The Big Five-O

Editor's note: The following game re-cap was submitted by J.T. Scully, the parent of a Walt Whitman girls' junior varsity basketball team member.

On Friday night, the girls’ junior varsity basketball team at achieved an impressive milestone – winning 50 consecutive games.

The largest crowd of the season attended the much-anticipated home matchup between Whitman and cross-town rival Bethesda-Chevy Chase. Everyone was aware that a Whitman victory would be the Lady Vikings and Coach Larry Jodrie's 50^thconsecutive win.

Just to spice up the start of the game, Coach Jodrie put out a new starting lineup: Annabelle Scully and Lilly Silver-Alford at guards; Sarina Weiss and Peyton Glagola at forwards with Allison Poffley playing at center.

The extra adrenaline exhibited itself in an uncharacteristic sloppy start for the Vikings. While they held the B-CC Barons to only six points in the first quarter - both of their scores coming on three-pointers - the Vikings missed numerous outside shots and turned the ball over several times. However, with baskets from Lilly Silver-Alford, Allison Poffley and Marissa Cannon and free throws from Maddie Cannon and Peyton Glagola, Whitman managed to eke out an 11 - six lead after the first quarter. 

Both teams played an aggressive, effective defense in the second quarter. B-CC scored four points to the Vikings' six. Annabelle Scully made a driving layup, Peyton hit a corner jumper and Rebecca Ford made a short jumper in the lane. After two quarters, Whitman led by seven, 17 to 10.

At halftime, Coach Jodrie expressed his disappointment about the Vikings ragged play and they certainly got his message as they played with a clear focus to open the second half.

With better rebounding, fewer turnovers and several steals, the Vikings turned up their effort in the third quarter. Whitman's half-court pressing defense caused turnovers and limited the Barons to four points.

In the third quarter, the Vikings outscored the Barons 14 to four with points from Avery Witt (four), Annabelle Leahy (four), Maddie, Allison and Peyton (two each). After three quarters, Whitman extended their lead to 17 with the score 31 to 14.

As with most of the games this season, everyone on the team played in multiple quarters. Coach Jodrie used a variety of player groupings and everyone contributed. Sarina Weiss and Ally Markel were effective in blocking out and grabbing key rebounds while Amanda Gelfarb and Rebecca Ford negated any inside scoring opportunities for B-CC.

The Vikings continued their more polished offensive play in the fourth quarter with Nicole Fleck running the offense from the point and adding a basket to scores from Avery and Lilly. Whitman outscored B-CC 9 to 8 in the closing quarter.

Final score: Whitman Lady Vikings, 40, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons, 22.

The Whitman victory was the 50th straight win for the Lady Vikings, going back to February of 2009. To celebrate the milestone, the parents wore Hawaiian shirts to the game (think Hawaii Five-O) and brought a large cake for all to enjoy. Additionally, there was a large commemorative banner that all of the players signed and gave to Coach Jodrie.

While this win was certainly the highlight of the season so far, the girls have two more games to play in order to close out a third straight undefeated season - against tough rival Wootton at home on Monday and away against Richard Montgomery on Wednesday.