Pivotal stretch: Streaking Strasburg takes out Cougars

View larger image Manassas Park’s LaQuan Gaines-Ward, left, and Strasburg’s Jonathan Kloosterman try and gather in a rebound during Wednesday’s game in Strasburg. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Strasburg’s Chris Nixon, left, and Manassas Park’s LaQuan Gaines-Ward battle for a loose ball. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Jalen Doman of Strasburg tries to dribble past Nasser Smith of Manassas Park during Wednesday's game in Strasburg. Dennis Grundman/Daily View larger image Aaron Doman of Strasburg tries to get a shot up against Nasser Smith of Manassas Park during Wednesday's game in Strasburg. Dennis Grundman/Daily

By Brad Fauber - sports@nvdaily.com

STRASBURG -- Millson French didn't like how his team's man-to-man defense matched up with Manassas Park's athletic starting five, so longtime Strasburg boys basketball coach decided to make the switch to a 2-3 zone during Wednesday's home matchup with the Cougars.

The move made perfect sense for the Rams, as it forced the cold-shooting Cougars to attempt shots from the perimeter if they wanted to stay in the game. Manassas Park couldn't hit those shots, finishing the game with a miserable 13-for-57 (22.8 percent) mark from floor, helping the Rams to a 55-40 Bull Run District win.

"We were having trouble with them [in] man-to-man because they were playing four guards, so we went to the zone," French said. "[Manassas Park] couldn't make shots from the perimeter -- then we were a lot bigger than them inside, so we pretty much stymied them all night."

Both teams worked to a 12-12 tied at the end of the opening period, as neither side shot the ball particularly well early on.

Strasburg (9-7, 5-4 Bull Run) was finally able to create some distance in the second quarter as Manassas Park went scoreless during the period's first six minutes while turning the ball over five times.

"When we switched to our zone, that changed their pace," said Rams junior Tyler Hott. "They want to fly up and down the court -- they had to slow down. Then we were able to get some open shots and knock them down."

The Rams broke the 12-all tie with a bucket by junior Tyler Doman with 6:30 left, and senior Aaron Doman extended the lead to five on a traditional three-point play with 5:32 remaining before halftime.

Manassas Park (5-12, 2-8) hit its first basket of the quarter on a 3-pointer by Myles Durr to make the score 19-15 with less than two minutes to go, but the Rams took a 25-17 lead into halftime when senior Ryan McElroy sank a putback just before the buzzer.

Hott (11 points) nailed a 3-pointer to open the third period to push Strasburg's lead to 11, but the Cougars, who opened the second half using full-court pressure, clawed back to within five on a pair of free throws by LaQuan Gaines-Ward with 2:58 left in the quarter.

Hott then took it upon himself to break the Cougars' press, as he pushed the ball the length of the court before finding Jonathan Kloosterman open in the paint for a bucket. On the Rams' next possession, Hott drove the length of the court again, this time laying it in himself and drawing a foul in the process. His free throw with 2:29 left gave Strasburg a 35-27 lead.

"I felt like I was under control all night," Hott said. "Whenever I was able to get into the lane, stop and make a good pass, we were able to beat [the press] pretty well."

Rams senior Jalen Doman hit the first of his three treys with 1:55 left in the third to extend the lead to back to 11, and he scored seven of Strasburg's final nine points in the period to help the Rams to a 44-27 lead entering the final quarter.

Jalen Doman, who led Strasburg with 14 points, said the Rams' late third-quarter surge was a key component of their victory.

"That's what we've been focusing on here lately, just coming out strong in the third quarter," he said. "We want to try to force it out and make the lead a little bit bigger in the third quarter, and that's what helped [tonight]."