strongly to secure with two hands. She gave some of the most effort out of the Maroons and definitely has the promise of a next-level prospect. One thing she'll need to treat more carefully is her fouling, as she picked up her fifth one late in the final period. Other than that, everything else in the junior's game looked big time.
Lexus Pincus '19 ' SJPG: Pincus put the Wolves on her back early on and didn't quit her fight in actively rebounding/finishing around the rim. It felt like she was all over the place on the floor; her nose for the ball looked inevitable. Pincus' assertiveness gave SJPG their biggest spark throughout the first half, acting as a needed senior presence who refused to take any time off on the floor. Her touch, strong hands, and physicality all combines to make up a heady forward that can draw fouls due by simply wanting it more. Unsigned senior to consider.
Maya Thompson '20 ' Episcopal: I like the versatility of Episcopal's 5'8' guard/wing. She runs the floor effortlessly and can do some damage with the ball in her hands. Her handle isn't extraordinary, but Thompson definitely can put it on the floor to get to the rim or cash in jumpers from around the three-point line. She looked most confident as a catch-and-shoot player, while using her attacking mindset with the ball at other times to score in the paint. Like most of her teammates, Thompson plays with a scrappiness and one can bet on her always sacrificing to get on the floor for a loose ball if she eyes the opportunity. She has plenty of value as a winning player; making some important plays for the Maroons in certain moments. I could tell that her toughness motivates her other peers on the roster.
Lauryn Caiafa '19 ' SJPG: Probably the best two-way guard in the gym, Caiafa appeared as the Wolves' superior ball-handler and most reliable in crunch time. She kept impressing more and more as each quarter passed, whether it involved her spinning past opponents, drawing fouls, or causing several turnovers with her pesky defense. The senior has solid poise, shown by her focus to make free throws in the final quarter, as well as other big shots. It seemed like SJPG turned to her whenever they needed somebody to make a play; she never shied away from the moment. College programs need to make sure they don't miss out on her. Her two-way prowess and natural leadership would make her a sleeper pick-up by a next-level program.
Dymin Gerow '20 ' Episcopal: Gerow has some speed! She sped down the floor past everybody else and showed to be a one-woman fast break at times. I remember her scoring six consecutive points in the first half during one stretch due to this action. She started to show more of her shooting in the second half, knocking down a pair from distance that gave Episcopal a lead both times. The scoring guard saved her best quarter for last, as she continued to get paint touches and helped extend her team's lead to double-digits with less than a minute remaining. SJPG made back-to-back plays on the other end but had to foul and Gerow put things to rest with makes at the free-throw line. That 2020 trio of her, Thompson, and Sabol, is must-see.
Be sure to also check out my recap on the Boys' side of the VISAA first-round from Tuesday night!; (Norfolk Academy vs. Episcopal HS, 2/26/19)