Freedom Rings, OP Does Not Answer on Homecoming Night

 

Osbourn Park had all the trappings set up for a win versus Freedom (South Riding) Friday night. They were coming off a 24-22 win versus Hylton, it was Homecoming weekend and members of the 2022 Osbourn Park Hall of Fame class were in attendance. Unfortunately they were not able to capitalize on the Eagles' mistakes and lost 15-0. 

Freedom would threaten to score from inside the redzone very early on, but senior linebacker Bryson Thompson would force and recover a fumble to give the Yellow Jackets the ball with 10:48 left in the quarter. OP would not be able to take advantage, as the Eagles would get the ball back. The Yellow Jackets defense would force another turnover at the 7:06 mark when Thompson made a tackle for a loss on fourth down. 

On the following drive, Osbourn Park would go for it on fourth down themselves, but could not convert and Freedom got the ball back with 2:53 left in the quarter. 

Neither team would be able to score in the first quarter as it ended 0-0. 

The Eagles broke the ice when senior running back Josh Johnson slashed through the Yellow Jacket defense for a 20 yard score. They were successful on a two-point conversion, going up 8-0 with 11:28 left in the half. 

Osbourn Park may have not put points on the board, but not for failure to move the ball. They'd rack up 11 first downs on the night, with a handful coming on a drive right before the half. Junior quarterback Adrian Cabrera would have completions of 29 and 23 yards to senior receivers Wyatt Hurley and Alex Molina. 

Cabrera looked for Hurley over the middle at the five yard line, but they'd fail to connect. On the next two plays, Osbourn Park would be backed up by a false start call and a sack. On fourth and seemingly forever, Cabrera's pass wouldn't find it's mark and OP turned the ball over on downs with 2:40 left in the quarter. 

Freedom would make the Yellow Jackets pay when Josh Johnson ripped off another scoring run, this time from 30 yards out. The Eagles would go up 15-0 with 1:35 left in the half. 

The next ninety seconds or so would be frantic, with both teams turning the ball over trying to score. The first would be an interception thrown by OP backup quarterback Matt Brown on a deep heave to the endzone. Freedom would toss an interception of their own, picked off by Matt Brown as time expired. 

Osbourn Park would honor their 2022 Hall of Fame Class Friday night. Not  all 16 were able to attend. (from left to right: Michael Foley, Justin McElfish, Jimmy Greene, Erica Field Fox, Richard Dombrowsky, Aaron J. Trammell, Breanna Walker)

The Yellow Jackets would turn the ball over on downs again with 6:33 left in the third quarter. The Eagles had a long touchdown called back by a hold at the 4:05 mark. They'd end up turning it over on downs with 3:41 left in the third quarter. 

A costly encroachment penalty would almost give life to the Eagles on fourth down late in the game, but they'd get called for holding and were forced to punt the ball. 

On fourth down of OP's final drive in the redzone, Cabrera would be pressured by the Eagle defense and throw an incomplete pass to Bryson Thompson. Despite the shutout, Thompson was a force on both sides of the ball, finishing with 86 yards rushing, the fumble force/recovery and eight tackles (including one for a loss).

I spoke to Osbourn Park head coach Marsel Wells following the game. 

"The boys competed tonight. They weren't able to execute like they are capable of. Our defense played a solid game, but our offense failed to take advantage of mismatches and possessions in the redzone."

Osbourn Park (1-6) hosts the undefeated Battlefield Bobcats (7-0) next Friday night (10/21) at home. The Bobcats come off a 23-7 win over Unity Reed. Kickoff is at 7 pm. 

For more on the Yellow Jackets, visit their website and follow them on Twitter @OPHSfootball. 

Game notes: 

- Bryson Thompson's longest run went 37 yards

- Wyatt Hurley would be OP's leading receiver with 5 catches for 65 yards

- OP announcer Michael Foley would have the night off following his Hall of Fame induction. Teacher/coach Patrick DeRosa filled in for him and knocked it out of the park. 

- Both teams notched 11 first downs

- OP was 5-12 on third down to Freedom's 3-6

- Freedom was more successful on fourth down at 2-3 to OP's 1-6

- Matt Brown also had 2 tackles and a pass breakup to go with his interception

- OP had 8 flags for 57 yards, but Freedom dwarfed them with 16 flags for 145 yards

-Turnovers were aplenty (OP:6, Freedom: 4)

- Rutilio Argueta- Alvarez was all over the field, racking up 7 tackles and one TFL

- Sophomore linebacker David Fitzgerald tied Bryson Thompson for the most tackles with 8

- Osbourn Park finished with 27 rushes for 126 yards

Osbourn Park Stings Hylton for First Win of Season

Both the Osbourn Park Yellow Jackets and Hylton Bulldogs came into last Friday night's game desperately seeking their first win. Bulldog fans brought the energy for Homecoming night, but Osbourn Park would spoil the festivities with a tightly-contested 24-22 win. 

The Yellow Jackets would receive the ball first, but were unable to capitalize as they went three and out. Hylton would take advantage. They marched down the field and capped the drive off with a three yard score by senior running back Korvin Parson at the 6:15 mark of the first quarter to go up 7-0. 

Feeling the pressure, Osbourn Park would answer with a touchdown drive of their own- one that was marred by multiple offensive penalties. Finally on fourth down, junior quarterback Adrian Cabrera found senior wide receiver Wyatt Hurley for a 22 yard touchdown. The two would immediately connect again on a two-point conversion to help OP take an 8-7 lead. 

Hylton would find themselves punting to the Yellow Jackets towards the end of the first quarter. OP forced their way past the offensive line, as senior defensive end Yussef Hussein blocked the punt. The visitors would recover the ball on the five yard line. Two plays later, senior running back Bryson Thompson bowled his way into the endzone for a three-yard touchdown. Cabrera found Hurley one more time on a two-point conversion, and OP would increase the lead to 16-7 with 11:55 left in the first half. 

