Hayfield Hawks Knock TC Williams from the Ranks of the Unbeaten

Photo by FLICKR/gtstuff/3186345893/ The Hayfield Hawks knocked T.C. Williams hoops from the ranks of the unbeaten with a stirring come from behind 57-49 win Dec. 7 in a key Northern Region early season matchup.

ALEXANDRIA, VA. -  The Hayfield Hawks knocked T.C. Williams hoops from the ranks of the unbeaten with a stirring come from behind 57-49 win Dec. 7 in a key Northern Region early season matchup.

The Orange and White Hawks rallied from a 39-35 deficit after the conclusion of the third quarter to defeat their Red, White and Blue arch-rivals with a 22-10 fourth quarter flurry.

T.C. Williams, of the Patriot District, increased their lead early in the fourth to 41-35 following two Billy Rowland free throws.

From that point forward however, Hayfield, now of the National District (and formerly of the Patriot District) scored the next 14 consecutive points to take a rousing 49-41 lead with 3:44 remaining in the contest.

The key bucket in the sequence was a turnaround jumper off of the glass by Hawk forward Reggie Tate. The basket by the senior gave the Hawks a 43-41 lead and from that point forward Hayfield never again trailed.

Thereafter, the Hawks led: 45-41, 47-41, 49-41 - before a free throw by T.C.'s Ryan Yates made the score 49-42.

As the game wound to a conclusion, Hayfield further outscored T.C. 8-7 enroute to the impressive 57-49 victory.

Hayfield, coached by veteran Ron Palmer was paced by: Chad Canady (16), Tate (15), Brandon Winbush (14), Sean Michael King (eight), Rayshawn Rigans (three) and Leon Cureton (one).

T.C., coached by Julian King (second season) was paced by: Rowland (21), Yates (14), Tyrell Sitton (eight), Tayron Chambers and Daquan Kerman and Rodney Lewis (two apiece).

It was a noteworthy contest in the fact that it featured the two teams that met in the Northern Region Title contest in February '09 with T.C. coming out on top in that particular contest with coach King winning the Northern Region Championship in his first year pacing the T.C. sidelines.

Look for both Hayfield and T.C. to have excellent seasons in '09/'10 with the current season at an early juncture.

In a big private school affair, Episcopal knocked off visiting Ireton 50-47 (OT) on December 11th.

The Cardinals tied the contest late in the fourth quarter 42-42 on a nice top of the key trey by Marcus Hayes.

That bucket eventually sent the game into OT deadlocked at 42 apiece.

In the extra frame Episcopal took the lead for good at 44-42 on a slash layup by Arnaud Adala Moto.

Ireton's Antonio Rouse knocked down one of two free throws to make the score 44-43.

Thereafter, Episcopal scored the next consecutive five points to take a 49-43 lead.

From that juncture forward, the Cardinals scored four of the final five points - but it was too little too late as the Maroon prevailed 50-47.

Email the writer at dgusa@juno.com