Bobcat boys crush Pioneers in blowout win

By Dan Roem

So the 875 tickets sold for the Battlefield versus Patriot varsity basketball games on Friday night in Haymarket may have set a school record but it's hard to say for sure. After all, that tally doesn't include seniors and children under six who attended for free, along with players, coaches, staff and others who didn't have to pay.

The student sections of Patriot (Red Nation) and Battlefield (The Den) stretching floor to back wall on both sides of the court though by the start of the boys game at least signaled the new rivalry between two of the county's newest high schools is going to be a good one for a long time to come.

While the girls game lived up to the hype that would include a massive audience, given the Pioneers' slim 55-50 upset victory, the boys game was anything but competitive.

Simply put, Battlefield cruised.

Tip-off to buzzer.

Before the Pioneers (2-9) even knew what hit them, the Bobcats (7-5) built up a 14-4 lead on their way to a resounding 72-46 final. "They zoned us and we kind of knew they would," said Battlefield head coach Kurt Pauly, explaining how his offense anticipated the defensive set-up from Patriot early. "I think the first of (of the season), some people were kind of questioning our team."

It's the second worst margin in five match-ups between the two teams, only trailing Battlefield' 68-37 victory on Feb. 2, 2012. Battlefield, which made it to the state tournament last year, leads the all-time series 4-1 against the third-year program from Nokesville. The two schools clash again on senior night for the last game of the regular season at Patriot on Feb. 7.

"We're a better team than our record says," said Hedgepeth during a post-game interview. Thirty seconds into the game, Battlefield junior winger Kameron Hedgepeth first sank a 3-pointer. He then collected a defensive rebound and dished the ball out to senior guard Jamison Glover for a fastbreak layup.

After a Patriot bucket by Tariq Goland-Tomlinson, Glover returned the favor to Hedgepeth by assisting the junior's second triple. Hedgepeth followed up by rebounding a missed shot by sophomore teammate Blake Pagon and pumped it up to the hoop to force a Patriot timeout with 5:22 still on the clock in the first quarter, Battlefield leading 10-2.

At some point, a narrative like this in varsity spots between two arch rivals is supposed to feature some sort of "but then" twist of fate to make the story more interesting. That wasn't the case for this game.

With student sections as large as Battlefield's and Patriot's, there's usually at least entertaining taunts chanted from sideline to sideline between the opposing teams' fans. The Den got straight to the point: "This is bor-ing! clap, clap, clapclapclap," the white-out student section collectively directed toward Red Nation in the second quarter after another hoop by Hedgepeth put the Bobcats up 37-11. Met with silence from their red-clad counterparts, the Bobcat faithful piled on more, chanting, "We can't hear you! clap, clap, clapclapclap"

Battlefield built a 22-8 lead by the end of the first quarter and a turn-around jumper buzzer beater sank by sophomore guard Collin Parker put the Bobcats up 42-13. Patriot head coach Daniel Nemerow explained that the biggest issue for Patriot was a "lack of defensive rebounding." During a timeout in the second quarter, his team trailing by 20 points, the coach told his players, "We're giving up rebounds to guys who are 6 (foot) 6. We're giving up rebounds to guys who are 5 (foot) 6." "Stay patient and relax," he later added. "Take a breath... We've got to decide what happens next."

Most impressively for Battlefield is that 11 players on its 14-member roster put up points. However, only two of them broke into double figures. Senior guard Trevor Blondin led all scores with 23 points, hitting nine field fields inside the arc, a 3-pointer in the third quarter, and both of his foul shots. Hedgepeth collected 10 points total, cooling down after his opening offensive barrage to sink just the one shot in the second quarter afterward.

Battlefield still passed the ball around plenty. Parker earned eight points, Glover put up seven points, senior Alex Pfost and sophomore Pagon both chipping in five points, four more coming from freshman Shonari Street, and a 2-point bucket a piece delivered by junior Sean Ehardt, sophomore Jarrett Glover, junior Corey Parker and sophomore Keegan McGinnis. The referees ejected Ehardt with 6:27 to go in the fourth quarter for shoving Patriot senior Matt Nilsen.

For Patriot, Goland-Tomlinson (10 points) and senior Liban Awl (15 points) at least put on a decent show, as did Nilsen (8 points) and junior Corey Coyne (6 points) while sophomore Garrett Cook (5 points) sank the Pioneers' only 3-pointer, delivered in the fourth quarter. A bucket by freshman Josh Delaney accounted for the Pioneers' other two points.

The visiting team did outscore the home team 15-11 in the fourth quarter but did so only after trailing 61-31 by the end of the third quarter. Nemerow explained that his goal before Feb. 7 is for his team to improve each game. If there's one lesson to take out of the Friday debacle, however, it's coming out strong, staying strong, and ending strong. "We need to play hard 32 minutes," said Nemerow.

JAN. 25, 2014- INSIDE NOVA.COM

Battlefield blows past Osbourn for 6th straight win

Hugh Rist

This past December when Battlefield and Osbourn met in the Conference 8 opener, Osbourn’s youthfulness was on display as the Eagles played with the energy that comes with getting off to a fast 5-2 start, while the Bobcats fell to 3-4 overall after the narrow, one-point road loss.

What a difference a month made. Just 34 days later, it was the Bobcats whose energy was evident, particularly in the second half. Battlefield (12-5 overall, 5-1 in conference play) won for the ninth time in its past 10 games, mainly on the strength of the ingredient Osbourn, which has just one senior, has little of—veteran leadership.

