Marines

Photo Information

Brittany, Quantico Middle/High School Lady Warriors Varsity Basketball Team player, struggles to cover an opponent in the open court during a Delaney Athletic Conference game against the Fredericksburg Academy Falcons at Quantico on Jan. 30. The Falcons made a stand in the second half that brought them the game win, 37-18.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Antwaun Jefferson

Nothing left, intensity

30 Jan 2013 | Lance Cpl. Antwaun Jefferson Marine Corps Base Quantico

The Quantico Middle/High School Lady Warriors Varsity Basketball Team had a Delaney Athletic Conference game against the Fredericksburg Academy Falcons at Quantico on Jan. 30.

The Lady Warriors kept a fast pace the entire game, giving the Falcons no choice but to try to keep up. The fast pace wasn’t always conducive to getting points later in the game. In fact, it was to become the Warriors’ downfall.

In the first half of the game, both teams were doing well defensively. It seemed like neither offense could get a shot off without it being blocked or turned over first. The teams were evenly matched. Not content with the way things were going after the first quarter, their head coach, Jeff Eckerson, called a timeout to establish a new game plan. Meanwhile, the Lady Warriors’ head coach, Paul Roy, was praising his team.

“You are good defensively,” Roy said. “I want you to keep that intensity and make sure you find open areas to make those difficult shots.”

When the Falcons came out of their huddle, they emerged like a team on a mission to dominate. Within 6 minutes, the Falcons went on an 8-0 run and kept the Lady Warriors from scoring until a little more than a minute left in the half.

 Trying to stay in the game, the Lady Warriors began pushing down the court quickly and aggressively as time was winding down. The Falcons were not use to playing against a fast-paced team. They began to have trouble defensively and at one point they found it difficult to even stay on their feet when challenging a Lady Warrior player one-on-one.

At halftime, the Falcons held a 19-10 lead.

In the third quarter, the Lady Warriors had the intensity but that meant nothing when the Falcons wouldn’t let them past half court before stealing the ball. Double teaming the Lady Warriors’ players was also the Falcons’ “ace in the hole” the entire quarter. Nearly every time a Warrior player was under pressure by two opponents, they lost focus and the ball.

“We need to box out and grab the rebounds,” Roy said. “Right now we are not being fundamentally sound out there. I need you to show me something, right now.”

Even though they were well behind in points, the Lady Warriors had the energy of a team coming off a bye week. They were still fighting for the ball every step of the way, proving to the Falcons that they could not sway the Lady Warriors’ spirit.

The Lady Warriors finally found their rhythm and began grabbing rebounds and making shots they were previously missing. They found small holes in the Falcons’ defense and the scored. When there wasn’t an opening, they made one, even if that meant running over their opponents.

In the end, the Falcons were too far ahead at the start of the final quarter and even with their intensity, the Lady Warriors still weren’t able to catch up. The final score of the game was 37-18.

“I have to give credit to the Lady Warriors,” Eckerson said. “They played hard and extremely tough out there. I love playing them because it forces my girls to be that much better under pressure against a team that can really bring it to you.”


Marine Corps Base Quantico