The Bulldogs had plenty of fight in them, as senior quarterback Cedric Grier Jr. would fake a handoff to the running back and fool the defenders as he ran 33 yards for the score to get within three of OP at 16-13. Their two-point conversion would not be successful. 

Three plays later, Adrian Cabrera would find his favorite target Wyatt Hurley one more time on a 58-yard pass to give Osbourn Park a 22-13 lead at the half after a failed two-point conversion. 

The second half would mostly be a defensive tug of war, with only one score between both teams. Korvin Parson would run it in from six yards out with 9:35 left in the game. 

OP was able to force three key turnovers to hold off the Bulldogs: a fumble recovery by Alex Molina, an interception by Matt Brown and a crucial turnover on downs on Hylton's final series. 

I was able to catch up with first year Osbourn Park head coach Marsel Wells on his thoughts following his first win. 

"The first win is the most memorable one. Telling the boys they can win a game is completely different from seeing them actually do it. By them seeing and achieving, that could be the extra motivation they need to do it again next week. I'm very proud of these kids."

The Yellow Jackets (1-5) gear up to face Freedom (South Riding) next Friday, October 14th at home for their Homecoming game. Freedom (3-3) comes off a close 24-22 loss to Osbourn. 

For more on Osbourn Park football, visit their website here and follow them on Twitter and Instagram. 

 

Game notes:

-The game last 3 hours and 15 minutes in large part to 31 flags being thrown. Osbourn Park had the majority of the penalties (21, 157 yards) compared to Hylton (10, 75 yards). 

- Adrian Cabrera finished the game going 7-17 for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. 

- Wyatt Hurley had 3 catches for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had 3 catches over 20 yards and 2 over 40 (22, 41, 58).

- Senior defensive end Clemson Lartey led the defensive effort with 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 2 quarterback pressures. 

-Senior middle linebacker Bryson Thompson led all defenders with 9 tackles. He also led all OP rushers with 56 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.

- The defense forced 5 turnovers (3 turnover on downs, 1 fumble and 1 interception). 

- Hylton had 11 first downs to OP's 10.

- OP was 4-11 on third down to Hylton's 2-10.

- The Yellow Jackets were 1-2 on 4th down. Hylton was 2-6. 

Moving Forward: Tiger Wood's Return to the PGA

When Tiger Woods' unfortunate car accident in February 2021 happened, a common thought on most people's minds was how his golf career would be affected. 

Could he come back? 

And even if he could, would he?

I'm an avid golfer myself who tries to get out at least once a week and this was a common topic of conversation in between holes. I don't have an official number, but I'd venture to guess 98% of the time I asked other golfers if he was coming back they would reply simply "no". 

When they returned the inquiry, I responded 100% of the time "yes, he's coming back."

To what exact playing state was to be determined. I just could not see a golfer with his competitive mindset not at least giving it a go. People would then wonder what success would be for Tiger, and public perception is subjective at best. Options often ranged from making the cut to winning a tournament outright. But Tiger's first win was walking away from that accident with both legs and being able to live life with his family. Everything after that is house money.

Tiger spoke with Golf Digest for his first major exclusive interview about his future back in November, and it seemed as if he was at peace with his new reality. 

“I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life. After my back fusion, I had to climb Mt. Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did. This time around, I don’t think I’ll have the body to climb Mt. Everest, and that’s OK. I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, I can still click off a tournament here or there. But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.”

Tiger's legendary 2019 Masters win alone is something he could live off of the rest of his career had he not picked up a club again. Yet the itch persisted to get back on the course, and it came along like baby steps. He mentioned in that interview that he started to gage his hands' abilities by catching items in the hospital, then progressed to physical rehabilitation, a wheelchair and finally crutches. 

“Adding that part into my day-to-day life was so rewarding because I’d been stuck in a house. Granted, it’s a pretty nice house I’ve built for myself, but I hadn’t been able to do the one thing I love to do: I love to go outside and just be outside. Sometimes I just crutch and lay on the grass for an hour because I want to be outside. Missing the contact of a golf ball hit properly is one of the better feelings.”

Tiger wasn't wallowing in self pity. He was moving forward.  Whether you're in some sort of physical or mental funk, daily wins are huge. They differ for each person, and could be something as minute as taking a shower and changing clothes. Yet after an accident that might sideline most, here Tiger is- moving forward. 

Nike's "Just Do It" might seem a bit cliché here, but it works on pretty much any path of life. Whatever your goal is, just attempting to accomplish is an accomplishment in itself. Then you get a taste of what it may be like, and you take another step. Then another. 

Just do it. 

Boarding a plane for people, even celebrities, is not news. But when you're Tiger Woods and the Masters is right around the corner, it's DEFCON 1 level news. The golfing world was on the edge of it's seat on what exactly this meant for Woods.  

Outlets eventually confirmed he was practicing for golf's most prestigious tournament. And Tiger finally confirmed himself that he would be making his PGA return at Augusta. When asked if he could win, the answer was simple. 

Tiger Woods believes he can win a sixth Green Jacket this week. #themasters pic.twitter.com/WHjD4BcOcx

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 5, 2022

Woods played steady and was +1 after one round. He'd make the cut and finish +13. That score might have made prime Tiger quite frustrated, but Woods' optimism and smiles after the Masters wrapped up was a welcomed sight. This walk up the final hole was worth the price of admission alone:

The chapter ends on Tiger Woods' 24th Masters. #themasters pic.twitter.com/uNyEsieMXC

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 10, 2022

Tiger's next appearance was this week's PGA Championship, which saw the 2022 Masters winner Scottie Scheffler not even make the cut at +6, with plenty of other big names (Collin Morikawa +8, Jon Rahm +8, Hideki Matsuyama +6, Jordan Spieth +5) struggle after three rounds with wind, unpredictable greens and more. Only 16 total players are under par. To put that in perspective, all 83 players who made the cut in last week's AT&T Byron Nelson were at least four under par with 16 at least nineteen under par. 

