Chantilly Girls and Boys Basketball Beat West Potomac

Chantilly scored convincing home wins over West Potomac in the season's first Friday night girls-boys basketball doubleheader. The boys (4-0) jumped out to a quick lead, using a stifling defense and high energy offense to dismantle the Wolverines 60-41. The girls team (2-4) also got a balanced effort from the entire roster in a 55-21 win against a shorthanded West Potomac team.

After a solid 55-47 win Tuesday night on the road against Madison, the Charger boys treated their faithful to one of their most complete halves of basketball in several years, according to head coach Jim Smith, jumping to a 28-10 halftime lead. After winning the opening tip and hitting a 3-pointer on their first possession, West Potomac did not score again until the 5-minute mark of the second quarter - nearly an 11 minute drought. Meanwhile, the Chargers scored in transition, converted off steals, and limited second shots.

"We are a year older, the kids are more skilled, and we see great energy level in practice every day," Smith said, when asked what was different from last year's team.

Senior leading scorer Brian Sydnor agreed.

"We are a lot more enthusiastic, our work ethic is much better, and we have real good chemistry," Sydnor said.  "Coach (Smith) told us that last year was one of the only losing season Chantilly has ever had. We owed it to ourselves and to our coaches to work harder. We feel the energy right now."

Sydnor and junior guard DeAndre Harris led the Chargers with 17 points and senior Trey Coates had 10.

The boys have three games next week against Lee, West Springfield, and TJ - all programs in various stages of rebuilding.  Lee and West Springfield are home games on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, while Friday night the Chargers travel to TJ.

The Chantilly girls are led by first year head coach Kurt Sporkmann, who spent eight years as an assistant with the Charger boys program. After an opening night win, the lady Chargers dropped four straight before the blowout win last night.  Sporkmann is dealing with multiple injuries and an uncertain playing rotation, while enjoying a youthful roster with 8 freshman and sophomores and loads of potential.

"I really like this team," Sporkmann said.  "They're young and energetic and they want to learn, they want to get better and they have a lot of fun."

Still, there are challenges with the transition of a new coach and so much youth on the roster.

"We are learning how to play with one another," Sporkmann said.  "If we want to play the up-tempo style we want to play, we have to keep working hard to know what each other can do on the floor."

The girls team travels to Lee this Tuesday, then comes home Friday to play TJ.