A good friend of mine, former Division I and local standout Dustin Hellenga, once corrected me when I described basketball people as “crazy.”
“They’re not crazy,” he said. “They’re passionate.”
High school elimination games test that distinction.
Last night’s regional quarterfinal between Edison and West Potomac did not wait to make the point. The gym was loud before the opening tip and never really quiet afterward.
Edison is young — but fearless. The Eagles are led by explosive sophomore guard Jahad Mansour, a 6’1” scorer capable of finding points from nearly anywhere on the floor. Around him, coach Tre Ford guides a roster that shoots with confidence well beyond the three-point line. When Edison is hitting shots, the game tends to move quickly away from doubt.
West Potomac offered a very different proposition. Veteran coach David Houston’s teams play a style that would have been recognizable decades ago: physical defense, relentless rebounding, and a steady insistence that basketball is ultimately a contest of will. The Wolverines treat the three-pointer almost as an opening gesture, not a conclusion — a way to start a possession that usually ends in traffic near the rim. Every possession felt earned.
Edison built an early lead and appeared ready to separate, going ahead 33–22 early in the third quarter and eventually stretching the margin to 16. But West Potomac does not disappear quietly. The Wolverines chipped away possession by possession, forcing missed layups, extending possessions, and slowly tightening the gym’s atmosphere. By the final minute, behind the ruthless finishing of center Max Tuttle, they were within two, and the possibility of another postseason comeback felt entirely plausible.
The stands matched the intensity on the floor. West Potomac’s traveling supporters were not numerous but were impressively loud, chanting through nearly every possession. Edison’s student section responded in kind, though the night’s most memorable exchanges came from a spirited group of Edison parents seated courtside who offered continuous commentary — to the officials, to the opposing fans, and occasionally to the players. When West Potomac students answered with a chorus of “You’re a grown-up,” even the adults seemed to appreciate the point and briefly retreated before resuming their duties.
In the closing moments, Edison steadied. Senior Denari Nesbitt handled the ball calmly against pressure and moved it where it needed to go, helping preserve a 62–54 victory. The Eagles move on, now one win from a state playoff berth.
It was the sort of evening that leaves people lingering in the parking lot longer than necessary. Passion, as it turns out, can look a lot like chaos, and on nights like this the difference hardly matters.