The week began with media and golfers discussing how good Tiger looked in practice and walking around Southern Hills more comfortably than at Augusta. Hope was once again high, and an early -2 after five holes had fans elated. Tiger would end up going 10 over par in round three and withdrawing from the tournament. 

Yet while there may be a minority of people out there scoffing at his withdrawal and seeing it as quitting- it's anything but. Tiger's body simply can't sustain a tournament right now, or at least in the sense of competing at the top of the PGA. There's no shame in that. Instead there should be admiration for Tiger competing and giving fans something to root for. 

I couldn't imagine being comfortable being watched by millions of people on my best day, and here Tiger is at his most vulnerable, daring to try. That sense of resilience can resonate with just about anyone.

Plenty seem to be discussing the possibility of retirement which seems a bit premature. This isn't about instant gratification- which would be impressive in this context- but about the process. 

I'd imagine there's no timetable on Tiger being able to compete at the top again- and it may never come with as deep as the field is in 2022. But if there's one more thing people love just as much as a comeback story, it's the potential of one. And as long as Tiger keeps moving forward in whatever capacity that may be, that potential comeback lives on. 

Osbourn Park Falls Short to Madison in State Championship Rematch

 

Osbourn Park's starters from left to right: Kori Cole, Alana Powell, Hailey Kellogg, Danielle Darfour and Alex Brown.

(photo via InsideNova)

The Osbourn Park lady Yellow Jackets came into Friday's state championship rematch versus the James Madison Warhawks riding a twenty game win streak, most recently beating Thomas Dale on Monday. The streak would be snapped as the Warhawks would defend their championship throne, winning their 19th straight game, 38-29. 

The two teams would battle to break the ice, with no team making a field goal for the first 3:20 of the game. Osbourn Park senior Hailey Kellogg would score the game's first point, going 1-2 from the free throw line. Gritty defense by both squads was front and center early, as both teams shot a combined 5-20 in the game's opening quarter. 

Madison senior Sarah Link would help her team take a 2-1 lead with a layup a minute later. Baskets by Kellogg and junior Alana Powell would give OP their largest lead all night of three points. Link and senior Mia Chapman would give the lead back to the Warhawks with a trio of buckets to end the quarter up 8-5 over the Yellow Jackets. 

The stifling defense would continue from both sides in the second quarter. A Hailey Kellogg floater early in the second quarter got her team within a point of Madison, but it would end up being Osbourn Park's only basket for the rest of the first half. The only other point would come by way of a Chloe Wolfe-Pullen free throw with 3:27 left in the half. 

Madison sophomore Avery Griepentrog would get in on the scoring action with an and-one bucket after a foul by OP, and Sarah Link would end the scoring for the half as Madison led 15-8. 

The sensational Warhawks senior duo of twins Grace and Alayna would be held scoreless for the first two quarters- but that would change immediately as the third quarter kicked off. Grace sank a three-pointer at the 7:05 mark to give her team an 18-8 lead. 

Cedar Run Player of the Year Hailey Kellogg would score 15 points to lead all scorers in her final game as a Yellow Jacket.

(photo via InsideNova)

Junior Yellow Jacket Kori Cole would find freshman Alex Brown for a basket. A minute later, Hailey Kellogg would drill a three-pointer to climb back within seven points of Madison. Kellogg would finish the game leading OP in scoring with 15 points. She'd also add in 4 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist. 

A pair of Osbourn Park turnovers would be capped off with a layup by Grace Arnolie as Madison took a healthy 24-13 lead. She'd have the ball in her hands minutes later and hit a three-pointer to put the Warhawks up 27-15. Hailey Kellogg dazzled fans on the next play when she grabbed a defensive rebound and took it the length of the court using a spin and up and under layup to get her team back within ten points. 

The Arnolie sisters would link up in the fourth as Grace found Alayna on a backdoor cut to give their team their largest lead of the night of 15 points at 33-18. Madison would lead for 25:12 to OP's 4:19.

Osbourn Park head coach Chrissy Kelly has led her team to the state championship in back to back seasons, compiling a 40-5 record, 19-1 in Cedar Run District play. 

(photo via InsideNova)

 

Alana Powell would find Hailey Kellogg for her second three of the game on the next play. Senior Kacey Kelly would steal the ball and race to the other end for a layup. A basket by Alana Powell would continue their momentum, and a pair of free throws by Alex Brown capped off a 9-2 run with 4:44 to go and Madison up 35-27. 

Hailey Kellogg would find Kacey Kelly for a jumper to keep the deficit at eight points at 37-29 with 2:20 left in the game- but a long possession by Madison drained the clock down to just over a minute to go in the fourth. Osbourn Park would have to foul to stop the clock with Madison going 1-4 at the line to end the game. 

I caught up with Osbourn Park head coach Chrissy Kelly after the game to get her thoughts on the team's performance. 

"They're a great team. Defensively we played a really good game. It's a shame we didn't get the scoring we're capable of. But the offensive rebounds for Madison killed us in the first half."

Kelly would then reflect on Osbourn Park's season as a whole. 

"At the very beginning of the season, I don't pay attention to rankings. But a coach showed me the rankings- and there were no conversations about us in them. I told the girls to remember that, because no one thinks you are going to be anything. But in the end, we got to dictate when our last practice was. We got to the state championship with minimal experience and lost by nine to a team that's been together for four years. You can't hang your head on that."

Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin presents Osbourn Park with the runner-up plaque. 

Kelly would also speak to Hailey Kellogg's game, and then her effect on this year's team. 

"She can't be sad. She can't be upset. She left it all out there today. She's intangible. Forget the basketball. Her mental toughness with the fortitude, her motor, her leadership- everyone who got to play with her over the last few seasons is privileged."

