If an undefeated record over the course of a dozen games qualifies as a strong start — and it does — the Oakton Cougars are off and running in the girls high-school basketball season.
Two lopsided victories in recent days and a 3-0 mark in its own holiday tournament give the Cougars a 12-0 record, the team’s best start since beginning 13-0 in the 2021-22 campaign.
Oakton defeated the visiting South County Stallions, 60-39, then the Lake Braddock Bruins, 57-31, in those two recent non-district contests.
Sophie Toole and Brooke Chang each scored 21 points against South County, and Jocelynn Kinlaw added nine. Oakton led 17-6 at the end of the first quarter and pulled away in the third.
“South County is a very good team, and we played really well,” Oakton coach Fred Priester told FFXnow. “We got good minutes out of our bench.”
The coach said Oakton didn’t play nearly as well against Lake Braddock, but he credited the Bruins (1-9) for having a strong performance.
Lake Braddock built an early 5-2 advantage. The Cougars took the lead for good with a 14-0 first-half run, but Lake Braddock stayed within 10 points into the fourth quarter.
“They played very well, and we didn’t have our A-game,” Priester said.
Kinlaw had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to go with two blocked shots, two steals and two assists. Toole and Chang each scored 10. Toole also had six steals, six assists and five rebounds.
Bailey Zimmerman had three points, had five rebounds and had multiple steals; Melissa Ally made two three-pointers; and Kara Bumbary scored four off the bench.
“I like how the team is working hard, gaining confidence and developing, and the bench is coming along,” Priester said.
Toole, Chang and Kinlaw are returning starters from last season’s team that won the Concorde District tournament, finished second in the region and had a 22-7 overall record. The Cougars are expected to contend for both titles again this season.
For Lake Braddock against Oakton, Emily DePaul scored 14 points and had six rebounds, Kaitlyn Lastra scored six and had two rebounds, Elizabeth So scored five, Emma Cajchun had two points and eight rebounds with a block, and Pacey Magnuson scored four.
NOTE: In its Cassel’s Holiday Classic from Dec. 27-30, Oakton defeated Patriot, 72-29, Falls Church, 56-37, and Holy Child, 63-38.
