Ben Lippen 46
Heathwood Hall 35

André Hennie scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Ben Lippen defeated Heathwood Hall 46- 35 in the quarterfinals of the SCISA AAA state playoffs.

The two teams were meeting for the fourth time this season and second in a week. Due to this, the two teams knew each other's tendencies, and the first quarter was predictably low scoring.

The largest lead of the first period was only three points, attained when Morgan Whalen scored after an offensive rebound just before the end of the quarter to give Heathwood a 10- 7 lead. Ben Lippen (17- 10) controlled the second quarter, however, limiting the Highlanders (21- 9) to only two points, and those came with just over a minute remaining in the half. Hennie and Gabe Smith provided all the scoring for the Falcons.

Halftime adjustments by coach Mick Shoemaker provided the difference in the game, as Ben Lippen came out and went on an 11- 4 run in the first four minutes. The crushing blow came on Mitchell Deter's only made shot of the night, a three- pointer just after the Highlanders had closed the gap to four. The Falcons led 33- 19 after three quarters and cruised to victory after that.

The biggest news for the Highlanders was the inability of the Whalen brothers to get on track. Ben Lippen clamped down defensively on the two Heathwood stars, forcing them into a combined 5- for- 23 performance from the field, including no three- pointers.

Mac Whalen missed all his shots from the field, scoring seven points from the free throw line. Morgan Whalen led the Highlanders with 12 points before fouling out with 43 seconds left in the game.

Gabe Smith contributed nine points and six rebounds to Ben Lippen's effort. Ben Lippen faces Pinewood Prep on Friday, February 27 in the SCISA AAA semifinals.

Cardinal Newman 43

Wilson Hall 41

Twan Alewine and Zach Hrovat each scored 12 points as the Cardinal Newman Cardinals defeated the Wilson Hall Barons 43- 41 in the SCISA AAA state playoffs.

The Cardinals (19- 6) came out playing hard defense in this battle of region winners, limiting the Barons (19- 6) to only four points in the first quarter.

Jake Motto scored four points and grabbed five rebounds in the period to help the Cardinals to an 11- 4 lead. Cardinal Newman lengthened its lead to ten points at halftime behind five points from Hrovat. The Barons' outside shooting failed them most of the game, as they hit no three- pointers until the middle of the fourth quarter.

Cardinal Newman increased its lead to 11 after three periods, as Alewine scored seven of his points in this frame. The Barons showed signs of life, keeping pace with good offensive rebounding in the quarter, but they missed many shots inside. Then the fourth quarter started, and the Barons showed why they won their region.

Seniors Reid Schwartz and Tyler Broome started hitting from the field, slowly cutting into the Cardinal lead. What was an 11- point lead at the start of the quarter dissipated into a five- point lead with a minute remaining. After Motto and Wesley Talley traded baskets, Alewine missed the front end of a one- and- one with 37 seconds left, and senior Thomas White hit a three- pointer to cut the lead to two with 17 seconds left.

Hrovat then missed the front end of another one- and- one, and the Barons had a chance to tie or take the lead. But Schwartz missed a jumper, and in the ensuing scuffle for the rebound, a jump ball was called, and the Cardinals had the arrow. A long inbounds pass into the Cardinal frontcourt was all that was needed to allow Cardinal Newman to survive.

Motto had nine points and 13 rebounds for the Cardinals. Schwartz led the Barons with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Talley and Broome each scored six.

The Cardinals advance to play Porter Gaud in the SCISA AAA semifinals on Friday, February 27.