Hailey Kellogg finishes her career as a Yellow Jacket as a 3-time district champion, a 2-time region champion, a 2-time state runner-up, the 2022 Cedar Run Player of the Year and the 2022 Region 6 Player of the Year. She will continue her basketball career at Christopher Newport University while studying political science. 

Lastly, coach spoke about her other two seniors- Kacey Kelly and Chloe Wolfe-Pullen. 

"Kacey made the decision to come out this year and she was huge in this game: steals, the layup, the jumper at the end. Chloe came in and gave us valuable minutes, She got to the free throw line. Our seniors gave everything they could give to win it today."

Following the game, individual championship plaques and both the runner-up and championship trophies would be presented by Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin. 

Keep up with all things Lady Yellow Jackets by following them on Instagram at @OPHSWBB. 

Personally this has been a very fun run to cover. The schedules didn't always match up for me to cover both girl's and boy's basketball, but when I was able to get the opportunity to watch these girls in action, it was a blast. The effort was always there, even in games where they were up big. The hunger to be better each time out was there, too. 

Watching Chrissy Kelly coach was an honor and I always appreciate the time she would give me after games were over and fans had filed out. Her staff is incredibly hard-working just like her, and their cohesiveness on the sidelines was a smooth operation. Their ability to get the absolute most out of each player was very impressive. 

I'd once again like to thank student activities director Keith Lane for allowing me to cover the team as well.  

Thank you to all the parents I would meet at the games. I highly enjoyed talking with you and breaking down the games. It's easy to see why these girls were so successful and determined throughout the season. 

Also a big shout-out to RJ Jones and Mark Boakye who worked with the girls during practices after their season had ended. 

These nine girls may have come up short in their bid for a championship, but this season will go down as one of Osbourn Park's most impressive in school history. 

Catch everyone next season. 

The Osbourn Park 9 finished 26-2, winning 20 of their last 21 games.

Lady Yellow Jackets Topple Thomas Dale in State Semifinals

Osbourn Park won their 20th straight game Monday night to earn a spot in the state championship game for the second straight year. (photo via InsideNova)

With a nineteen-game win streak and a spot in the state championship in Richmond on the line, the Osbourn Park Yellow Jackets had plenty to play for at home Monday night against Thomas Dale. Just like against James River Midlothian, they'd use strong second half play to secure a second straight state championship appearance, winning 50-37. 

Points would come at a premium from the very beginning of the game. An early OP turnover led to an early 2-0 lead for the Knights. Junior guard Alana Powell would rectify things with a layup of her own and tie the game. A pair of free throws by junior guard Danielle Darfour would keep things even at 4 with just over four minutes left in the first quarter. 

Osbourn Park would fail to get any real traction with turnovers, fouls and a 1-14 start from the field. Despite all of that adversity, they'd trail by one basket with the Knights up 7-5 after one. 

The home team would strike first in the second quarter when junior forward Kori Cole found freshman center Alex Brown to tie the game 7-7. Senior point guard Hailey Kellogg would be the next to find Brown for a basket. An Alana Powell steal would turn into Kori Cole dishing it to Kellogg to spur a 4-0 OP run and an 11-9 lead. An 11-4 quarter would give the Yellow Jackets a 16-11 lead heading into the half. 

Senior Hailey Kellogg led OP with 17 points, including a perfect 10-10 at the free throw line. (photo via InsideNova)

Thomas Dale would use a quick 4-0 run led by freshman guard Nylah Wilson to open up the second half. Alana Powell countered with two free throws and a tremendous basket while getting fouled to put OP up 21-15. Powell would finish the game with 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists. 

A basket from senior forward Anaya Peoples and an and-one opportunity for Nylah Wilson would keep the game within three points at 23-20. Kori Cole would spend a majority of the third quarter keeping OP in front with six free throws. Nylah Wilson would use a 10 point quarter of her own to get within one point as OP led 29-28 after three quarters. 

An early Osbourn Park turnover would lead to Knights sophomore guard Mycah McDowney drilling a three-pointer. The shot would give her team their first lead since they were up 9-7 in the beginning of the second quarter. 

Faced with a shift in momentum, the lady Yellow Jackets did what they have all season: put their foot on the accelerator. Alana Powell would find Hailey Kellogg for a three-pointer, followed by Danielle Darfour assisting in a Kori Cole and-one. Cole would finish 9-14 on the night from the charity stripe as Osbourn Park knocked down 26 of 33 free throw attempts for the game. 

The lady Yellow Jackets shot 26-33 (79%) at the free throw line. (photo via InsideNova)

Thomas Dale threatened to end OP's run when an Alex Brown block called as a foul awarded the Knights two free throws. They'd miss both, and Danielle Darfour found Kori Cole for another and-one. 

Darfour would hit one of the biggest shots of the night- a three-pointer off a Kellogg assist- on the Yellow Jackets next possession, giving her team a ten point lead at 42-32. 

"I knew I had to release it quickly. I knew the three would set us up for the rest of the game, so I knew I had to take that shot," said Darfour. 

OP would find themselves up 46-32 with just under a minute to go, capping off a 17-1 Yellow Jackets run over the course of six minutes. 

The rest of the game was a majority of Kellogg free throws, knocking down eight straight to seal the game. Kellogg would lead her team in scoring with 17 points with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a flawless 10-10 from the free throw line. 

I asked Hailey how it feels to once again be in the championship game. 

"It feels amazing to go back to the championship. You put into perspective that this could be the last game, and we want to go as far as we can. We all love each other- this is a family. We just have to lock in and stay composed. We’re ready. We want to get this championship and our revenge."

A 17-1 run over the course of 6 minutes in the fourth quarter led to OP's 26th win on the season.(photo via InsideNova)

I also caught up with Kori Cole who has scored at least 14 points in three straight games. 

"I'm so proud of us. From the beginning, we were counted out. No one thought we could get here, but we did. Coach Kelly- that woman is phenomenal. When it came down to it- I embraced the contact. Knocking our free throws down, the and-ones...that's what got the hype up."

