With a packed student section in the McLean gym showing their school spirit in red, white and blue, the McLean Highlanders varsity boys basketball team faced off against the Thomas Jefferson Colonials on Friday, Dec. 9, with a strong 69-53 win.

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Dania Reza

McLean blocks TJ in an attempt to score. McLean's strong defense was an important aspect of their win.

Starting off the game, the Colonials won the toss only to quickly lose possession to the Highlanders. Senior Daniel Fimbres scored the first points for McLean and soon enough, the team gained a significant lead on the Colonials. The first quarter ended with a 19-5 lead for the Highlanders, as they played faster and harder than the Colonials. TJ was kept on the defensive throughout the first quarter with an overwhelming offensive force from the Highlanders. 

“We started the game off really well,” Coach Mike O’Brien said. “Our intensity was good, and our defense was really good.”

Coming into the second quarter, the Highlanders noticed the Colonials stepping up their game. Although TJ was clearly caught off guard earlier on, they began to find their footing and created some competition for the Highlanders. The TJ shots were less rushed than before, and the McLean defense grew impatient. These factors closed the gap for the Colonials, but the Highlanders readjusted and brought back their significant lead, ending the half with a 35-18 advantage. 

“We remained confident during the game,” senior Jimmy Higgins said. “We won the past few home games and we weren’t going to play down to TJ.”

Once the Highlandettes finished their halftime show and the clock started up again, the Highlanders were faced with a whole new atmosphere. TJ’s plays improved under the pressure of their opponent’s lead, and the Highlanders shifted attitudes. While McLean seemed more tired after the first half, TJ came back with a vengeance. The Colonials became more aggressive in the second half, and the possibility of a TJ win became a concern. However, the Colonials’ passes and shots were still sloppy, so the Highlanders gained back their momentum as the third quarter was winding down. 

The third quarter left the Highlanders with a smaller lead than the previous two quarters, 48-36. 

As the fourth quarter started with an eight point lead from the Highlanders, both teams were giving their all on the court. TJ’s newfound energy from the beginning of the second half was starting to wear off, and the Highlanders pulled through with aggressive plays and guarding the ball. TJ turnovers led to easy points for the Highlanders. As shots became more desperate, the Colonials started to show fatigue, and the clock ticked closer and closer to the end of the game. As the time ran out, the McLean Highlanders won against the TJ Colonials 69-53. 

“Our team has a strong hustle and we out-hustled them,” Higgins said.

Looking forward, the Highlanders need to prepare for upcoming games against teams such as Marshall, their next opponents on December 13th. 

“The next game is Marshall, it’s the start of the district playoffs,” O’Brien said. “It’s a big game; not only is it a rival, but for district purposes, it’s going to be a battle.”