Schools

Lady 'Rines Give Unbeaten Gaithersburg a Game to the End

Seventeen-point win over Watkins Mill gives Trojans a 20-0 season.

Last night’s contest between Gaithersburg and Watkins Mill had the trappings of a meaningless game: Both teams’ place in the playoffs was already set, making the outcome of the regular season finale of little practical use.

But listless and lackadaisical aren’t in either teams’ demeanor.

As they have all season, the undermanned Watkins Mill squad played with something to prove Tuesday night, and stuck with their starting five from beginning to end.

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Gaithersburg, meanwhile, stood on the cusp of perfection.

Adding spark to the backyard brawl at Gaithersburg High School: several players from both teams play AAU ball together, and Watkins Mill coach Ivan Hicks ran Gaithersburg’s program before taking over the Lady ‘Rines four years ago.

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So it was little surprise that, from the first to final whistle, bodies were strewn across the court, fouls came aplenty and the intensity never waned.

It was Gaithersburg’s toughest fight all year, said coach Adrian McDaniel, but in the end, the Lady Trojans handled Watkins Mill for a 61-44 win and emerged with its unblemished 20-win season in hand.

Watkins Mill didn’t make it easy. The Wolverines’ starting five—Jasmine McRoy, Jartu Toweh, Josepha Mbouma, Jewell Johnson and Janessa Fauntroy—came out with aggressive, physical play and seized an early lead while Gaithersburg’s high-octane squad struggled to get on track.

“Our girls played extremely hard,” Hicks said. “We brought the intensity this evening, and we matched their intensity.”

Watkins Mill held an 8-7 lead deep in the first quarter before the Lady Trojans came to life on Kara Marshall’s half-court pass through traffic to her sister Colleen for a fast-break layup, followed by a back-court steal by Jackie Jackson that led to a Sarah Seipp layup.

Marshall made it a 12-2 run with a three-pointer just before the first-quarter buzzer, giving Gaithersburg a 19-10 lead.

"We didn't start the game like we're used to, so we just needed to calm down and play like we know how to play," said Seipp, whose 15 points led Gaithersburg.

Even after the Trojans pushed their play into high gear, Watkins Mill refused to back down. The Wolverines trimmed Gaithersburg’s lead to 21-16 and 23-18 before missed layups, a rash of turnovers and Gaithersburg’s relentless fast break led to a 33-18 halftime margin.

"Once we came in and saw the intensity they were bringing, we knew we had to bring that same intensity," said Jackson, who scored 14 points for Gaithersburg and commanded the lane for much of the game.

Still, Watkins Mill came out of the locker room with plenty of fight left and outscored Gaithersburg 14-9 in the third quarter behind seven points from Jasmine McRoy.

McRoy and fellow senior Jartu Toweh kept the game in reach with timely shooting from beyond the arc. The duo’s pair of consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter cut Gaithersburg’s lead to 51-41 with 3:45 remaining—enough time for Watkins Mill to mount one last push.

But Gaithersburg’s depth and punishing pace finally exacted its toll. McRoy fouled out two possessions later, followed soon after by Fauntroy, and Gaithersburg put the game on ice from there.

“Throughout the entire game, I felt as though it could have gone either way, even when they had a 10-point lead or more,” Hicks said. “… In the fourth quarter, obviously, playing with five girls, you get a little tired. We got a little tired, played lazy defense, gave them easy fouls.”

After notching the first undefeated season of his career, Gaithersburg coach Adrian McDaniel gave his players the credit.

"I'm proud for the girls more than anything. They deserve it," he said.

The Lady Trojans have a bye in the first round of the playoffs before facing the winner of Saturday's match-up between Richard Montgomery and Bethesda-Chevy Chase.

Tuesday night’s loss put an end to the Wolverines’ five-game winning streak. But Hicks said he saw plenty of positives to build off of heading into Friday’s playoff opener against Northwood. Watkins Mill beat the Gladiators 59-35 on Dec. 15.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. at Watkins Mill. Tickets are $5 for anyone older than 6.

WATKINS MILL — 44 points

Jasmine McRoy 18

Jartu Toweh 14

Josepha Mbouma 9

Jewell Johnson 2

Janessa Fauntroy 1

GAITHERSBURG — 61 points

Sarah Seipp 15

Jackie Jackson 14

Kara Marshall 12

Octavia Scott 9

Colleen Marshall 4

Famatta Ajavon 2

Brittany Carroll 2

Paulessha Wood 2


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