July 2, 1998 - The Vienna Warhawks 12 Year Old Boys County Select Team beat Springfield in the Fairfax County Summer Basketball League at Thomas Jefferson High School last night with a convincing 77-51 victory.

Contrary to the final score, this was not an easy win for Vienna. Springfield gave the Warhawks all they could handle, especially in the first half. Vienna got off to a slow start and trailed the entire first half, by as many as 8 points, until the final seconds when Springfield fouled Derek Feussner at the buzzer. Derek went to the line and hit two free throws to give the Warhawks their first lead of the game at 32-30.

In the first half , all the breaks seemed to go Springfield’s way. They were getting the better end of the referee’s calls, the ball was bouncing right into their handsfrom everywhere on the court. They were even making free throws off the backboard in the first half. They could do no wrong. Vienna was able to stay close though with the inside play of Brent Locey, who scored 13 first half points.

The coaches told the players that if they kept working hard and concentrated a little more, good things would start to happen. Vienna took control of their own destiny in the second half. Derek Feussner set the tempo by hitting two early three point shots, and the defense created the scoring opportunities the Warhawks needed to run away with it down the stretch. When things started to click, every Vienna player got into the act. The team’s execution both defensively and offensively was really something. Every Warhawk player scored in the second half, and four finished in double figures. Derek Feussner scored 25 points followed by Brent Locey (15), Kwame Safo (13), and Stuart Rawlinson (10).

The rebounding in the second half made a big difference. The tandem of Derek Feussner, Brent Locey, Daniel Pitcher, and John Park Williams kept the taller Springfield players from getting any second chance scoring opportunities. Mark Gentry, Kyle McGuire, Stuart Rawlinson, and Kwame Safo did an excellent job shutting down the driving lanes in the second half which resulted in less fouls, more steals, and more fast break points.

The Warhawk’s summer league record improves to 3-0 with the win. The next game is 6pm on Tuesday July 14th against Braddock Rd at Jefferson HS.

A special Dedication Award was given out this game to Daniel Pitcher for giving up the chance to go on an all day trip to Baltimore and take in an Oriole’s game at night in order to be available to play in last night’s game. Thanks Daniel, we couldn’t of done it without you. You played Great!

A BIG Thanks goes to Kyle McGuire and John Park Williams for helping the team out while Vienna is short handed due to the All-Star Baseball Tournament.