Five Key Questions: West Springfield vs. South County
SPRINGFIELD, VA — There was a good crowd on hand to see West Springfield and South County meet in a Patriot District showdown on Tuesday night. The home fans were not disappointed, as the Spartans took control of the game…
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Continue ReadingSPRINGFIELD, VA — There was a good crowd on hand to see West Springfield and South County meet in a Patriot District showdown on Tuesday night. The home fans were not disappointed, as the Spartans took control of the game early and led at halftime. The Stallions came alive in the third quarter and ultimately held on to pick up a huge road win by a final score of 73-65. Here we recap this hard-fought contest by answering five key questions.
WHAT WAS THE KEY TO WEST SPRINGFIELD’S FAST START?
The key for West Springfield was defense, ball movement, and good shot selection. The Spartans held the Stallions to 4 of 23 shooting in the first half, including just 1 of 10 from three. Most of the points that West Springfield scored were assisted. They ran a deliberate offense, made the defense work, and took high-quality shots.
HOW DID SOUTH COUNTY TAKE CONTROL OF THE GAME?
South County ramped up the pressure defensively and forced several turnovers in the decisive third quarter where they outscored West Springfield 31-19. They converted quickly in transition and also did a nice job sharing the ball.
WHICH PLAYER MADE THE BIGGEST IMPACT FOR HIS RESPECTIVE TEAM?
For South County, William Wilson was tremendous. The sturdily-built swingman was active and alert defensively. Wilson swiped 5 steals and was devastating in transition.
For West Springfield, Gibraltar Coleman was the hub offensively. The sophomore forward scored efficiently around the rim, hitting on 8 of 9 field-goal attempts from inside the arc. Coleman’s minutes were somewhat limited due to foul trouble, but the offense ran more smoothly while he was on the court.
WHO ELSE STOOD OUT FOR EACH TEAM?
2020 Brandon Walker provided a massive spark off the bench for the Stallions, particularly on the defensive end. Walker applied constant pressure on the ball while staying active and alert off the ball. He also kept the defense honest with his playmaking ability and shooting touch.
2021 Andre Speight did not have his best shooting night but played solid defense and made shots when it mattered most. He also did a nice job finding the open man when the trap arrived.
2021 Austin Ohlmeyer was outstanding throughout the game for West Springfield. He was extremely efficient around the basket and made several smart cuts off the ball to get open.
WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR EACH TEAM MOVING FORWARD?
This comeback win marks a nice rebound for South County after their recent loss to Norview. The Stallions remain unbeaten in the conference and are still the favorites to win it.
West Springfield is a young team that gained valuable experience in this game. There are no moral victories, but this is a hungry group that will surely benefit from the lessons learned in this game moving forward.