Wakefield Ends Hex, Takes Down Yorktown

Wakefield seniors Johnathan Ford and André Allen turned a fierce handshake into a joyous bear-hug as they waited to get into the locker room following last night's 66-59 victory at Yorktown.

"That took way too long," Ford screamed as his teammates gathered in the hallway.

Wakefield Coach Tony Bentley pushed his team inside the locker room and the howling could be heard for minutes until he flung the door open, reached behind his neck, made an imaginary grab and a fierce toss.

"I just told them to take that monkey off their back," Bentley said.

Since they were freshmen, Ford and Allen have been part of a group of eight seniors that had never beaten Yorktown -- an Arlington County and Virginia AAA National District rival located less than six miles away.

Going into last night's game, Wakefield had lost five straight since 2007, including a 53-47 loss at home earlier this month.

Yorktown dropped to 9-9 and 5-3.

Last night, Wakefield (13-5, 5-3) rode Allen's 19-point effort through a tight contest that featured eight lead changes and four ties throughout the second half. Ford added 14.

"We had to get that monkey off our back," said Allen, a 6-foot-5 senior who penetrated Yorktown's 2-3 zone, allowing the Warriors' outside shooters to go to work.

Wakefield senior guard Robel Getu (18 points) hit three of his four three-pointers in the first half to help the Warriors take a 28-25 lead at halftime.

Getu, who is one of the Northern Region's most prolific three-point shooters with 34 this season, was also part of Wakefield's game-clinching fourth-quarter free throw effort that featured seven of its players combining to go 15 for 21 from the line.

Getu and Allen both went 4 for 4 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

"We needed this," Getu said.

Yorktown was led by 6-foot junior guard Mike Veith, a speedy ball-handler, distributor and inside-outside scoring threat who scored nine of his game-high 21 in the fourth quarter to keep the Patriots in contention.

Yorktown senior Simon Kilday hit four of the Patriots' eight three-pointers, but Wakefield capitalized on the Patriots' 21 turnovers, scoring in transition on three giveaways in the fourth quarter.

Wakefield 66 Yorktown 59 Lefties Galore: All four of last night's high scorers -- Wakefield's Robel Getu and André Allen and Yorktown's Simon Kilday and Mike Veith -- are left-handed. Close Calls: The previous six games between Wakefield and Yorktown had been decided by an average of 7.6 points.