Brentsville continues its journey

By DAN CLENDANIEL
Published: February 28, 2008

When Brentsville’s Kimmy Hopkins drove the baseline with 12 seconds to play, she knew what would be waiting for her — the outstretched arms of Freedom-South Riding center Kelsey Buchanan.

The 6-foot-3 Buchanan already had blocked six Tigers’ shots on the night. But little time remained and Hopkins decided she had to make her move.

Somehow, the 5-10 Hopkins got the ball around Buchanan’s outstretched hand for a layup and Brentsville, the Northwestern District champions, held on for a 52-51 win in the semifinals of the Region II Tournament.

“That girl (Buchanan) was blocking shots all night,” said Tiger coach Eugene Baltimore. “I thought she was going to get that one too. I don’t know how Kimmy got that shot to go.”
Hopkins wasn’t sure either.
“I was hoping and praying that she wouldn’t block it,” she said.

The win put the Tigers (21-4) into the regional final on Saturday at Monticello High School in Charlottesville against the Loudoun County-Charlottesville winner. The win also advanced the Tigers to the Group AA state tournament for the first time in school history.

“This is great, wow,” Baltimore said. “I think this is the first time in school history that the team will go to states.”

Hopkins, a senior forward who finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, said, “Words can’t explain what this feels like. I never thought in my high school career that we would make it to states.”

Hopkins’ basket was her second great play in the final minute, helping Brentsville overcome a 51-48 deficit with less than a minute to play.

Freedom, the Dulles District runners-up, had possession of the ball as Baltimore frantically yelled at his team to foul an opposing player.

But Hopkins could not hear her coach. Instead, she stepped in front of an Eagle pass for the steal and shot down the court for a layup to cut the Freedom lead to 52-51 with 46 seconds left to play.

Freedom coach Jason Eldredge wanted his team to hold the ball on their next possession. But forward Alicen Heinrich found herself wide open for a layup and took the shot, which missed.

Following Hopkins’ baseline drive to take the lead with 12 seconds left, Freedom freshman Dionna Scott got off an open shot from five feet away in the final seconds.

But her shot rolled off the rim. After a scramble, the ball was pushed out of bounds and posses-sion was awarded to Brentsville, effectively sealing Freedom’s fate.

“We had two good looks (for shots) at the end and they rimmed out,” said Eldredge of the short field goal attempts by Heinrich and Scott. “Those were good shots that just didn’t fall.”

Freedom’s Buchanan blocked four shots in the first period, establishing herself as an inside presence.

Hopkins adjusted by driving and successfully pulling up for jumpers in the 10-foot range, as Brentsville took a 25-22 lead into halftime.

The Tigers maintained the lead in the third quarter due to timely three-point shooting. Hopkins, Ali Ruotolo and Kelly Jacobson all made long range shots as the Tigers took a 40-35 lead into the final period.

Brentsville’s lead grew to 46-37 behind two three-point shots from reserve Chelsea Tooke. The nine-point margin was the largest of the game but it hardly lasted as Freedom mounted a furious comeback.

The Eagles, normally a half-court offensive team, put a press on the Tigers with five minutes to play.

Brentsville, which committed just four turnovers over the first three quarters, suddenly lost the ball on four of five possessions.

Freedom, a third-year school, finally took the lead with 3:20 play as Buchanan dumped a pass across the lane to Heinrich, who converted for a 49-48 lead.

The Tigers then adjusted to the Freedom press, eliminated their turnover problems, and helped set up Hopkins’ late-game heroics.

“My girls didn’t fold in those last few minutes,” said Baltimore, “just like they (Freedom) didn’t fold when they were down by nine points.”