Varsity basketball sweeps liberty conference
Boys varsity basketball players strike a pose on their home court.
Both boys and girls varsity basketball teams are Liberty Conference champions.
Lady Seahawks defeated Madison 60-42 in conference finals at Fairfax High School Feb. 22, winning the first title for the South Lakes girls basketball program since 1997.
In addition to the team title, certain players earned individual accolades.
Junior center Princess Aghayere was named the tournament’s most valuable player as a result of her 20 points, 19 rebounds, five steals, three blocks, and two assists. Senior forward Abby Rendle, who had 10 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, and three blocks, made the all-tournament team.
Both Aghayere and Rendle were first-team all-conference honorees. Senior Chauntell Dunbar was named to the all-defensive team, and senior point guard Caitlin Jensen was an honorable mention award winner.
Following the girls’ victory, the boys completed the conference sweep with a 60-59 win over Hayfield. Junior combo guard Brandon Kamga scored the game winning basket:
(Video courtesy of Jojo Kidane)
Kamga secured the Liberty Conference Player of the Year award. Senior guard Clayton O’Neill was named Liberty Conference Defensive Player of the Year, senior guard Nicholas DeAtley made the conference defensive team, junior guard Zach Pearl was a second-team all-conference honoree, and senior guard Dre Puryear earned honorable mention.
South Lakes hopes to build on its conference success in the first round of 6A North Region play Monday, Feb. 24 at home. The girls’ will take on Lake Braddock at 5: 45 p.m., and the boys will face West Potomac at 7:30 p.m.
Senior center Henry Quinn-Irons anticipates a tough match.
“From now on, there aren’t going to be any easy games,” Quinn-Irons said. “We’re going to have to fight every minute to get a win.”
Senior point guard Sasha Sprei also notes that the Seahawks cannot be overconfident going into the game.
“We need to keep playing like we’ve been playing and not let the hype of the conference win get to us,” Sprei said.
