The coaching staff of the Washington-Liberty Generals frequently has used a dozen or more players in games early in the 2024-25 boys basketball season.
The Generals (4-8) did so again in all three of its contests in the recent George Long Holiday Tournament at Wakefield High School, finishing sixth with a 1-2 record.
A dozen players scored points in W-L’s first game of the George Long event, and 14 did the same in its second.
“We are playing a lot of guys, because I have to figure out the right combinations of players that work together,” Washington-Liberty coach Bobby Dobson told ARLnow.
Washington-Liberty was hurt by multiple first-half turnovers and did not shoot well in its opening-round 56-45 loss to the Potomac Senior Panthers.
Sean Allen scored 10 points and had three rebounds, Nikoai Wheeler had seven points off the bench and starting forward Carmichael Williams had six points and eight rebounds.
The Generals never led, falling behind 7-0 and trailing 17-5 at the end of the first quarter.
In its second game, Washington-Liberty ran away from the Osbourn Eagles, 81-59, pulling ahead comfortably in the second quarter.
Luke Jones had 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks off the bench as 14 players scored for W-L. Williams and Mitchell Tuvshin each scored 10 and Allen and Jyot Sayni had seven each. Gabe Smith added eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Roy Smith and Wheeler scored six each.
Washington-Liberty lost to the Chantilly Chargers, 58-41, in its final game. The Generals led 20-13 at the end of the first quarter, and the score was tied at 27 at halftime. A 9-0 Chantilly run starting late in the third quarter put the Chargers ahead for good.
Tuvshin made five three-pointers (four in the first quarter) and scored 17 points for W-L. Williams had seven points and four rebounds; Jones had three points, seven rebounds and two blocks; and Allen scored four with six boards and two blocks.
For Chantilly, Vivaan Desai had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Najilah Bey scored 10 with four assists.
Dobson said the Generals have played a difficult schedule early in the season. Liberty District competition begins in full in January.