I finally caught up with an emotional Chrissy Kelly who gave Thomas Dale credit in their tough style of play.

"They're good. That athleticism, speed, their intensity. That was hard what they did for thirty-two minutes. They're insane."

She also spoke to her team's second half 17-1 surge. 

Junior forward Kori Cole scored at least 14 points for the third straight game, including a 9-14 performance from the free throw line. (photo via InsideNova)

"They made that decision. This is a group that believes in themselves. They are the epitome of blue collar workers. They share in each other's excitement. They want every single person that steps on the floor to be successful- and they don't care who it is. They've taught me about patience, composure, selflessness. They've taught me a lot."

After hearing her team's 26-33 (79%) effort at the charity stripe, Kelly shared what she preached with her team about at practice. 

"As the season goes on, free throws will be separators. If you don't put the work in, it will cost us our season. I tell them stories of my experience and they take it all in."

Lastly, Kelly discussed the championship rematch versus James Madison and any talk of unfinished business. 

"I don't think it's unfinished business. You've got one day at a time to prepare for thirty-two minutes. We've earned the right to be here. The last three games my kids have worked really hard and deserve this opportunity to play thirty-two more minutes."

The Class 6 State Championship tips off Friday afternoon at 12:30 pm from the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University. The James Madison Warhawks (26-2) come in averaging 59 points per game and are on a 18-game win streak. Osbourn Park (25-1) is currently riding a 20-game win streak. 

For more on the lady Yellow Jackets, follow them on Instagram @OPHSWBB. 

Osbourn Park Bests James River Midlothian in First Round of State Playoffs

The Yellow Jackets celebrate their win over James River Midlothian in the first round of the state playoffs. 

(photo via Pierre Cannon)

After a week off following their Region 6B Championship win over Woodbridge, Osbourn Park hosted James River Midlothian on Friday night. There'd be no signs of rust as OP's locomotive powered through to a 59-35 victory over the Rapids. 

Yellow Jackets junior guard Danielle Darfour would once again be tasked with defending the opposition's best player. Last week it was Amani Melendez and this week it was the number one recruit of the class of 2025, freshman phenom guard Lanie Grant. Grant verbally committed to the University of North Carolina prior to the start of this season. 

Things got off to a rocky start as Darfour committed an early foul on Grant. The freshman calmly sank the two free throws. Despite the early foul, Darfour would never once be in foul trouble the rest of the game. 

Osbourn Park junior Danielle Darfour guarding James River Midlothian's Lanie Grant. 

(photo via Pierre Cannon)

Osbourn Park forward Kori Cole answered with a pair of free throws of her own minutes later, and Darfour scored on a layup to put the home team up 9-4 with 4:30 left in the first quarter. Lanie Grant would be called for a charging foul on the Rapids' next possession, and Osbourn Park wasted no time taking advantage. Senior Hailey Kellogg would find Kori Cole for a three-pointer to put them up 12-4 at the 2:30 mark. After one quarter, the blue and yellow would hold a 13-6 lead. 

James River Midlothian sophomore guard Katrina Scholtz drilled a shot from deep to bring the Rapids within three points at 13-9 to kick off the second quarter. Junior Yellow Jacket guard Alana Powell answered with a pair of free throws, and sophomore guard Angie Yaan sank a three to stretch OP's lead to 19-10 with 5:00 left in the half. 

Darfour would turn the ball over on OP's next possession and Lanie Grant was off the the races seemingly for a basket. Hailey Kellogg would never give up, craftily poking the ball out to prevent a score. Grant would get a measure of revenge with a smooth step-back three the next time up the court as OP led 19-13. 

The Rapids would put Osbourn Park into the bonus halfway through the second quarter. OP would miss the free throw, but Danielle Darfour snagged the offensive rebound for an easy putback. Darfour would finish the game with 6 points on 3-4 shooting with 1 rebound and 1 assist. 

Alana Powell would close out the half slashing for a layup as Osbourn Park led 25-17 after two quarters. Powell led all Osbourn Park scorers with 18 points on 6-9 (1-3 3PT) shooting. She'd also add 6 rebounds, 4 assists and go 5-9 from the charity stripe. The four assists tied Kellogg for most as well.

Junior guard Alana Powell led Osbourn Park with 18 points on 6-9 shooting. 

(photos via Pierre Cannon)

Osbourn Park was held scoreless for a little over two minutes to start the second half and the visitors began to close the gap. A 6-0 run via three-pointers by Grant and sophomore guard Alisha Whirley cut OP's lead to 25-23 with 5:44 to go in the third. 

While the home crowd grew nervous, Osbourn Park never lost focus. They'd respond with a 13-0 run capped off by a Kori Cole offensive rebound and putback, forcing a Rapids timeout. A Lanie Grant layup would break it, and Yellow Jackets head coach Chrissy Kelly immediately called a timeout of her own with 1:38 left in the quarter. Connections from Kellogg to Cole and Cole to freshman center Alex Brown gave OP a 44-27 lead heading into the final quarter. 

Yellow Jackets junior Kori Cole had another all-around great game, totaling 14 points, 4 steals, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. (photo via Pierre Cannon)

Osbourn Park's relentless motor on both sides stretched the lead in the fourth to as much as 25 points. Hailey Kellogg and Danielle Darfour would checkout as the crowd gave them a round of applause. Into the game came senior Chloe Wolf-Pullen who immediately made an impact with a block before the Yellow Jackets would spend the majority of the final minute draining the clock. 

After the game, Kori Cole spoke to her and her team's effort. 

"We are a big defensive team- that’s how we get our momentum going, Danielle did an amazing job on Lanie. We find our rhythm and the way we play and that’s when we open up those scoring gaps."

I also asked Alana Powell about what led to her success at attacking the basket tonight.

