McLean loses, 71-63.

The Highlander lower gym remained lit long after school let out on Monday, Dec. 5, as McLean’s varsity girls basketball team looked to bounce back from a tough two point loss versus Madison two days prior. The boys varsity team had just beaten the Cougars 55-45 on Dec. 2, and the girls were coming in prepared to do the same.

“We’re playing a team that is very similar to Madison, so hopefully after watching some film and talking about some things, we’ll fix some of the mistakes we made at the end of last game,” McLean head coach Jen Sobota said.

Coming into the game, both sides were aware that they were about to partake in a clash of two titans; the Highlanders were characterized by a breakneck, overwhelming speed, while the Cougars were known for being a physical, aggressive team that countered finesse with brute force.

McLean, however, seemed incredibly off their game during the first quarter, unable to settle into their signature speedy pace and committing four fouls in the first eight minutes alone. Oakton consistently punished the Highlanders’ slow screens and switches by forcing turnovers and muscling their way to easy buckets, giving them an early 24-13 lead.

The second quarter was an improvement for McLean. Defensively, they were more willing to commit to double teams and did a better job cutting off passing lanes, and their offense managed to finesse past the Cougars’ brick wall to get half decent looks from mid-range, exemplified by senior Shushan Krikorian crossing up a defender and dishing the ball out for a wide open three pointer. Still, Oakton seemed more willing to scrap for loose balls and rebounds, and their physicality suffocated the Highlanders’ normally high-octane drives. McLean closed the gap, ending the half trailing 34-28, but players were beginning to look exhausted.

Luckily for the Highlanders, halftime gave them all the energy they needed to come out hot in the third quarter. Oakton made the lethal mistake of giving McLean open looks from outside the three point arc, and the ‘Ders were quick to punish, instantly catching fire with a series of three pointers that almost immediately knotted the game at 34. Sophomore Tatum Olson and senior Kara Bremser particularly ran up the scoreboard, each one proving to be a deadly force any time they had an angle to shoot from range. The Cougar offense began to rush and was missing their looks, but they were aided by more McLean fouls. Oakton was given many free throws, and they didn’t waste their opportunities at the line, nor had they stopped fighting for loose balls—meanwhile, McLean was struggling off the ball, unable to maintain a clean defensive stand. Still, the ignited offense gave McLean hope in the game, ending the third quarter down 50-49.

The final eight minutes of the game was a tale of sorrow and frustration for McLean; their fouling troubles personified tenfold in the fourth, though admittedly, some of the calls were argued by fans and players alike. Regardless, Oakton had reached the double bonus with most of the quarter remaining, meaning that any of McLean’s defensive fouls would give the Cougars two free throws. They played to this win condition well, extending their lead by drawing fouls via aggressive drives and sinking their free throws every time they were at the line. Sobota and her players were fairly confused by some of the foul calls, but the referees kept blowing the whistle, and though the offense wasn’t bad, McLean’s fire was gone. Unable to overcome their fouling struggles, the game ended in a Cougar victory, 71-63.

After two close losses, the Highlanders will certainly come into their next game against Fairfax with a chip on their shoulders. The night of Dec. 7 will be their last home game before hitting the road for two games to face off against Thomas Jefferson and Meridian, respectively.