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Sports

Despite Loss, Watkins Mill Boys Pleased with Performance

Wolverines find their 'pulse' in last-second loss to Gaithersburg.

With playoff seedings set and a first-round home game secured, the Gaithersburg boys basketball team entered Tuesday’s contest with minimal motivation. On the other hand, Watkins Mill had an opportunity to honor its seniors with a victory in their final home game and snap a 10-game losing streak.

Neither team led by more than four points during the final 14 minutes of the second half. When the game was over, Watkins Mill felt it had a reason to believe heading into the postseason, but it was Gaithersburg that came out with a win.

Senior forward Le’Nard Wilson’s shot at the buzzer fell short and the Wolverines lost to Gaithersburg 63-61 at Watkins Mill High School. Wilson finished with a game-high 22 points, senior Darnell Henson added 14 and senior Carlos Sanchez scored six points and grabbed eight rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to end the team’s losing skid.

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While Watkins Mill (8-14) suffered the loss, the Wolverines believe they found something to build on entering Friday’s matchup at Damascus in the opening round of the 3A West regional tournament. Watkins Mill has lost six players—including their leading scorer and a slew of starters—for various reasons throughout the season. Given the recent adversity, the Wolverines found a measure of satisfaction Tuesday night to have had a chance to force overtime against a top-four seed from the 4A West region.

“We’ve been through a tough season,” Sanchez said. “Everything was just coming on us and we finally just played basketball together. … We showed that we’re not dead. We have a pulse.”

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Tuesday night’s game finished in a flurry, with Watkins Mill taking a 59-58 lead on a Henson basket with 47 seconds left. After four Gaithersburg free throws, Watkins Mill senior Shamel Averhart drove to the hoop and scored, cutting the lead to 62-61 with less than 10 seconds to play.

After another Watkins Mill foul, Kyle Dillon made his first of two free throws for Gaithersburg (14-8) with 4.3 second remaining, but misfired on the second. Henson grabbed the rebound and Watkins Mill raced down the floor. Wilson ended up with the ball and was forced to take an off-balance shot, which failed to draw iron as the buzzer went off.

Despite the miss, Wilson continued a stretch of strong play, said coach Jay Tringone.

“Le’Nard’s been fantastic as of late,” he said. “When he gets himself squared to the hoop, he does a really nice job.”

For seniors Wilson, Sanchez, Henson, Averhart and Kevin Brooks, the agonizing loss was their final home game in Wolverine orange and blue.

“You look back at the games you played,” Sanchez said. “All the losses, all the wins, all the good times, all the bad times—it just keeps replaying in your head.”

Dillon and Kris Westphall each finished with 11 points for Gaithersburg and Kevin Lesesne added 10. Six-foot-six guard Malcolm Miller scored nine points and dunked three times, including a one-handed throw-down in the second quarter that left the crowd buzzing.

Gaithersburg (14-8) has won five consecutive games and nine of its last 11 entering the postseason.

“It just gives us confidence going in,” said Gaithersburg coach Kevin Parrish. “We were struggling a little bit in the middle of the season and we finished 9-2 down the stretch. … I think we’re peaking at the right time. … I think we’re going to be tough to beat. If we bring our A game and we play the way we’re really capable of playing, I think we have a chance to make a run in the playoffs. It’s pretty exciting.”

Watkins Mill held first-quarter leads of 10-2 and 14-5 before Gaithersburg started chipping away. Trojan forward Brandon Lovelace’s three-pointer tied the score at 28 with 42 seconds to play in the second quarter. Lesesne gave Gaithersburg a 31-28 halftime lead when he banked in a three at the buzzer. Lesesne also beat the third-quarter buzzer with a short jump shot, giving the Trojans a 46-45 lead entering the final period.

Watkins Mill, 3A West’s No. 11 seed, travels to face No. 6 Damascus at 7 p.m. on Friday. The teams split their season series: a 55-53 Watkins Mill win in overtime on Dec. 22, and a 53-43 victory for Damascus on Jan. 24.

Gaithersburg, 4A West’s No. 4 seed, hosts No. 13 Bethesda-Chevy Chase at 7 p.m. on Friday. The Trojans opened their season with a 54-34 win over the Barons.

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