The Loudoun County High School girls basketball team, led by senior Erica Linnemann’s 22 points and record-tying 14 made free throws, led from start to finish in a 58-39 home win over Woodgrove Jan. 6 in a match-up of previously unbeaten AA Dulles District squads.

County (9-5 overall, 8-0 in district play) came into the contest just three games above .500, but the Raiders rugged non-district schedule included losses to AAA schools Oakton, Robinson, Lake Braddock and Annandale, as well as a loss to reigning A state champion George Mason.

“We played some hard teams in the Christmas tournament and it was tough,” Linnemann said.

Woodgrove (10-2, 7-1) came into the contest with just one loss, to AAA Stone Bridge, but the Wolverines had some jitters early. Woodgrove committed turnovers on its first three possessions, allowing the defending Division 4 state runner-up Raiders to run out to a 9-0 lead.

“We had a lot of unforced turnovers tonight,” Woodgrove Coach Kevin Copley said. “They are a good team. I think the two best teams in the district played tonight.”

The Raiders needed those turnovers as they faced an aggressive Wolverine zone defense.

“Turnovers fuel your offense when you are struggling against the zone,” County Coach Derek Fisher said.

County’s size inside – with essentially two senior centers in 6-foot-2 Casey Cummings and 6-1 Katrina Kirby, along with athletic 5-10 sophomore Maggie Phillips – gave the Wolverines fits as the trio combined for 25 points and 21 rebounds.

“It is a collective effort. For example, Casey can rebound because Katrina is boxing out. It is all three of them working together,” Fisher said.

Phillips, with some easy transition baskets had 12 points, and Kirby, with an ability to post-up, scored 11, while Cummings cleaned up on the boards with 13 rebounds.

“Our height is a big advantage for us,” said Cummings who was humble about her rebounding effort. “The ball was just bouncing my way tonight.”

Senior guard Alex Lapple hit two 3-pointers and finished with eight for the Raiders. As a team, County was just 4 of 20 from beyond the arc while shooting a sizzling 12 of 25 on two-point field goal attempts.

Woodgrove, behind the play of juniors Sarah Hardison (10 points) and Brittany Basinger (nine points) battled back and trimmed the lead to just a point, at 10-9 with 6:18 left in the first half. But Linnemann, able to break down Woodgrove’s 1-2-2 zone defense with dribble penetration, made a free throw on the other end and when she missed the second, Cummings grabbed the rebound and put it back in.

Cummings’ hustle kick-started an 8-0 run, capped by a Linnemann deep 3-point shot, that left the Raiders up 21-11. Later two more Linnemann free throws put the Raiders up 25-13 with 41 seconds left in the first half. For the game, Linnemann tied her own school record by making 14 of 18 attempts.

Hardison’s buzzer beater from just inside half court made it 25-16 at the half and looked to give the Wolverines some life but foul troubles hurt Woodgrove in the second half.

County held Woodgrove without a field goal in the first five minutes of the third quarter and Hardison had to sit after picking up her third foul on a questionable charge call with 5:36 left. She then earned a fourth foul on a technical after slamming the ball in frustration. Hardison returned several minutes into the fourth quarter to provide a spark with a nice transition layin, but seconds later she was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach call.

By the time the third quarter was over, County led comfortably 46-24 and the Wolverines were forced to go full court man-to-man defense in the final quarter in hopes of a comeback. Woodgrove’s tactics paid off, forcing eight Raider turnovers in the final quarter – both teams committed 21 turnovers in the game which was sloppy at times – but the closest the Wolverines could cut the lead was to 12 at 52-39 with 1:52 remaining.

“We never quit. I like how we clawed and we scrapped,” Copley said.

County then iced the game at the line as Lapple and Linnemann each hit a pair of free throws as the Wolverines were forced to foul. The Raiders had a big advantage at the foul line, going 22 of 27 while the Wolverines were just 8 of 16.

The game had to be stopped twice in the final quarter as Woodgrove fans became increasingly frustrated with the officiating, especially after a high elbow from a Raider player—which didn’t draw contact but was by rule a violation—wasn’t called during a trap in the full court press.

The first stoppage of play came when the officiating crew summoned County athletic administrators to the visitor stands. Play resumed only to be stopped a minute later as several Woodgrove adult fans were escorted from the building.

The two schools will conclude the regular season Feb. 10 with County visiting Woodgrove.

“We are grateful to have Woodgrove in our district,” Linnemann said.

Loudoun County 58, Woodgrove 39

W: Brittany Basinger 4 1-4 9, Hardison 3 3-4 10, Lynch 2 1-2 6, Purnell 2 1-2 5, Hornyak 1 0-0 3, Fagan 0 1-2 1, Brooke Basinger 2 1-2 5. Team 14 8-16 39.

LC: Lapple 2 2-2 8, Linnemann 3 14-18 22, Phillips 5 2-2 12, Kirby 5 1-1 11 Cummings 1 0-0 2, Maxey 0 3-4 3. Team 16 22-27 58.

Halftime: Loudoun County, 25-16

-Rebounds
W: 39 (Purnell 10, Brittany Basinger 4, Hardison 4, Buxton 4, Lynch 3, Fagan 3,Brooke Basinger 2, TEAM 9)
LC: 43 (Cummings 14, Linnemann 6, Phillips 6, Maxey 4, Kirby 2, Vasquez 2, Lapple 1, Knox 1, Kushner 1, TEAM 7).

-3-Pointers
W: 3 (Hardison, Lynch, Hornyak)
LC: 4 (Lapple 2, Linnemann 2)

-Shooting
W: 14 of 59 23.7% (3 of 14 from 3-point 21.4%)
LC: 16 of 45 35.6% (4 of 20 from 3-point 20.0%)