It’s playoff time in high-school sports, and that usually means defense in all of the various games becomes much more important and emphasized more.
Scores of some of the recent championship games or earlier semifinal contests are the proof.
In the Liberty District tournament girls and boys title soccer matches, the Washington-Liberty High boys and Yorktown High girls each won by 1-0 scores over opponents they defeated 4-0 in earlier regular-season meetings.
In a Liberty girls tournament softball semifinal, the McLean Highlanders nipped Yorktown, 3-2. The teams each had scored double-digit run totals in their first-round victories.
The champion Oakton Cougars in the Concorde District baseball tournament allowed just five runs total in semifinal and title-game triumphs.
Even some lacrosse scores were lower in semifinal and title matches, as defense is emphasized much more across the board in playoff action. There are other examples.
The proof is in the scores.
– Dave Facinoli
dfacinoli@sungazette.net.