"We work hard every day. We work on contact finishing, defense, transition from both sides of the ball and it just translates to games. It's all about countering the other team's offense. When they have runs, we need to capitalize. It's all about composure and making good decisions."

Freshman center Alex Brown tallied 11 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals on 4-6 shooting.

(photo via Pierre Cannon)

Finally I spoke to head coach Chrissy Kelly who was unfortunately experiencing some discomfort due to a cracked tooth she sustained in the second quarter. 

"I initially had felt something yesterday. I just chew gum really hard, and I felt like my tooth was about to come out."

Yet despite the excruciating pain, her focus never wavered in leading her team to a second straight state semi-final appearance. Before she offered insight on her team's effort, Kelly praised the talent of James River Midlothian. 

"Lanie Grant's composure- it's just wild how good she is. As a coach you sit back and hope you make every point she scores hard, but you also sit back in awe and appreciate how beautiful her game is. She's very smart with the ball. They had a cohesive aura about them in warm-ups. That's a really well-coached team."

Takes one to know one. Kelly then spoke about her team's approach tonight.

"I tell them, 'we're going to have breakdowns, people are going to score- but you can't get stuck in that moment'. Tonight we never got stuck in those moments James River made runs. They work this hard in practice every day. It's not unfamiliar when there's pressure for them. Staying composed is critical."

Monday's state semi-finals pit OP (25-1) against Thomas Dale (20-4) following the Knight's 47-38 win over Woodbridge. Thomas Dale comes in riding an eight-game win streak- but that pales in comparison to Osbourn Park's nineteen in a row. The irresistible force meets the immovable object as the Knights average 58.4 points per game and the Yellow Jackets allow 30.9 points per game.

For more on the lady Yellow Jackets, follow them on Instagram @OPHSWBB. 

Osbourn Park Girls Defeat Woodbridge to Win Second Straight Regional Championship

 

Osbourn Park head coach Chrissy Kelly celebrates with her team and coaching staff following their second straight regional championship. (photo via InsideNova)

Fresh off their regional semi-final win over Freedom South Riding, the lady Yellow Jackets looked to keep things rolling on the road at Woodbridge in the final. They would do just that, winning 52-42. The win extends their current streak to eighteen games and puts them at 24-1 on the season. 

The two teams would engage in a bit of a feeling out process for the better part of the opening quarter. Osbourn Park junior Alana Powell would break the ice at the 3:53 mark with a layup. Minutes later, freshman center Alex Brown would be fouled and make the shot. Junior Kori Cole would add on, going coast-to-coast and giving OP a 6-0 lead. 

With :25 left, Woodbridge senior Reina Washington got her team on the board with a long three-pointer to cut the Yellow Jackets' lead in half. The visitors would answer with a three-pointer of their own. Kori Cole found Hailey Kellogg for a three-pointer just before the quarter ended with OP up 9-3. 

Woodbridge senior Amani Melendez was held scoreless in the opening stanza, going 0-7 from the field. With 6:12 to go in the half, she'd make the most of her first trip to the free throw line by hitting both shots. Melendez finish the game with 23 points. 

The rest of the second quarter played out like a heavyweight slugfest with neither team backing down. Reina Washington would hit another deep three to cut OP's lead to a point at 9-8. 

Osbourn Park junior Kori Cole finished with a team-high 14 points. 

(photo via InsideNova)

Osbourn Park answered Woodbridge's run with one of their own as Alana Powell found Kori Cole to put their team up 14-8. Not to be outdone, Melendez hit two more free throws to knot things at 14 with just over three minutes left in the half. Powell found Cole again- this time from behind the arc- to go up 17-14. Woodbridge's Washington was scorching hot, draining her third three-pointer to tie the game at 17 with just over a minute left in the half. A free throw by Osbourn Park gave them an 18-17 lead after two quarters. 

Woodbridge would take their first lead of the night when Amani Melendez scored five straight in the opening minute. Despite the surge and raucous home crowd, the Vikings would only hold the lead for a total of a minute all game. 

Hailey Kellogg would connect with Alana Powell, but a Melendez three-point play knotted the game at 25. The Yellow Jackets would get momentum at a pivotal time via a 4-0 run, followed by a charging foul on Woodbridge. Down 31-27, the Vikings countered with a three from freshman Elawnie Wilkins. OP sophomore sharpshooter Angie Yann came into the game and immediately swooshed a three. Osbourn Park headed into the final quarter up 36-32. 

The road team got off to another stellar start to open the fourth after a three from Kellogg then a steal and layup by Powell. Woodbridge would call a timeout, down 41-33 with 6:22 to go in the game. 

Amani Melendez seemingly answered coming out of the timeout with a basket- but it was nullified when a ref called her for a charge on OP's Alex Brown. 

Yellow Jackets junior Danielle Darfour guarded Woodbridge's sensational Amani Melendez for a majority of the game.

(photo via InsideNova)

Osbourn Park junior Danielle Darfour scored her only basket to give her team a 43-33 lead. She'd also go 2-3 at the free throw line and gather 3 rebounds- but her most important contribution was her stout defense all night on Amani Melendez. Darfour constantly stayed with her and in front of her, never being close to getting in foul trouble. 

After a timeout at the 4:10 mark, Hailey Kellogg threaded the needle and found Alex Brown for a basket. Amani Melendez countered to keep her team within nine points at 47-38, but a Woodbridge turnover led to Kori Cole finding Brown to put OP up 49-38 with 1:25 left in the game. 

The rest of the game was academic with Osbourn Park hitting 5 of their final 6 free throws. Hailey Kellogg, Alex Brown and Alana Powell led the Yellow Jackets with 6 rebounds a piece. Kori Cole led the team with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while going 5-6 from the charity stripe. Other double-digit scorers for the blue and yellow included Kellogg (13) and Powell (11). Another key stat would showcase Osbourn Park's offensive discipline as they only totaled 4 turnovers.

