THE SPORTS DESK
Prep Basketball Notepad: Pride, not perfection, drives Faith
SEE ALSO: Prep Basketball Leaders
Faith Baptist girls basketball coach Mark Morgan didn’t have a perfect regular season on his mind when he was making out his team’s schedule in the offseason.
His goal was to challenge his players by adding the likes of Fredericksburg Academy, Fairfax Home School and Spirit Home School to the slate. The result has been a flawless record with three regular-season games left.
“We did beef up our schedule, especially compared to last year, and I’m kind of surprised how well we’re doing right now,” Morgan said.
“You want your program to have credibility, so if you can play teams outside your own conference, play other teams in the area, that sort of gives you a feel of how you’re doing as a team. I think that’s been good for us.”
The Conquerors (17–0, 8–0 ODACS), who play at Heritage Christian on Tuesday, have stifled their opponents with a pressure man-to-man defense, which has opened things up for their offense. They haven’t allowed more than 35 points in a game this season and have held six opponents to fewer than 20 points and two opponents to single digits.
“I’m just really pleased with how well the girls are playing together,” Morgan said. “I think really the key has been our defense. We’re just shutting teams down defensively.”
Faith Baptist returned the core of its team from last year and added one very important player—freshman forward Emily Conroe, a home-schooled student who averages 17.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, both team highs.
“Her dad is in the military, so she’s played overseas and in some other programs and stuff,” Morgan said.
Morgan doesn’t talk much to his players about their perfect record. If he hears his girls talking about it, he reminds them of what they have coming up on the schedule.
The ODACS tournament starts on Feb. 18, and then the Conquerors plan to head to Dayton, Tenn., for the National Association of Christian Athletics tournament, a prestigious national tournament that is sure to provide a challenge.
“We want to push our girls,” Morgan said. “It’s not really about an undefeated season as much as we want to make sure we’re playing at a good, high level.”
-
STANDINGS
COMMONWEALTH BOYS
School Dist.
Mountain View 13–0
North Stafford 11–4
Colonial Forge 10–4
Riverbend 6–7
Albemarle 6–7
Stafford 5–8
Massaponax 5–9
Orange 3–10
Brooke Point 1–11
BATTLEFIELD BOYS
School Dist.
Culpeper 9–1
Chancellor 9–2
Caroline 5–4
Courtland 5–5
Spotsylvania 5–5
King George 4–6
James Monroe 2–9
Eastern View 1–8
COMMONWEALTH GIRLS
School Dist.
Colonial Forge 14–0
Massaponax 12–3
Albemarle 8–5
Riverbend 7–6
Mountain View 7–6
Brooke Point 4–9
North Stafford 4–11
Stafford 3–10
Orange 2–11
BATTLEFIELD GIRLS
School Dist.
Eastern View 9–0
Courtland 9–1
Spotsylvania 6–3
Chancellor 6–5
Caroline 4–4
James Monroe 3–7
King George 1–8
Culpeper 0–10
—Nathan Warters