Trevor Blondin, who a week ago became the boys’ program’s all-time leading scorer, scored 11 of his game-high 29 points during a 17-2 run to begin the second half in leading the Bobcats to a convincing 82-64 victory over the visiting Eagles. Jamison Glover, who scored 15 of his 20 points in the first half, and Kameron Hedgepeth, who went 10 for 12 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line, also tallied 20 for the Bobcats.

Much like last year when the Bobcats got off to an 0-3 start before making their first ever state tournament appearance, Battlefield is beginning to put together its best basketball as the season winds down. However, while coach Kurt Pauly called the win “important for us,” he said the only thing it really accomplished was forging a three-way tie atop the conference standings. Osbourn, Stonewall Jackson, and Battlefield each has just one conference loss with Osbourn set to play the Raiders Saturday night.

Osbourn (9-6, 3-1) got off to a fast 18-13 start with Trevor Powell and Tyler Withers scoring several baskets inside and the Eagles not committing a turnover in the first quarter. Osbourn shot 66 percent from the field (4 for 6) in the second quarter, including three three-pointers en route to taking a 36-34 lead.

But Pauly took his players to task a bit at halftime, and the result was a more spirited, energetic effort on both ends of the floor. “I thought we defensively got after it a little bit [better] in the second half,” Pauly said. “We weren’t very aggressive on the ball in the first half. They [Osbourn] were playing their game, being patient and spreading the floor. Give them credit. They were making some shots and really dictating the pace in the first half. We forced a couple [actually eight] turnovers in the third quarter and Blondin started getting hot there and that helped out as well.”

Blondin hit three consecutive three-pointers and also scored on a layup and two free throws to spark a 26-point third period for the Bobcats. Blondin took two other three-pointers, but they narrowly missed. “I thought I needed to come out more aggressive in the second half,” Blondin said. “I was getting a lot of open looks, so I knew I had to take them. My teammates did a good job of getting me the ball in a good position to score. There were a few shots that just went in and out, but at that point I’m thinking I just have to [shake it off] and keep shooting.”

Pauly also attributed the second half turnaround to better ball movement. “We moved the ball better in the second half. We’re much better as a team when everyone is sharing the ball,” Pauly said. “We’re not a team where one guy is usually going to score 40. Obviously Trevor [Blondin] is a special player, but we have five guys on the floor who can score. When we share the ball we are definitely a much better team.”

Osbourn coach Rocky Carter said he was happy with the Eagles execution, especially early in the game. “I think we ran the offense really well. I thought the guys were patient, saw the floor and passed the ball exceptionally well,” Carter said. “We knew they were going to make a run. Everybody does in basketball. They are an outstanding team. We are trying to get to where they are at and I thought we did that in the first half.”

Justin Vargo, shot the ball well to lead the way for the Eagles, making four three-pointers. Vargo scored 11 of the Eagles’ 13 third-quarter points. But in the end, Battlefield’s talent and experience played a key role as well as their intensity. Carter said it was no secret why the Bobcats got the better end of this game. “The sense of urgency was gone. Guys made bad decisions [on offense] and that came back to haunt us,” Carter said. “They were ranked high in the state [in the preseason] for a reason. They are playing very well right now. They are very tough to beat. They outhustled us in the second half and had a lot more energy [than we did]. Heck, Hellen Keller could have seen that. They were just a better team in the second half.”

fEb. 25, 2014- THE WASHINGTON POST.COM

Virginia 6A and 5A North boys’ region quarterfinal preview

By Brandon Parker

6A NORTH (All games at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
#2 W.T. Woodson at #1 Battlefield (7 p.m.)

These two teams have met twice in the past year, with W.T. Woodson winning last year’s state quarterfinal battle and Battlefield gaining a measure of revenge with a 76-70 win on Jan. 30. Battlefield enters Tuesday’s contest on a red-hot roll, winning 15 in a row behind Conference 8 player of the year Trevor Blondin (20.7 points per game). But the Cavaliers will also need to focus on slowing down Jamison Glover, who recorded 25 points and 11 rebounds in Monday’s win, and Kameron Hedgepeth, who matched Blondin’s 20-point output last night.
Woodson is looking to generate the same momentum that helped it reach last year’s state semifinals. To do so, the Cavaliers will need elevated play from one or two of their role players to complement the strong play of Conference 7 Player of the Year Eric Bowles, who excels the most by driving and dishing to teammates.

2012-13 VARSITY SEASON

RIVALS.COM

Preseason AAA Hoops Top 25

Preseason AAA Hoops Top 25 - 25-21
Matthew Hatfield

23. Battlefield - - Three starters return for the Bobcats after notching a 12-11 mark in year one under Coach Kurt Pauly. Six-foot-1 senior Roman Hall (12PPG) is a four-year starter and speedy off the bounce; 6-foot-4 senior wing Terrell Walker (10PPG) is a three-year starter that affects the game in a variety of ways; and 6-foot-3 junior guard Trevor Blondin has stellar touch from long distance. In addition, Battlefield returns junior guard Jamison Glover and Kameron Hedgepeth, a dynamic 6-foot-2 sophomore that contributed quite a bit as a freshman. Look for this program to be on the rise for years to come with four members from a J.V. team that went 33-2 over the past two seasons moving up the ladder.

FEB. 5, 2013- LOUDOUN TIMES.COM

All-Cedar Run District basketball teams

Tue., Feb. 5 by Carl Lukat

Boys

Honorable Mention
1. Emmanuel Berchie (Jr.) Patriot HS
2. Keonte Dennis (Sr.) Stonewall Jackson HS
3. Conner Lane (Sr.) Osbourn HS
4. Hush Campbell (So.) Osbourn HS
5. Hamed Ghafcon (Sr.) Patriot HS
6. Andrew Agilore (Sr.) Freedom
7. Kameron Hedgepeth (So.) Battlefield HS