TUESDAY MORNING SHOOTAROUND: Balanced Dragons hit their stride

Like most teams, William Monroe can’t go toe-to-toe with anyone by playing a one-on-one game. It’s clear at this point, after back-to-back wins over Western Albemarle and Orange County at home, the Dragons are starting to learn that lesson.

“We’re pretty good when we trust our teammates,” Monroe coach Mike Maynard said. “We’re not a one-on-one basketball team, we’ve got to trust the next guy because we’ve got a lot of good shooters. I think they trusted each other more in the second half [of the Orange game].”

It helps when Mike Roach — who served as a fierce leader for critical stretches against Orange — directs the action and gets Mike Wims, Andy Brown and Desmon Shaver involved. While Brown is a known entity at point guard and Wims is the Dragons’ biggest offensive threat in the post, Shaver has recently emerged as a legitimate threat when he plays under control — and lately, he has been.

With Henry Morris, another sharpshooter from beyond the arc, also in the mix, the Dragons are looking solid going into the final stages of the season. They’ll have a big impact on a Jefferson District tournament that looks more wide open every time a JD squad steps on the floor.

Seal continues to improve

Orange County’s Tyler Seal is only a freshman, but against William Monroe, the young point guard looked more like a seasoned veteran. Seal was steady throughout the contest, but down the stretch he did a particularly good job keeping the Hornets, who were missing Quintin Hunter and D.J. Brown late due to foul outs, in the game.

Seal drove into the lane a number of times in the closing seconds, drawing fouls and hitting jumpers during a 15-point performance. While Orange couldn’t find a way to knock off a Monroe squad that’s playing its best basketball so far this year, Seal put together a valiant effort.

“Tyler has grown and progressed every game this year,” Orange coach Keyode Rogers said. “It’s tough coming in as a freshman and playing in a big game like this. He stepped up big and he’s doing very well.”

Saints’ Lynch headed to Merchant Marine Academy

There may be little more than a month left in his high school basketball career, but it’s official now that that won’t be the end for St. Anne’s-Belfield’s Bryan Lynch.

Lynch recently picked the Division III Merchant Marine Academy in New York over a number of other schools.

“It was a long process — I had some walk-on offers from some D-Is and a couple of D-II, but this was the best fit because it’s free,” Lynch said. “Plus it’s in New York City so that’s not so bad.”

It also doesn’t hurt that the Mariners consistently earn bids to the NCAA Division III tournament — five in the last seven years — and Lynch will have a job when he graduates. Like other service academies, the Merchant Marine requires a multi-year service commitment after graduation.

“It’s a guaranteed job because it’s the military and that’s the kind of lifestyle I like,” Lynch said.

A sharp-shooting, versatile senior, Lynch stands at 6-foot-6 and checks in at 195 pounds. Lynch is a tough defender who is always a threat beyond the arc.

Kofane energizes Mavericks

Brice Kofane checks in at 6-foot-8, but Miller coach Fred Wawner didn’t hesitate about who he’d defend when Wawner was putting together a scheme to stop St. Anne’s-Belfield’s talented starting five. Kofane drew the Saints’ leading scorer, Brett Goodloe, who stands at 6-foot-5.

Wawner gambled that whatever Kofane gave up in speed, he’d make up for in reach, and it paid off. Goodloe finished with just 15 points, well under the senior’s usual output as the Mavericks picked up a huge victory over the Saints.

“He started the game on Brett Goodloe, who we have to start with when we defend,” Wawner said. “He was able to do a decent job on Brett then he was able to go grab some big rebounds.”

Kofane, a super-athletic big man who sometimes gets overshadowed by the Mavericks’ other two towers underneath, Marshawn Powell and Hippolyte Tsafack, came up with three blocks, including at least one off a Goodloe jumper, while also pulling down eight rebounds and scoring 16 points.

“He was also able to erase some mistakes on defense with some key blocked shots,” Wawner said. “He’s an energy guy who makes a lot of things happen for us.”

Goodloe’s expanded game

Despite beginning the game with the rangy Kofane all over him, Goodloe settled in more during the second half, passing up most of his 3-point opportunities in favor of putting the ball on the floor and driving to the basket.

That’s when the senior began drawing fouls and hitting some tough buckets, which allowed the Saints to stay even with the Mavericks in the second half.

