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North Point pulls out gritty win against Chopticon North Point pulls out gritty win against Chopticon
(35 minutes later)
Necole Hope stood just behind the midcourt line, bent at the waist and grimaced as the quick checkup on her knee didn’t produce the results she would have liked. Moments earlier, Hope had been trampled during a defensive stand, her latest but not last spill to the floor during No. 13 North Point’s 51-34 Maryland 4A East region semifinal win over No. 15 Chopticon. Necole Hope stood just behind the midcourt line, bent at the waist and grimaced as the quick checkup on her knee didn’t produce the results she would have liked. Moments earlier, Hope had been trampled during a defensive stand, her latest but not last spill during No. 13 North Point’s 51-34, Maryland 4A East region semifinal win over No. 15 Chopticon.
“Coach always tells us we can win pretty or win ugly, but a win is a win,” senior forward Ciara Bryson said. “We just had to play really aggressive and outhustle them. Even if it was messy, we still won.”“Coach always tells us we can win pretty or win ugly, but a win is a win,” senior forward Ciara Bryson said. “We just had to play really aggressive and outhustle them. Even if it was messy, we still won.”
North Point (23-2) and Chopticon (21-4) had split two previous meetings, with each team winning by one point.North Point (23-2) and Chopticon (21-4) had split two previous meetings, with each team winning by one point.
That parity remained in place through a whistle-filled first half that limited either team’s chances of establishing offensive rhythm, but it disappeared after halftime. After a quick bucket by the Braves tied the game at 20 early in the third quarter, the Eagles went on a 17-8 run that stemmed from strong defensive play, and the Braves never could recover. That parity remained in place through a whistle-filled first half that limited either team’s chances of establishing offensive rhythm, but it disappeared after halftime. After a quick bucket by the Braves tied the game at 20 early in the third quarter, the Eagles went on a 17-8 run that stemmed from strong defensive play, and the Braves did not recover.
During that stretch, Hope scored seven of her 12 points, and Bryson twice brought the student section to a fever pitch: first when she swatted away a floater that turned into three points on the offensive end, then again when she gathered her own offensive rebound and fought through a foul for a three-point play.During that stretch, Hope scored seven of her 12 points, and Bryson twice brought the student section to a fever pitch: first when she swatted away a floater that turned into three points on the offensive end, then again when she gathered her own offensive rebound and fought through a foul for a three-point play.
“Really proud of her tonight because I know she was struggling early in the game,” said Coach Michael Serpone, who won the 4A East region in his first four years at North Point before missing out last season. “She missed a couple shots under the basket, but she kept on fighting through the frustration and made some really big plays.”“Really proud of her tonight because I know she was struggling early in the game,” said Coach Michael Serpone, who won the 4A East region in his first four years at North Point before missing out last season. “She missed a couple shots under the basket, but she kept on fighting through the frustration and made some really big plays.”
The run allowed the Eagles to pressure on defense — and put the game away. The Braves trailed by six points heading into the fourth quarter — Kyaira Priest banked in a three with two seconds left in the third — but scored only three points in the final eight minutes.The run allowed the Eagles to pressure on defense — and put the game away. The Braves trailed by six points heading into the fourth quarter — Kyaira Priest banked in a three with two seconds left in the third — but scored only three points in the final eight minutes.
Alexus Willey, who entered as Chopticon’s leading scorer, finished with nine points and more than her share of bumps and bruises.Alexus Willey, who entered as Chopticon’s leading scorer, finished with nine points and more than her share of bumps and bruises.
“We just worked on containing her, not pushing up too far so she could blow by us,” Bryson said. “We just contained her and frustrated her out of her game.”“We just worked on containing her, not pushing up too far so she could blow by us,” Bryson said. “We just contained her and frustrated her out of her game.”
The Eagles will play No. 5 Old Mill in the 4A East region championship game Saturday night. The Patriots improved to 24-0 on Thursday night with a 54-51 win over Arundel. Old Mill beat North Point, 74-56 , when the two teams met in late December . The Eagles will play No. 5 Old Mill in the 4A East region championship game Saturday night. The Patriots improved to 24-0 on Thursday night with a 54-51 win over Arundel. Old Mill beat North Point, 74-56 , when the two teams met in late December .
“Should be fun,” Serpone said. “We’ve developed quite the rivalry over the last several years, so it should be fun on Saturday night.”“Should be fun,” Serpone said. “We’ve developed quite the rivalry over the last several years, so it should be fun on Saturday night.”
In the 4A West semifinals, Walt Whitman beat Bethesda Chevy Chase, 58-49, and Clarksburg topped Gaithersburg, 64-60. Howard fell to Western, 53-34, in 4A North, and Parkdale knocked off Laurel, 68-41, in 4A South.In the 4A West semifinals, Walt Whitman beat Bethesda Chevy Chase, 58-49, and Clarksburg topped Gaithersburg, 64-60. Howard fell to Western, 53-34, in 4A North, and Parkdale knocked off Laurel, 68-41, in 4A South.