MIDDLEBURG – In Friday night’s “round two” episode of the Middleburg High Lady Bronco’s versus the Nease Panthers, a smothering inside defense thwarted a stout late second half Bronco attack that just couldn’t drive inside as Nease, the defending 3-7A champions over Middleburg last year, won a second time 66-53 Friday at Middleburg High School.

“My only two losses in the district are to them. We have to stay right behind them” said Middleburg Head Coach Michael Hayward. “I’m getting my girls to understand we can compete at that same level. They are starting to turn that corner. We have to move the ball faster. The ball has to move. There’s too much dribbling.”

After being down by only one point at the half, the Panthers whipped up a backbreaking third quarter that the Bronco offense couldn’t overcome as they again went down to Nease 66-53.

The first quarter started out with a bang as Middleburg had Nease’ number all over the court, going inside quickly, hitting several outside, and two 3-pointers, racking up a 20-15 lead. Nease looked unsettled and made mistakes that the Broncos jumped all over. At the break between quarters, Nease made several player changes and adjustments that Middleburg couldn’t find answers to. Beginning in the second quarter and for much of the rest of the game, Nease shifted to a tight, press, man on man defense that was like a blanket over the Broncos. The plan was effective as Middleburg could put no more than eight points on the board for the second and began to show some signs of frustration going into the half. The physicality of the game exploded and stayed there.

Out of the locker room at the half, Middleburg tried going inside again and almost every attempt was thwarted by the tight defensive coverage. The choke hold of the Panther defense only allowed 10 Bronco points as the Panther offense spread the wealth around with five players racking up 19 third quarter points. The glaring difference was on the boards as Nease would miss a shot, and come up with the rebound. Any time the ball went up, Nease’ 6’- 3” junior Camille Hobby was playing the role of garbage collector, snagged any rebound and passed it out, or would drain it for two on her own.

Seeing his girls frustrated, Hayward again called a full time out and gathered his squad back together, made more adjustments and continued the coaching chess match with his team. After getting held down hard by the Panther defense in the second and third quarter, Middleburg junior Mallory Roney began mixing it up with shots from outside to draw the Panther defense out, and several drives to the basket when Nease would take the bait. Roney ended up with 24 points on the night with three 3-pointers. Her efforts dominated the 15 point Bronco fourth quarter by contributing 10 points on her own. The problem was anytime Middleburg got hot and hit baskets, Nease came right back with an answer of their own putting 18 fourth quarter points up.

“When you’re dealing with the two 6 footers, you have to battle, you have to fight and grab,” said Hayward. “Tonight, I was happy because we could play at that level. We played Middleburg ball with the exception of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth.”