The Potomac Falls High girls basketball team does not have much to show for its effort this season record wise. At 3-11, the team’s overall record going into this week, the Panthers have just one Dulles District victory to this point. But in many of its games this season, Potomac Falls has been anything but an easy victory for opponents.
"It’s been up and down," said Potomac Falls coach Lynn Ewald, in regard to his team’s overall play this season. "Sometimes we’re doing a good job and sometimes we’re making too many mental errors. Overall though, the girls are playing hard."
<b>FIVE OF POTOMAC</b> Falls’ losses have come by 10 points or less, indicating the Panthers have been in several games. And against the district’s elite teams — Freedom and Loudoun County — the Panthers have held their own. In a 74-41 loss at County Jan. 5, Potomac Falls trailed by only 12 points late in the third quarter before the Raiders dominated the fourth on way to a decisive win. In a 64-39 loss at Freedom the next day, Potomac Falls fell behind by 12 points early in the game before playing the talented Eagles fairly even through three quarters. But again, the Panthers struggled in the fourth quarter on way to the lopsided loss.
So, for stretches of games, the Panthers have proven they can play with just about anyone.
"I think the girls realize we have some talent on the team," Ewald said. "It’s a real competitive district outside of [Freedom and County]. Our spirits are up. [The losing] is difficult sometimes, but the girls are still working hard."
Some of the team’s closer losses include a 41-35 home setback to district opponent Heritage Dec. 12; a 47-44 loss to Stone Ridge School (Bethesda) in a game at the Oakton Christmas tournament Dec. 27; a 42-37 district home defeat to Broad Run Jan. 12; and a 53-48 district loss at Briar Woods two days later. And on Jan. 17, in the Panthers’ final game before the school’s recent exam week, they gave Heritage a respectable game in a 50-41 loss.
"You look at our record and think we’re not that competitive," said Ewald, whose team is 1-7 in district play. "But if things go a little different, we could be [around .500 in the district]. It’s a thin line between wins and losses."
Ewald said his team has struggled down the stretch in games. He believes the Panthers can play better in close games over the final few weeks of the regular season and perhaps earn a few district wins.
"I think it comes down to execution," said the coach, of his team’s inability to make the big plays or get the vital baskets late in close games. "At the end of a game we’ve got to continue to play hard and together."
<b>POTOMAC FALLS’ lone district win came in a 50-18 home victory over struggling Dominion Jan. 9. It’s two other wins came out of the district prior to Christmas — a 47-33 home win over Stone Bridge Dec. 6, and a 75-37 home win over Wakefield (Arlington) on Dec. 26 at the Oakton holiday tourney.
Potomac Falls is led by senior team captain Sara Hibson, an undersized center at 5 foot 5 inches who more than holds her own inside the paint against bigger players. At the Oakton tournament, Hibson became the program’s all-time leading rebounder. She is averaging nine points and nine rebounds a game this winter.
"A good word to describe her is 'tenacious,’" Ewald said of the gritty Hibson. "She’s been on the varsity since her freshmen year and she’s learned the tricks of the trade battling against bigger players. She’s extremely competitive and wants to get after it. She takes it as a personal challenge when there is a rebound or loose ball to g et to."
It’s nothing at all to see Hibson, in her second year as team captain, to hit the floor going after a ball. It does not matter what the score is, she always plays as if the contest is going down to the wire.
Three juniors who have stepped up and put together good seasons for Potomac Falls are forward Jasmin Jefferies (11 points, 9.5 rebounds per game), shooting guard and 3-point specialist Raven Short (nine points per game) and point guard Symone’ Berry (eight points).
Short missed a stretch of games earlier in the season as a result of an injury. Of late, she has been one of the team’s steadiest players.
One of Potomac Falls’ highlights this season was competing at the eight-team Oakton tournament over the holidays. There, the Panthers defeated Wakefield in a first-round game before falling to Stone Ridge by three points in the semifinals. In a game for third place, Potomac Falls lost to a team from Bethlehem, Pa. — Liberty High — 61-41.
"The girls really liked it," Ewald said of the tournament. "Hopefully we can do it again next year. They got a chance to play some different teams. A few of the girls had relatives in town that hadn’t seen them play."
This week is set to be a busy one for the Panthers, who were scheduled to play a home game against Loudoun County Tuesday, Dec. 27, and a nondistrict road game at George Mason High on Wednesday. And on Friday, Potomac Falls will play a district contest at Park View.