Goodloe’s development draws an interesting parallel to former Duke star J.J. Redick, who became a much more dangerous weapon in his later years with the Blue Devils as he learned to put the ball on the floor. That’s also made the Saints, who have a number of talented options, much more dangerous.

“That’s what he has developed into,” St. Anne’s coach Brian Kent said. “His sophomore year, he was all ‘Stand outside the 3-point line.’ He’s much more diverse — he can go to the basket, he can step out and hit the three, he can make the passes if he needs to. He’s a more well-rounded player.”

Patriots get a boost

Albemarle’s boys basketball team earned a couple of much-needed wins this past week, as it posted a Commonwealth District win over Massaponax on Friday, then turned around beat cross-county rival Monticello on Saturday.

The Patriots got a game-winning basket from Cameron Anderson to secure the 57-55 road win over Massaponax. Anderson, who finished with 12 points, converted a pair of free throws to tie the game at 55, then grabbed an offensive rebound and got the putback for the win.

Andre Roberts paced the team with 14 points, while Jeremy Robinson added nine.

Against Monticello, Rashad Talley poured in a career-high 18 points to power Albemarle to the win. Talley, a junior forward, hadn’t reached double figures before. He was one rebound shy of a double-double, pulling down nine, and eight of his points came from the free-throw line.

“He really had a breakout game,” said Albemarle coach Greg Maynard.

The Patriots outscored the Mustangs 45-21 in the second half to pull away. Anderson finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Roberts and Adam Utz added eight points apiece.

Albemarle defeated Colonial Forge 56-39 Monday, visits North Stafford today, and will host Brooke Point on Friday.

Out like a Lamb

William Monroe, which trailed against Orange County until the closing seconds on Friday, ended the contest on a high note thanks to Melanie Lamb.

The senior guard scored 17 straight points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning free throws, to help the Greene Dragons rally from a 10-point deficit. Lamb led all scorers with 26 points, and was able to consistently attack the basket in the win. In fact, she went 9 for 12 from the free-throw line. But one of Lamb’s biggest shots was a 3-pointer with 1:22 to play, that pulled William Monroe within one point.

“She did a fantastic job of penetrating through their zone,” William Monroe coach Philip Lamb said of Lamb’s performance. “She definitely put us on her shoulders and carried us.”

Melanie Lamb couldn’t have been more pleased about her team’s win, which puts them in a tie for first place in the Jefferson District with Charlottesville. The two teams split with each other this year.

“[The win] definitely means a lot. It doesn’t have to be the prettiest, but a win’s a win. Orange played an excellent game,” she said. “We are doing amazing. It’s a whole different story than last year being 2-18, now 15-5. It feels good to have a target on our back this year.”

William Monroe plays host to Fluvanna County tonight.

No ‘I’ in team

Despite his senior guard’s impressive performance on Friday, Philip Lamb was quick to point out that his team has achieved success this year by using a balanced attack.

And it was a collective effort, even without a key senior leader in the game against Orange. Forward Leah Krynitsky did not play due to an illness.

In her absence, Whitley Jackson and Tiarra Towles stepped up, combining for 17 points and 16 rebounds. Alex Cave also chipped in with eight points.

“We’ve talked about all year, it’s all of us, not one of us. So if someone’s not going to be able to perform, somebody else is going to have to step up. And collectively, we did that,” Lamb said. “We knew early this year that we had depth. And when you have depth, you need to use your depth. Sometimes you use it because you’re able to, other times you use it because things are stacked against you. Our kids have worked hard all year and they’re prepared to play.”

Fourth-quarter collapse

After playing solidly for three quarters against William Monroe, Orange County was unable to keep up in the final eight minutes. The Hornets were outscored 19-8 in the fourth quarter, managing just two field goals in the frame. Orange coach Lauren Luck was concerned about her team’s defensive breakdown.

“We played well the first three quarters and we gave it away, rather than not playing our game. When you let one player [Melanie Lamb] drive from end of the court to the other and score a layup that’s not [playing defense],” Luck said. “She’s a very good basketball player, but it’s not just her being an incredible basketball player, it’s us letting her do that.”

There were several bright spots for the Hornets — three players reached double figures. Christina Harvey paced the team with 15 points and 10 rebounds (12 points in the first half), and Jasmine Johnson and Sade Johnson each had 10 points. Skylar Scott finished with nine points and five steals.