Handley girls notch 1st district win

WINCHESTER — With three freshmen in the starting lineup, Handley girls’ basketball coach Marvin Scott knew the season would be filled with ups and downs.

Already with a four-game winning streak and a two-game losing streak to their credit, the Judges were looking to build on a road victory over Fauquier Monday night.

The Judges’ trio of freshmen stepped up big.

Freshman Angelica Robinson led the way with 21 points and 11 rebounds and classmate Alysandra Worrell scored 20, lifting the Judges to their first Northwestern District win of the season with a 49-32 thumping of Skyline at Handley’s Maddex-Omps Gymnasium Tuesday night.

“We’re very proud of them,” Scott said. “A double-double by a freshman and a controlled ball game at the point by a freshman — you can’t ask for much more. Cassidy Veach came alive in the fourth quarter and Scarlett (Hutchins) played some good D.

“It’s a process, we’re looking at where we’re going to end. We’re building a team day-by-day, game-by-game. One game at time.”

Handley (7-5 overall, 1-1 Northwestern District) never trailed in the contest but it wasn’t always easy. Each time the Judges built what appeared to be a sizeable lead in the first three quarters, the Hawks came charging back.

In the first three-and-a-half minutes of the game, four of the five Handley starters had scored and the Judges enjoyed a 10-2 early advantage. However, the Hawks (3-10, 0-1) came right back and finished the first quarter on a 4-2 spurt to cut the deficit to 12-6 after one period of play.

Worrell hit a pair of free throws to begin the second, pushing the lead back to eight. Later in the quarter Robinson hit a short jumper with just over six minutes left in the half to stretch the lead back to eight (16-8), but the Hawks responded once again.

Three pointers by Skyline’s Shayne Clifton and Jordan Christian made it 18-14 and a layup by Quinn Breeden got the Hawks to within two at 18-16. Skyline had two or three opportunities to not only tie the game — but take the lead — and the Hawks were unable to capitalize.

With just seconds remaining in the half, Robinson grabbed an offensive rebound, laid it back in and was fouled on the play. Her free throw pushed the Judges’ lead back up to five (21-16) at the break.

Skyline junior Jenny Norman took over for the Hawks in the third quarter, scoring all nine of their points in the quarter. Norman started the second half with a quick layup to pull the visitors to within three.

Worrell followed with a pair of free throws and Robinson added a bucket to make it 25-18 as the Judges stretched their advantage back to eight (27-19) midway through the period.

Norman went on a little scoring streak of her own over the next two minutes, outscoring the Judges 6-3 to pull the Hawks to within 30-25 with 1:58 remaining in the third frame.

But like a bunch of seasoned veterans, the Judges calmly answered. Senior Tomekia Waller made a pair of free throws to end the third, extending the lead to 32-25 with eight minutes to play.

Handley then opened the fourth on a 11-3 run to make it 43-28 and eventually pushed the lead to as much as 19 points (49-30) with just over two minutes to play.

After the Hawks closed to within five points late in the third, the Judges outscored them 19-7 the rest of the contest.

“When they dwindled our lead down to five [we] didn’t lose a beat, and that’s a sign of a team that’s maturing,” Scott said.

Skyline was led by Breeden’s 12 points and Norman added nine.