Bruin Girls Win Home Finale, Reach Region Semifinals

As London Best and the rest of the Broadneck girls basketball team filed into the locker room after their 41-27 win over Bowie in the region playoffs on February 28, excited chatter gave way to a cacophony of loud yells and banging on lockers.

It was an outpouring after a roller-coaster season, in which they were determined to leave the home court for the last time as winners. That they did, behind a concerted collective defensive effort and Best’s refusal to let them lose her career home finale.

“It meant everything. In the back of my head, I realized this was the last time playing at my home gym. I told everyone we were going to metaphorically die out there; whether we win or lose, we’re going to leave it out on the floor, and I’m so happy we won,” said Best, who at times wore the stress of the moment on her face but at other times displayed a fearlessness that encapsulates her game. “I felt like it was survival instinct. When you take it for granted that you’re going to get this next game, but today we didn’t feel that. I had to leave it all on the floor, whether I messed up or not.”

With an up-and-down regular season in the rearview mirror, the Bruins locked in and made sure they were on the same wavelength heading into the postseason. The result was a unified effort that got them over the hump in their last home game, with anything beyond that a bonus.

“They came together as a team for the first time Monday. I saw a shift in them coming together, and it was different,” said Broadneck coach Juan McKinney. “We played 20 games, and I hadn’t seen what I saw prior to tonight. I’m proud of them.”

Broadneck started the season down junior Makayla Kropfelder, and they finished it without seniors Macie McNece and Summer Stroop. That left the lion’s share of the leadership to Best and fellow senior Katelyn Kearns, who makes her name as a field hockey player but gladly took on a supporting role on the basketball team.

“It’s definitely different coming from field hockey, but I know my role on this team,” Kearns said. “I’m here to support the team and get the hustle plays, and playing different sports helps me see the floor and help the team the best way possible.

“The season has its ups and downs, and it kind of humbles you a little bit and keeps you in check. But you have to give it all because you don’t know when it’s going to be done.”

Two days later, the Bruins would lean heavily on their leaders one more time – they went to top-seeded Annapolis and tried to grind out another victory. Unfortunately, there were no heroics in store as the Bruins ran out of steam down the stretch and the Panthers moved on with a 31-29 victory.

That loss meant the end of the road for the Bruins and their seniors: Best, Kearns, McNece, Stroop, Chiara McIntosh and Natalie Pace. While the younger crop of Bruins ooze talent and are ready to step into those roles on-court, the leadership will be particularly tough to replace.

“KK and London are two examples of what leaders should be, and I’m not just talking about basketball, I’m talking about everything,” McKinney said. “I wish I had them for another two years, but unfortunately we have to let them go.

“These girls are really resilient. I’m proud of all of them. They’re in a lot mentally, so to help keep this team together, they went above and beyond whatever I could have imagined.”