With a smothering performance on defense and hot shooting at times on the other end of the court, the Flint Hill Huskies finished 3-0 over three days to win the Lake Braddock boys holiday basketball tournament.
The Huskies (8-2) routed the Woodbridge Vikings, 73-43, in the first round, rallied from a 36-31 halftime deficit to down the Archbishop Rummel Raiders, 76-61, in the second round, then topped the Woodgrove Wolverines, 81-79, in overtime in the Dec. 29 championship game of the high-school competition.
The close title game included five ties and seven lead changes in the fourth period and overtime combined. The Flint Hill defense forced some key turnovers over those final 12 minutes.
“We have some good pieces to this team and we are improving and still learning each other,” Flint Hill coach Rico Reed said. "The main thing is, our pressure defense has to be destructive and speed other teams up and make them rush. We did that here."
In the championship game, tournament Most Valuable Player Kobe Davis (29 points in the final) made the winning basket on a driving layup with 17 seconds to play to give Flint Hill an 81-79 lead. A steal with two seconds left by point guard and all-tourney player Everett Jones (12 points) sealed the win. Jack Loyd (18 points, four three-pointers) also made the all-tourney team for the Huskies.
Davis scored 15 of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
"Kobe knows how to run and look to score, and he did that well tonight," Reed said.
The score was tied at 53 entering the final period and at 72 heading into overtime.
Also in the final for Flint Hill, Kendall Jones scored seven and Ty Harris and Caleb West six each. West and Harris each had key rebounds.
"Woodgrove is a good team that didn't quit. We hit some big shots all game like in key situations," Reed said.
Against Rummell, Flint Hill quickly took control in the third quarter to build a 50-38 lead. Everett Jones scored 27 points, Loyd 17 and Harris contributed in multiple manners in the comeback.
“In the second half we raised the level of our game defensively, played more uptempo on offense and that caused some disruptions for them,” Reed said. “Everett really put us on his back and Jack hit some big shots.”
Flint Hill was in control early in the win over Woodbridge.
Senior center/forward Quinlan Corman led Flint Hill with 14 points, including two three-pointers and three dunks, to go with four rebounds and two steals. He was sick and did not play in the championship game. His minutes were limited in the semifinal for the same reason.
Corman plans to play Division I college basketball at Stony Brook University in New York. He missed the second half of last season with an injury.
Against Woodbridge, Everett Jones had 10 points (two threes), six rebounds and four assists; Harris scored 10 and had three steals; Kendall Jones scored nine with three rebounds and three steals; West scored eight with five rebounds and three steals; and Davis scored six. The Huskies shot 53 percent from the floor.
Flint Hill’s two losses were against Bishop Ireton, 73-60, and to Landon, 64-59. The Huskies won their first three games, including two in their tipoff tournament.
Corman was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of that tournament, with Everett Jones and Davis selected to the all-tourney team. Davis has been one of the team’s top scorers. Loyd made four three-pointers in a win over St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes.
At the Peninsula Catholic High School Holiday Classic, Everett Jones was chosen as the MVP after Flint Hill defeated Catholic.
