The girls varsity basketball team tipped off against Walter Johnson in their season-opener on Tuesday night. The Rockets have managed convincing wins over the Wildcats in the past, but this time around, RM slipped by with a close 56-51 victory on WJ’s home court.

While the Rockets struggled to gain momentum, the Wildcat offense was in full swing, winning the jump ball and quickly racking up points in the paint. RM’s senior guard Karon Williams used her speed and agility to force turnovers, but the advantage bounced back-and-forth between the two teams.

WJ cut for open passes with ease, using their aggressive defense to shut down nearly every single Rocket attempt. RM faced trouble in the back court when the Wildcats pressured heavily very early on. “I think we were taken by surprise with their competitiveness and the fact that they came out and pressed us,” explained Coach Oakes.

But it wasn’t long before the Rockets found their groove. At the start of the second quarter, senior center Nusaibah Rashad began snatching more rebounds to give RM more chances to score. Walter Johnson was assertive on defense, and they weren’t afraid to pick up a few fouls in the process. Despite many opportunities at the line, the Rockets were still outscored in free-throws. The score was tied 26-26 at the half.

After talking through some strategy, the Rockets took the court again, finally armed with the poise and control they had been searching for. They cut down on personal fouls by making clean blocks on defense. Williams took the time to slow down the pace of play before setting up on offense. Rashad became a foul-magnet at post, and tallied up some extra points with free throws.

Even with the shift in momentum, the Wildcats kept the Rockets at bay with their hustle on defense, eliminating opportunities for fast breaks and finishing layups. RM pulled ahead 39-36 before the start of the final quarter.

It was anyone’s game–there was a spike in both team’s intensity as they fought for the lead. WJ won over several possessions, but the Rockets kept up by grabbing rebounds and picking up fouls. Senior forward Melanie Osborne came alive with shots from the floor and some clutch free throws at the line.

The Wildcats were still in it, robbing RM of their 10 point lead with 4 quick points on a turnover. WJ’s offense wove right through the Rockets defense and bridged the gap to a nail-biting 54-51, with RM still in the lead. Osborne’s last two free throws sealed the victory as the time ran out, and the game was won 56-51.

While the team was relieved to earn the win, there was still plenty of room for improvement. “We definitely have to cut down on turnovers,” explained Williams.

“One of the main things we need to focus on is our composure,” agreed Coach Oakes. “We felt like when they pressed we didn’t handle it very well at all, and that let them control the pace for a lot of the game.”

As the season progresses, the Rockets hope to use their strong freshman class to their advantage. New recruit Ellie Tounkara earned her spot in the starting lineup and scored her first points in her high school debut. Fellow freshman Calie Dunn provided some valuable minutes to contribute to her team’s success. This exceptional young talent should seal the RM girls basketball legacy for many years to come.

The Rockets will travel once more to face the Kennedy Cavaliers on Friday night before their highly anticipated home-opener against Paint Branch the following Tuesday.

Featured photo by Lifetouch