Prep girls basketball: Potomac remains undefeated in Cardinal District

Sometimes there is more to a basketball game than meets the eye, and when that occurs, it takes someone with a keen eye who is closer to the situation to see what is actually taking place rather than what might appear to be the case to a random observer.

Such was the case for the Potomac Panthers Wednesday night in their 72-47 victory over an Osbourn Park team that has some talent of its own. Potomac (17-2 overall, 9-0 in the Cardinal District) appeared to cruise the entire game and play relentless defense that forced Osbourn Park into making 27 turnovers, factors which would be impressive to most area basketball fans.

But according to their coach Tiffany Jenkins, the Panthers did not execute well offensively and only played well on defense in spurts. Potomac, which recently dropped to fourth in the state in the Associated Press’ Group AAA poll, did appear sloppy at times, and that was the issue that concerned Jenkins and her fellow coaches as they seek to “take the team to the next level,” Jenkins said.

“I don’t know how to say this because I am a very modest person and I know people are going to [read this] and think, ‘What is this girl talking about?’ But what we displayed out there tonight was horrible. I told the girls this was the third game in a row where they have come out and almost completely digressed in every aspect of the game. [Assistant coach George] Logan just told the girls, the level where we are at now is not where we want to be. We are trying to play for the future [meaning the playoffs] and we have to do better.”

So while Amber Porter made 12 of 19 shots from the field to lead all scorers with 30 points and Nena Ferbish, who missed a few games recently due to a medical condition Jenkins would not disclose, put in 15, the night was not as rosy as it appeared for the Panthers, at least from a coaching perspective.

Part of what Jenkins could be talking about is a lack of precision and the inability to execute plays. Both of these elements were present during a first quarter in which Potomac led just 10-6 about halfway through the quarter. But the Panthers, who shot 10 of 17 (59 percent) from the field in the quarter, closed out the period with a 15-4 run, which was fueled by nine points from Porter and eight from Danielle Robinson.

Porter, who has scored a combined total of 59 points over the last three games (19.7 points per game average) was seemingly omnipresent in the paint on both sides of the court. So the result was many offensive touches, but also quite a few fouls (she ended up fouling out).

Jenkins explained the way Potomac played “was not to any of our coaches’ liking.”

“After reading what I just said, some people might think, ‘That coach is conceited,’ but actually I just have high expectations for my girls,” Jenkins explained.

Grabbing offensive rebounds is an expectation Jenkins has and “we’ve been getting killed on the boards in the past few games.”

“We have three 6-3 girls. There’s no way that should be happening with our height,” Jenkins said. “We’re not running our plays. We’re not making smart passes. We’re trying to pass the ball to a post player when we are barely across half court. We’re missing assignments left and right. But the good part is they are still growing and still have a lot of growing to do.”

For awhile it was hard for the Panthers to stop Osbourn Park’s Alexis Carter defensively. She scored at least one field goal in every quarter, made two three pointers and made 5 of 8 free throws to finish with a team-high 21 points.

An example of Potomac’s defensive lulls occurred in the early minutes of the second quarter. After trailing 25-10 following the first quarter, Osbourn Park went on a 10-5 run to pull within 30-20. But the Panthers scored three of the next four baskets to maintain a 38-22 halftime edge.

Still, Potomac shot 10-17 (58.8 percent) from the field in the first quarter and 16 for 27 (59 percent) in the first half. Jenkins did say she noticed a few good stretches for the Panthers.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Jenkins said. “I did see what we did well and I complimented the girls on that. I just also saw what we didn’t do, which is something you [the media] didn’t see because you don’t know what we are supposed to be doing, but the coaches do.”

Jenkins also lauded the play of Porter and Ferbish.

“I think I’ve told you before that what we had to do with Amber [Porter] was show her [that she had] importance to this team. We just had a talk about that after practice yesterday. And I think she is just starting to realize what a factor she is now,” Jenkins said. “For us, it is very important to have someone like [Ferbish] because if we didn’t have the numbers we have, we wouldn’t be as good as we are. Our starting lineup is really interchangeable because all of our players one through 10 make this team what it is and our important to what we are trying to do. And I tell them that all the time.”

OSBOURN PARK (11-6, 5-5) Burrell 1 0-0 2, Mickle 4 9-10 17, Ebel 0 0-3 0, Onyundo 3 0-0 6, Banks 0 1-2 1, Carter 7 5-8 21. Totals—16 15-23 47.

POTOMAC (17-2, 9-0) Heslip 1 0-0 2, Hayes 5 1-1 11, Ferbish 7 0-0 15, Robinson 3 0-0 8, Goodwin 2 2-2 6, Porter 12 6-6 30, Guest 1 0-0 2. Totals—31 9-9 74.

Halftime score—Potomac, 38-22. Three-point goals—Osbourn Park 2 (Carter 2), Potomac 3 (Robinson 2, Ferbish). Fouled out—Porter.