Annandale Wins Rubber Match Against Lake Braddock in Patriot District Semifinals

Sometimes losses in the regular season can help trigger a memory that teams don’t want to repeat. The first time Annandale met Lake Braddock this season, the Atoms had a double-digit lead entering the second half. They ended up losing 61-55.

In the Patriot District semifinals, the same scenario played out. Annandale propelled to a 36-21 halftime lead, but this time the Atoms maintained their composure and learned from a tough loss to beat Lake Braddock, 70-51, and advance to the district championship game on Friday.

“We’ve been in these types of games before,” Annandale coach Anthony Harper said. “The first time we played them here it was the same score at halftime. We were up 15 and we let them go in the second half, and they end up beating us. They remembered that we had to come out and finish the second half and finish the game.

Seemingly every time the Bruins attempted to mount a comeback, the Atoms were more than game to shut the door on the tournament hosts.

With 4:12 remaining in the game, Lake Braddock guard Dylan O’Connor nailed a 3-pointer to cut what was once a 42-23 Annandale lead to a 55-48 lead halfway through the final quarter.

On Annandale’s next possession, Monte McCarthy came through in the clutch by making his fourth 3-pointer off the bench to help maintain the Atoms’ double-digit lead. Annandale never looked back and had four players score in double figures, including recently named Patriot District Player of the Year Karl Ziegler, who scored 16 points.

“It’s a great honor because since we have so much talent in the Patriot District with John Schoof and D’Angelo Boyce and a couple other guys, as well,” Ziegler said. “It just shows that my work in the offseason really paid off down the stretch even though I was hurt about five games for the season. I just kept my head up and kept working hard.”

Annandale controlled the tempo for most of the game, including the opening minutes, when the Atoms took an 8-0 lead. The first half was played with numerous scoring runs by both teams. Lake Braddock later went on a long run and took its first and only lead of the game at 9-8, before the Atoms went on a 9-0 run of their own to help setup Annandale with a 19-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The difference in the game was the fluidity of Annandale’s offense against a Lake Braddock defense that’s known for creating turnovers. Annandale point guard D’Angelo Boyce shined in the first half, scoring 12 of his 17 points, and dished off numerous assists to low post player Melvin Robinson, who scored 10 points.

“We have a great group of guys from the first group of guys through the fifteenth man,” Ziegler said.

After once trailing heavily in the third quarter, the Bruins made a run to close the score within reaching distance at 48-38 heading into the fourth quarter. Lake Braddock was bolstered in their run by a Chris Williams 3-pointer and physical low post moves by forward Bobby Freedman, who scored a team-high 15 points. Guard Corey Bonds also chipped in with 12 points for the Bruins.

By virtue of advancing to the semifinals of the Patriot District tournament and a second place finish in the regular season, the Bruins will play the loser (Herndon or Chantilly) of the Concorde District tournament championship on Monday.

Annandale plays T.C. Williams for the 2011 Patriot District tournament championship Friday. The Atoms will look to avenge their 76-57 loss in the 2009 championship game against the Titans.

“We split the season,” Harper said. “It’s a championship game and they’re used to winning championships. Most of these seniors played in that game where they beat us. It’s going to be a dog fight.”

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