With 2:12 left in the third quarter, a 3-pointer and then a determined drive to the hoop by Robinson junior Tyler Hansen brought the Rams to win three points of West Springfield, 32-29. From that point on, however, the Rams would manage only another six points and Robinson lost to the Spartans 35-52 on Tuesday night in Fairfax.
Even though they'd just cruised to a pair of comfortable victories, the Rams knew they would face a severe challenge against the tough West Springfield program. Both teams came into the contest with one loss on the young season, and West Springfield employs the same type of hyper-aggressive trapping defense and snappy ball movement on offense that Robinson had lately used to rout its foes.
"They got up in our space and I don't think we handled that well — ultimately, we started our offense 30 feet away from the basket," Rams coach T.J. Dade comment after the contest. "They do what we try to do: force plays on one side of the floor," Dade said.
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"That's what we try to do: play good defense, pressure the ball, deny the wings and force turnovers," West Springfield coach Bill Gibson averred.
West Springfield junior April Robinson scored a game-high 15 points, 11 in the first half. Freshman Amy Berglund added 14 points, and senior Muffin Brassfield contributed 12 for the Spartans.
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The Spartans also did a good job of attacking the rim. That aggressiveness resulted in 22 free-throws for the Spartans; they made 15.
Play was fairly event in the first quarter, but the Spartans used a 15-3 second quarter spurt to carry a 27-13 edge into halftime.
Robinson showed lots of life right after the intermission, going on an 11-0 run and holding the Spartans scoreless until 3:45 was left in the quarter.
Hansen scored eight points the quarter, and 12 in the game.
"I told them they had to play with heart," Dade said. "It wasn't Xs and Os: It was heart."
The Rams found little consistent scoring from any player in the game, due in part to the Spartans' defense. Junior Brigitte Kuter scored eight and sophomore Dhyamond Crenshaw scored seven.
No player for Robinson other than Hansen scored more than four points in any quarter.
West Springfield executed its game plan of pressuring Robinson and forcing the Rams to make tough passes. That pressure allowed the Spartans to take control of the game in the second and the fourth stanzas.
"With our limited rotation, kids starting getting a little tired," Dade said. "The pressure got to them ... With West Springfield being ranked, I think it got in the kids' heads."
"They've got learn to just get out there and play ball. I don't care who you play. You go down swinging. You don't roll back on your heels, because it's not going to go away."
Robinson will play its next game at home against Lake Braddock in the first of a girls-boys varsity doubleheader on Friday, Dec. 17 at 5:45 p.m.