Cedar Run District Player of the Year Hailey Kellogg was one of three Yellow Jackets in double digits (13) and grabbed 6 rebounds with 2 assists and 3 steals. 

(photo via InsideNova)

I spoke to Yellow Jackets head coach Chrissy Kelly after the game. 

"It feels great. I'm exhausted, tired- but completely filled with pride for a group of kids where only one experienced this last year...and that was Hailey. To be able to handle all that comes with being in that moment, I'm just ridiculously proud."

With the win comes a whole week off for Osbourn Park, and Kelly is rewarding the team.

"I gave them the day off tomorrow. They need rest. We find out who we play, and take it literally one day at a time."

When I asked her how she would celebrate the momentous occasion, the Osbourn Park head coach put everything in perspective. 

"Not watch film. Not practice plan. Not a lot of people know, but my sister's terminally ill. Basketball season takes me away from her. I'm going to spend the weekend with my sister. If she could be here, she would be. She was a huge supporter of me growing up. She's fought the last six years and she's my inspiration."

Osbourn Park will host their first round match-up against James River Midlothian (20-3) next Friday, March 4th. James River Midlothian is coming off a 44-38 loss against Thomas Dale in the Region A championship. The loss snapped an 11-game win streak for the Rapids. The Rapids enter the state playoffs averaging 53.9 points per game. 

For more on the Osbourn Park girls, follow them on Instagram @OPHSWBB. 

Osbourn Park Girls Headed to Regional Final After Win Over Freedom SR

Chrissy Kelly continues to get the most out of her team as Osbourn Park returns to the regional final Friday night at Woodbridge. 

(photo via Pierre Cannon)

The Osbourn Park ladies continued their winning ways Wednesday night when they hosted Freedom South Riding in the regional semi-finals, outlasting the Eagles 49 to 35. It was the team's seventeenth win in a row to put the Yellow Jackets at 23-1 on the season. 

The lady Yellow Jackets have been known for their swarming defense all season, and Freedom immediately felt their presence by turning the ball over on an inbounds play. Despite the pressure, Freedom would eventually kick off the scoring with a layup by junior Grace Farrar. 

Osbourn Park junior Kori Cole would break the ice for the home team, scoring a layup while getting fouled. She would miss the free throw, a problem that plagued OP throughout the game. As a team they would finish 5-14 from the charity stripe. 

With 3:52 left in the first quarter, senior guard Hailey Kellogg would blow by the Eagles' defense and draw a foul. Soon after, junior Alana Powell would steal the ball and find senior Kacey Kelly for an easy basket. OP would have an early 8-4 lead with 2:30 to go. Sophomore Angie Yann would hit the team's first three-pointer immediately upon entering the game, bumping up the lead to 13-8. The Yellow Jackets would lead 15-10 after one quarter. 

Junior Alana Powell led OP with 10 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. 

(photo via Pierre Cannon)

OP would pick up right where they left off when junior Danielle Darfour found freshman center Alex Brown for a basket. Brown and Alana Powell would lead the Yellow Jackets with 10 points each. Powell would then find Kacey Kelly again as their team stretched the lead to 19-12, spurring a Freedom timeout. Powell would lead all players with 5 of her team's 12 assists on the night.

Hailey Kellogg took her turn at finding Kelly for a slashing layup off a fast break a minute later. Danielle Darfour left her mark on the game, completing a three-point play the hard way as OP built a twelve point lead at 26-14 with just over a minute left in the half. 

Senior Chloe Wolfe-Pullen would get in on the action, finding Kori Cole for a two points with 20 seconds to go.  OP went into the half up 28-15. 

Kacey Kelly would connect twice with Alex Brown in the third quarter to give OP a 32-19 lead. Freedom turned the ball over on their next possession, allowing for Chloe Wolfe-Pullen to dish it to Alex Brown for a bucket. Chloe would be on the receiving end of a basket just a minute later courtesy of Alana Powell. 

Junior Kori Cole would chip in 5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

(photo via Pierre Cannon)

OP would make their second three of the night once again via Angie Yann from Alana Powell to go up 30-23. Freedom did a great job at limiting open looks for OP, especially midrange jumpers. The Yellow Jackets did not make a mid-range jumper all night, scoring off a variety of layups, free throws and four three-pointers. Freedom would head into the final quarter trailing 39-25. 

Freedom would threaten to close the gap in the fourth, getting to within twelve points. OP was having none of it and broke away to a 49-31 lead via two three-pointers from Kellogg and Powell with the two alternating on the assist and shot each time. Freedom would once again turn over the ball on an inbounds play. OP would force 18 turnovers throughout the game. 

I caught up with OP head coach Chrissy Kelly after the game. 

"I'm proud with the constant effort. They really were resilient when Freedom played a tremendous game. They punched us in the face and had us stumbling, and when that happened we still had the ability to trust in each other. Every game gets harder as you move forward. Freedom read the back screens."

Kelly spoke to the team's 5-13 effort on free throws, too. 

"I preach it all the time. The reality of it is the deeper you get, free throws become a critical part of the game. We put ourselves in foul trouble by putting them in the bonus early in both halves via undisciplined defense."

Osbourn Park now heads on the road to face a stout Woodbridge Vikings squad only four days after the boys' season ended there.

"At this point, you have to win on the road. Championships are won on the road. My focus is fixing some defensive breakdowns and preparing the best way possible to play a team that has a ton of momentum like they do."

Momentum is also on OP's side as they ride a 17-game win streak with 15 by 15+ points, 14 by 20+ points and an average margin of victory of over 27 points. 

Tipoff is at 6:30 pm at Woodbridge high school. For more on the Osbourn Park ladies, follow them on Instagram @OPHSWBB. 

Osbourn Park Bested by Woodbridge in Regional Opener

Osbourn Park head coach Jeremy Coleman strategizes with his team during a timeout. 

