As the Lions’ middle school girls basketball team entered the second half of their game, their passes were sharper, their movements were quicker and their confidence was higher. Despite a slow start, the Lions’ defense and high energy in the second half led to a 26-11 win over the Sandy Spring Friends School Wildebeests on Jan. 12.
After winning the opening tip-off, the Lions struggled to find their rhythm offensively in the first quarter. Missed layups and turnovers allowed the Wildebeests to jump out to an early 7-0 lead.
Head coach Brett Kugler said the team’s quick response to the early deficit characterized the game. He was impressed by how the players responded and relied on teamwork to regain control of the game.
“I think that we were put in a really good opportunity and situation today to gain some momentum,” Kugler said. “Once everybody understood their role and followed through and executed what we were coaching, that was really the big turnaround for us.”
As the first quarter progressed, sixth grade guard Charley Kobrin drove down the lane but missed several layups, and JDS struggled to hold onto the ball. Sandy Spring repeatedly got past the defense for open looks, though the Lions’ zone defense was able to keep the Wildebeests from high scoring.
Eighth grade center Adelle Elgrably was able to grab key rebounds and sixth grade guard Maya Levingston made a foul shot, helping the Lions gain a spot on the scoreboard with the first quarter ending 7-3.
At the beginning of the second quarter, the Lions started to find an offensive rhythm. Kobrin connected on a fast break layup and added a foul shot, narrowing the score to 10-9 JDS. Elgrably followed with a jump shot to put the Lions ahead. With a quick pass from Levingston to Kobrin, another layup extended the lead.
Despite some occasional turnovers, the Lions’ frequent passing and aggressive defense let them take a 14-9 lead into halftime. Elgrably credited the team’s improvement with better communication after the rough start.
“In the second quarter, I definitely think we got better,” Elgrably said. “We used more team spirit, and we helped each other out.”
The Lions came out of halftime with high energy and focus on both offense and defense, quickly putting Sandy Spring on their heels. Kobrin led several fast breaks, scoring layups and giving many assists to teammates. Elgrably continued to score inside, securing rebounds and putting back missed shots to increase the Lions’ lead.
By the end of the third quarter, the Lions had built a 22-9 lead. Sandy Spring struggled to score as JDS’s defense and team communication prevented any scoring runs for the Wildebeests. Kobrin felt that the team’s focus and rediscovered confidence made an impact on their overall play in the game.
“I think that we knew we were better than them, but we just had to play like we were,” Kobrin said. “We just did really good at setting picks and passes and making sure that we’re open.”
In the fourth quarter, JDS maintained their intensity. Elgrably added key points and rebounds, while eighth grade students Naomi Werbin-Gradel and Liza Cutler contributed with defensive stops and hustle plays resulting in many rebounds. The Lions stayed aggressive, holding Sandy Spring to only two points in the second half and closing out a 26-11 victory.
Elgrably finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, the first double-double for the team in years, while Kobrin was the leading scorer with 13 total points. Kugler praised the team’s heart and teamwork, emphasizing that the win was as much about effort and focus as it was about scoring.
“There’s no better momentum builder than success,” Kugler said, “This gives us an opportunity moving forward to continue to grow as a team.”
