Cavaliers Split Doubleheader (14U-Lin)
NOVA Wins Rivalry Game, then Nearly Upset Team Alexandria
Ashburn, VA (Eagle Ridge MS) June 2nd
Saturday, June 2nd- NOVA Cavs 46 – NOVA 94Feet 44. The Cavaliers stayed locally for the first time in a month to play in the NOVA Suns YBOA State Qualifier. In the first game, they fought off a feisty 94Feet team to earn a narrowing two point victory. Led by a great shooting performance from William Unterkofler and Vishal Akula, the Cavs raced out to a 20-14 lead at the half.
However, the resilient 94Feet made a comeback and managed to take over a one point lead with under a minute left in the 4th quarter. In their biggest possession of the game, Unterkofler hit a clutch off-balance shot from the baseline that proved to be the difference, as the Cavs wins the thriller by the final score of 46-44 in the end. They move to 1-0 and will take on Team Alexandria next.
Saturday, June 2nd- NOVA Cavs 49 – Team Alexandria 62. Cavaliers took on a talented and athletic team from Alexandria, VA in Game #2 of the tournament. By using their precision passing, NOVA dissect their opposition’s zone defense and found open shooters everywhere during an entertaining first half.
William Unterkofler and Vishal Akula continue their hot shooting streaks, as they knocked down outside jumpers consistently in the first period. Cavaliers led 19-10 after the first period, thank to a beautiful ‘thread-the-needle’ pass from Seamus Maloney to Liam Zeya for a lay-up just before the buzzer. Cavs eventually took a comfortable 35-27 at halftime.
In the second half though, NOVA started to turn the ball over in an uncharacteristic manner. The costly turnovers resulted in transition baskets for Team Alexandria, which turned the momentum of the game and let a possible victory slipped through Cavalier’s hand. Despite a hard final push in the end, Cavs ended up losing by 13 points in the end. The record brings Cavs to 1-1 in the NOVA Suns YBOA State Qualifier Tournament. They will take next weekend off and play in Potomac Valley Father Day Bump II in two weeks at Bowie, MD.