(photo via Amber Bonner)

After an opening round loss in the Cedar Run District playoffs, Osbourn Park hoped to right the ship by beating Woodbridge in opening round regional action this past Monday. Woodbridge would "defend The Bridge" and beat OP in a close game, 47-45. 

Both teams would start the feeling out process for the first few minutes with Woodbridge up one basket, 8-6. They'd jet out to a 15-8 lead thanks to a 7-2 run. Junior big man Cam Portis would be called for two early fouls and sit out the rest of the quarter. 

OP would call a timeout after a three-pointer by Vikings sophomore forward Riley Jacobs. Woodbridge would lead 16-11 after the first quarter. 

Osbourn Park would draw first blood in the second quarter with a layup by senior guard Logan Dwyer. Junior Yellow Jackets center Josh Okuadido would pick up his second foul with 5:44 left in the half. Freshman forward RJ Jones would knock down a three via a Tay Faison assist to get within a point, 19-18.  

Senior guard Logan Dwyer led OP with 16 points in his final game as a Yellow Jacket. 

(photo via Amber Bonner)

Moments later, sophomore guard Trey Terrell would rise up for a beautifully-timed block on a Woodbridge center. Unfortunately for the OP faithful, a referee would deem it a foul and award the Vikings two free throws. Woodbridge would have possession and turn the ball over on a travel. Osbourn Park would take advantage immediately when Trey Terrell was fouled, putting his team in the bonus. He'd knock down both free throws to knot the game at 20 a piece. 

Vikings senior guard Monte Gabriel would put his team ahead with a layup at 22-20. Woodbridge would go into the half up 24-20. 

The Vikings would kick off the second half on a 6-2 run. Logan Dwyer would find Tay Faison with a great pass down the court for a three-pointer to get their team within five points at 32-27. A few plays later, RJ Jones would find senior Daniel Salguero for a three of his own. Salguero would reward Jones a minute later after stealing the ball to tie the game at 34. He found Jones one more time with 20 seconds left in the quarter as Osbourn Park carried a 36-34 lead into the fourth quarter. 

Junior center Joshua Okuadido with a key block late in the game. He'd finish with 6 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. (photo via Amber Bonner)

Woodbridge would once again start the fourth quarter on another run (this time 6-0) to go up 40-36. Osbourn Park called a timeout with 6:46 left in the game. Two minutes later, Trey Terrell found Josh Okuadido for a bucket off a stellar pass inside to tie the game at 42. Logan Dwyer would hit a jumper to take the lead, but senior Vikings guard Brian Jackson would answer with a three-pointer to put the home team up, 45-44 with 3:23 to go in the game. 

Josh Okuadido would tie the game at 45 with a free throw. He'd then steal the ball and find Tay Faison who was called for an untimely charge. With 1:25 left in the game, Osbourn Park took a timeout to regroup. Coming out of the timeout, Osbourn Park would have a lengthy possession, not attacking until there were under 25 seconds to go in the game. 

Woodbridge senior point guard Malik Hunter would poke the ball out of bounds, giving OP another possession with 18 seconds to go. OP would find RJ at the three-point line. His miss would go long and ignite a Woodbridge fastbreak. Senior guard Michael Cooper would find himself with the ball and an open layup to put his team ahead 47-45 with 2.1 left in the game. OP would come out of a timeout and hope for a miracle. Tay Faison caught the inbounds pass and launched it from three-quarters court to no avail, as Woodbridge would win and move on to the next round of regionals versus Battlefield. 

I caught up with an emotional Logan Dwyer after the game, his final one in a Yellow Jackets uniform. Dwyer finished the game with a team-high 16 points on 6-10 shooting (2-4 from 3). 

"I felt like we played a really solid game and had great energy the whole game. We made some mistakes but we didn’t get down about it and kept going. I hate how it ended but I know that we have it our all. I was happy with how I played. I felt like it was the perfect way to go out. It was one of my best shooting nights and just overall decision-making. I wish I could have that feeling every time I play."

Finally I asked Logan about this being the final chapter in his Osbourn Park basketball career.

"Basketball has been a huge part of my life for so long and knowing that this was my last season was hard. I gave it my all and hoped for the best and while it didn’t end the way I wanted it to, I was happy to have such a great experience playing the sport that I love. I will always miss playing basketball at the high school level but I know the memories will always be with me. Basketball will never truly be gone from my life."

I also was able to get Osbourn Park head coach Jeremy Coleman's thoughts on the game.

"Their effort tonight was astounding. They executed the game plan. Zone was uncomfortable for them- but it gave us an opportunity to be there in the end. I trusted who I had in the game. RJ had a good look at the basket, it just didn’t fall. I’m proud of the defensive effort after the missed bucket and our hustle back."

I then asked about losing the senior trio of Logan Dwyer, Daniel Salguero and Malcolm Bilal. 

"Logan was a four-year varsity starter. His high IQ and defense as a freshman is what got him on the team. He challenged the seniors that year and won. We'll definitely miss his leadership. Daniel is a great kid and only had him one year. I wish I had more time with him. He would calm our team down when things got out of control. Malcolm started off with adversity via an injury freshman year, but ever since then he always came to work and had a positive attitude no matter what."

While these recaps are never about me, I would just like to state it's been a blast covering this team this season through the highs and the lows. I've enjoyed getting to know the team, staff and players' families as well as the Prince William high school sports community as a whole. (Thank you Alex Khu!) 

I would like to thank Amber Bonner for her stellar work all season as well as Pierre Cannon who takes pics of all sports throughout Prince William County. Without them, these pieces would not come to life like they have. Lastly, I would like to thank Jeremy Coleman and Keith Lane for the opportunity to cover the team and all the coaches who made me feel welcome. 

See ya'll next season and enjoy the various high school tournaments. 

Osbourn Park basketball would like to thank their sponsors of the 2021-22 season:

USMC Memoriam - Joseph Dwyer