Prep hoops: Potomac boys nip Hylton in OT

With an effective inside game, Potomac’s boys basketball team overcame Hylton 57-55 in overtime and advanced to the Cardinal District championship.

Twelve-point outings from Michael Bediako and Randy Haynes gave the Panthers a solid one-two punch in the post.

Because of that production, the Panthers have earned the right to face Gar-Field (23-0) in Wednesday’s district final.

Gar-Field defeated Freedom 56-50 in Monday’s first semifinal.

Potomac’s strategy was a reversal from its usual plan of converting three-point shots.

“When you’re playing teams for the third time, teams understand what you want to do,” Panthers coach Keith Honore said. “You want to get the other team to play to their weaknesses.

“Our point production throughout the year with Michael and [center] Trey [Porter] has been getting better.”

Porter had just two points.

But his basket trimmed Hylton’s lead to one, 38-37, with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter.

At that point, Hylton (9-13) had come a long way from the 20-9 deficit it faced at the beginning of the second quarter. At that time, Joe Velez’s jumper gave the Panthers their 11-point advantage.

Then Hylton countered with a 14-2 run.

Jump shots, layups and free throws from Emonte Rogers, Donald Jones Jr. and Chidozie Omile started to awaken a quiet Hylton crowd.

Bulldog fans voiced their approval as their team began stirring up excitement with its ability to run the floor.

Potomac (15-6) meanwhile had an answer.

The Panthers extended a one-point halftime lead to eight after their fifth field goal of the third quarter.

After Omile’s jumper brought Hylton within one, 28-27, Potomac reeled off seven straight points.

Randy Haynes tipped in a missed shot.

Joseph Velez knocked down a three.

Bediako converted a layup.

“We just needed to keep a positive attitude,” Bediako said. “We were ready to take every shot.”

And Bediako was prepared for his role knowing his coach wanted to take the ball inside.

“At this stage, you have to feel comfortable around the basket,” Honore said. “Michael made plays and finished around the basket.”

Hylton again countered with Omile’s play.

Omile, who scored a game-high 19 points, opened the fourth with a layup.

With 4:11 left, Treyon Crawford’s layup put Hylton up four.

“We just kept fighting,” Hylton coach Barry Smith said. “We had the opportunity to get some buckets.

“We played with a lot of emotion.”

The Bulldogs, however, hit just two more field goals in regulation.

Potomac’s offense tried its best to help its team win.

Haynes’s layup tied the score at 49 with 39 seconds left before overtime.

The Panthers scored the first four points of the extra four minute frame.

Omile hit both Hylton field goals in overtime.

His last was a three that brought the Bulldogs within one, 55-54 with 1:06 to go.

Haynes countered with a layup and Hylton managed only one point the rest of the way.

POTOMAC 57, HYLTON 55, OT

HYLTON (9-13)

Crawford 2 3-4 8, Shands 0 0-0 0, Jones Jr. 4 5-6 13, Wilson 0 0-0 0, Daniels 2 2-2 6, Omile 8 2-2 19, Rogers 4 1-2 9. Totals 20 13-16 55.

POTOMAC (15-6)

Howard 2 2-2 7, Velez 4 0-0 10, Andrews 3 2-2 8, Dixon 2 0-0 4, Bediako 6 0-0 12, Weldon 0 0-0 0, Haynes 6 0-2 12, Bailey 1 0-0 2, Porter 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 4-6 57.

Halftime: Potomac 24-23. 3-point goals: Hylton 2 (Crawford, Omile), Potomac 3 (Velez 2, Howard).

GAR-FIELD 56, FREEDOM 50

GAR-FIELD (23-0)

Warren 0 0-0 0, Fong 3 0-0 8, Knight 9 6-7 24, Lovitt 5 3-4 13, Mason 4 0-0 8, D. Bailey 1 0-0 2, Roscoe 0 1-4 1. Totals 22 10-15 56.

FREEDOM (7-16)

Lanier 4 0-0 9, Lyles 2 0-0 5, Fowler 1 0-1 2, Mitchell 0 0-0 0, Marshall 6 1-1 13, Braswell 5 2-2 15, Hunter 1 0-0 2, Wortham 1 0-2 2, Gibson 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 3-6 50.

Staff writer Robert Daski can be reached at 703-530-3913.