As rival week arrived, McLean basketball fans drove just up the road to pack the bleachers of the Langley Saxons. Tensions were high, and student sections were chanting and shouting throughout both games. Unfortunately, Langley’s home court advantage gave them the edge they needed to secure back-to-back wins.
Langley girls basketball started off strong while the Highlanders struggled defensively. Within minutes, the Saxons were up 15-2. Even with deep three pointers and aggressive offensive plays from senior guard Tatum Olson and senior forward Alyssa Evans, the team was unable to gain momentum. The half ended, McLean down 11-25.
Charging into the second half, McLean’s energy was higher, but Langley’s drive could not be broken. Each time the Highlanders scored, the Saxons matched or exceeded the amount. The Highlanders were unable to work as a team and with only a quarter left, it was difficult to comeback. The game ended with the Highlanders losing 26-49.
“This is a great learning experience and we are going to build off of it for sure,” girls assistant coach Richard Spencer said. “We are going to come back stronger and have a very strong second half of the district.”
Despite this disappointing loss, the crowd roared with energy as the varsity boys ran onto the court. Fans continued to arrive, hoping to turn the night around with a win.
McLean’s boys started out strong with senior guard Peter Stoss scoring the first points of the game. However, Langley quickly retaliated, scoring seven points of their own. Throughout the first quarter, the game stayed close, and McLean was only ever a few points behind.
With big plays by junior guard Logan Baldrate, senior guard Max Mullen and Stoss, fans had hope they could turn the game around. The game went back and forth but a few questionable calls from referees allowed Langley to hold momentum and possession, pulling ahead 24-15 at the half.
The second half started with McLean already at a disadvantage, and this trend continued throughout the remainder of the game. Despite their efforts to persevere, the Saxons stayed strong, and the game ended with a Highlander loss, 40-62.
Both teams took their losses as a learning opportunity and will come out stronger in the second half of the season. When they face Langley again at the end of the season, they will be prepared to turn the tables.
“Our players are going to be extremely hungry for a rematch against Langley at home,” Spencer said. “We are going to be inspired to play a high level of ball the rest of the district, score more points than we did tonight and be a lot more efficient. This was the game we needed to take it to the next level.”
