WINCHESTER — Handley’s four-game losing streak seems like a distant memory at this point.
Led by a triple-double from junior Reagan Edsell, the Judges won their fourth straight game by 20 points or more by defeating James Wood 56-26 in girls’ high school basketball on Monday night at the Colonels’ Shirley Gymnasium.
Edsell had a game-high 25 points, 14 rebounds and 11 steals to help the Judges (16-5, 4-2 Class 4 Northwestern District) overcome a 10-2 deficit in the first quarter and complete a season sweep of the Colonels (12-9, 3-5). Handley ended its losing streak and began its winning stretch with a 66-31 win over James Wood on Feb. 4.
After scoring two points in the first quarter, Edsell outscored Wood by herself 15-8 in the second quarter, then added eight more points in the third quarter. Cameron Hobson (three 3-pointers) scored all 15 of her points in the second half for the Judges.
“We had a slow start in the first half, but I think anytime we have a defensive spark it always sparks our offense,” Handley coach Katlyn Orndorff said.
Russell drilled a 3-pointer to make it 10-2 with 2:38 left in the first, which forced a Handley timeout. Russell scored seven points in the first quarter but was held to just two points the rest of the game.
Out of the timeout, Reese Craig stopped the run with a basket and Edsell scored her first points of the game in the last minute to draw Handley to within 10-6 after one quarter.
It didn’t take long for Edsell to get on track in the second. She scored Handley’s first 15 points of the quarter. She opened up the frame with a long 3-pointer to pull the Judges to within 10-9, and with 5:08 left in the half she drilled another 3 to tie the score 14-14.
On Wood’s next possession, Edsell stole the ball in the lane and drove all the way to the other end to give the Judges their first lead of the game at 16-14.
Ashley Evans scored for Wood to tie the game 16-16, but Handley closed the half on an 8-2 run for a 24-18 lead at the break. During the run, Edsell hit her third 3-pointer and Jett nailed a three in the last minute.
The second half was all Handley. James Wood could only muster eight second-half points (four in each quarter).
With 5:39 left in the third quarter, a basket by Evans pulled the Colonels to within 28-22. It would be as close as they would get the rest of the way, as Handley closed the third quarter on a 12-0 run to take command of the game at 40-22 heading into the final frame. Edsell scored seven of her eight third-quarter points during the run.
Nail’s two free throws and a putback basket by Dayana Jackson were the only points the Colonels would score in the fourth quarter. Handley outscored Wood 16-4 in the last eight minutes.
Hobson scored nine of her points in the fourth quarter. Nakayla Armel added five fourth-quarter points and seven for the game for the Judges.
No one reached double figures for the Colonels. In addition to Russell, James Wood was led by Evans (eight points) and Nail (seven).
James Wood closes its regular season with two very winnable games with its last home game Friday night against Kettle Run and a road contest next week at Fauquier.
Handley has two Northwestern District games left to close its season. The Judges are scheduled to play Tuesday at Liberty and Friday at home against Millbrook where they will try to avenge a loss from earlier this season.
“Our focus right now is finishing strong and obviously we want to get Millbrook, that’s for sure,” Orndorff said. “It was a really tough loss for us, so we want to turn that around next time.”