ROUGH NIGHT

 

Monday was a rough night for King’s Fork.

 

The Bulldogs lost to Bethel, 54-41, in the Eastern Region championship game in front of a sold-out crowd at Churchland High School.

 

“We had opportunities to still win but we just couldn’t get over that hump,” said King’s Fork coach Josh Worrell.

 

Added King’s Fork guard Jamar Wertz:

 

“We felt we could be right with them but we made too many mistakes down the stretch and they capitalized on them.”

 

Bethel forward Bill Weaver said the key to the game was containing Bulldog guards Jaquon Parker and Wertz.

 

“We knew they were real aggressive and we knew we had to watch Parker and Wertz,” said Weaver, who finished with 18 points. “But we came out on a mission tonight and we made a statement.”

 

The good news for the Bulldogs is that the season isn’t over. They travel to Northern Virginia on Saturday where they will meet Northern Region winner T.C. Williams in the Group AAA state tournament quarterfinals.

 

Worrell said his team has to play better, especially on defense, or it could be a long ride home Saturday night.

 

 

THE CURSE IS OVER

 

Bethel coach Craig Brehon can smile again when people mention Churchland High School.

 

For years, Churchland hasn’t been good to Brehon and the Bruins. His teams have advanced four previous times to the region semifinals, which are held at Churchland. Each time his teams lost.

 

But not this season.

 

Not only did Bethel earn a berth to the Group AAA state tournament but the Bruins also won the school’s first regional title since 1993.

 

 “We knew we had a good basketball team and we got better as the season went on,” Brehon said. “Those kids just believe in each other.”

 

What’s funny is Brehon had some Bruins believing this was going to be a bad year.

 

Fortunately, the Bruins didn’t believe him.

 

“In the beginning of the season, he told us we weren’t going to do anything,” said Tre Lee, who finished with 12 points. “But he just did that to motivate us.”

 

Judging by the results, it worked.