The Dulles District’s two youngest girls basketball programs have quickly become two of the winningest, as related by the early-season win totals racked up by Woodgrove and Tuscarora high schools.

The Woodgrove Wolverines (9-1, 6-0 in district) have run off nine victories in their first 10 outings to find themselves tied with Loudoun County for the top spot in the district standings.

“We’re in good shape, we like to run and we have a lot of depth,” said Woodgrove coach Kevin Copley of his seniorless squad. “All our girls play other sports: soccer, lacrosse, tennis. So they stay conditioned but aren’t burned out when basketball comes around.”

Also in year two piloting his program is Tuscarora’s Michael Newkirk, whose Huskies (8-3, 3-3 in district) have already accumulated more wins than all of last year. Newkirk’s roster sports more freshmen (four) than seniors (three).

“We’ve been able to instill a winning mentality with the girls and they’re buying into the schemes,” Newkirk said. “The chemistry is better, the girls are sacrificing for the team—all those components that embody a good program, our girls are making those characteristics their own.”

Despite the two neophyte programs’ similar trajectories, things were not quite as close Dec. 21 in Leesburg when Woodgrove’s aggressive defense kept Tuscarora at bay for a 59-35 decision.

The Wolverines’ constant pressure jammed passing lanes all game long. During one second-half possession, Woodgrove deflected five consecutive Tuscarora passes, finally getting a steal which they converted into a layup.

“We always talk about being close enough to get a hand on the ball,” Copley said. “That’s a credit to our girls’ quickness, which helps us play defense the way we want to.”

Six-foot-three junior Stephanie Purnell was a force inside, swatting away seven Tuscarora shots and disrupting several others while bringing down eight rebounds.

Offensively, the Wolverines were generous toward each other as 11 different players notched at least one point.

The Huskies handicapped themselves, rimming out on 13 free throws. Leaving points at the foul line has been “our Achilles heel all season long,” according to Newkirk, who reports his team is hitting less than half their free-throw attempts.

Still, Newkirk relies upon the stability of seniors Darrian Pickett, a left-handed offensive-igniting guard, and Amirah Al-Bayyinah, a long-armed post player. He gloats about freshman Megan Leonard averaging more than two 3-pointers per game, and fellow freshman Alexis Bailey’s overall talent on both ends.

“We have a sophomore, Zaria Comer, who’s a sponge who just wants to get better,” Newkirk went on. “We have the types of players who have a unique urgency to get better. That’s the fun thing about this team.”

Copley points to several players he can count on to fill leadership roles—too many to count, in fact.

“Maggie Buxton is one of those physical and emotional leaders. She rebounds, hustles, takes charges,” he said. “Our point guard Brittany Basinger, Sarah Hardison, I could name half a dozen. All of them can do a lot of different things.”

Both teams will look to continue their winning ways with Dulles District tilts after the winter break. The Wolverines will host Park View Jan. 4, the same night the Huskies will travel to Potomac Falls. Woodgrove follows with a key road test Jan. 6 at Loudoun County.

Woodgrove 59, Tuscarora 35

W: Purnell 15, Hardison 11, Bro. Basinger 8, Bri. Basinger 5, Buxton 5, Lynch 5, Hornyak 3, Fagan 2, Lorinchak 2, Tilly 2, Williamson 1

T: Al-Bayyinah 7, Bailey 7, Leonard 7, Vasquez-Bolanos 7, Pickett 6, Comer 1

Halftime: Woodgrove 26-15

Free throws: Woodgrove (17 of 24); Tuscarora (16 of 29)

3-pointers: W 2 (Bro. Basinger, Hornyak); T 1 (Leonard)

-All photos by Beverly Denny