On Jan. 16, the McLean varsity girls basketball team hosted the Wakefield Warriors at their familiar red home court. After an unfortunate 19-50 loss to the Washington-Liberty Generals, the Highlanders were determined to secure a victory.
The first quarter commenced with the Warriors quickly stealing the lead with a three pointer, putting McLean right on their tails. After another three pointer from the Warriors made the score 8-11, it seemed impossible that the Highlanders would be able to catch up in time before the quarter ended. However, freshmen Olivia Callanen and Elizabeth Burnison each sank a three-pointer, helping the Highlanders finish the first quarter with the lead, 15-11.
“We changed our sets a little and it paid off,” head coach Pat Deegan said. “It allowed our players to get into scoring positions more easily and execute plays more effectively.”
The second quarter featured a relentless fight from both teams, with the Highlanders and Warriors constantly swinging points and refusing to let the other pull ahead. Starting the second quarter out strong, sophomore point guard Emilia Alecsic nailed a bank shot, pushing McLean into the lead, though the Warriors responded with a three-pointer and a pair of foul-line shots to regain control.
Almost immediately after the Warriors free throws, junior point guard Cora Stevens energized McLean with a three-pointer of her own, keeping the Highlanders close. Despite their efforts, the Warriors edged ahead at halftime, 29-28, after a string of aggressive drives and accurate free throws.
“We definitely improved in several areas tonight,” Deegan said. “The girls were making smart decisions under pressure and playing hard on both ends of the court.”
McLean returned to the court for the third quarter ready to battle back. The Highlanders kept pace early, with freshman small forward Tessie Morneau sinking a key layup to tie the game at 30-30.
The Warriors responded quickly, taking the lead again with sharp shooting from beyond the arc and clutch foul-line points. By the end of the third, McLean trailed 35-42, but the team stayed composed and continued to push offensively.
“We knew we had to step up our offense and keep the pressure on,” sophomore point guard Emilia Alecsic said.
The fourth quarter was a test of grit as McLean clawed back, with Callanen hitting another three-pointer and Alecsic adding two more to narrow the gap. With just minutes remaining, Stevens scored a critical basket to put the Highlanders ahead 50-49, sending the game into a tense final stretch.
The Warriors were able to retake the lead with a quick three-pointer and a shot from the foul line, finishing the game at 50-53. Despite the loss, the Highlanders showed a dramatic improvement from previous games, pushing a strong team like Wakefield to the final seconds.
“Whether it’s a blowout or a close game, the girls love to play,” Deegan said. “That enthusiasm carried them tonight and kept them fighting until the very end.”
Throughout the game, the bench and coaches never let up, shouting and chanting “Defense!” to rally the Highlanders until the very end. The Highlanders will look to build on this performance as they prepare for their next matchup against the Yorktown Patriots, hoping to turn their close finishes into victories moving forward.
“Although we lost, we definitely played better as a team. We were more aggressive and more focused on putting up good shots,” Stevens said. “Plus, we were able to come back from a 9 point deficit [in the fourth quarter] which was really hard.”
