Leesburg, Va. — After graduating a core group of seniors in 2023, the Tuscarora High School girls basketball team is hoping its effort, energy, and enthusiasm can help carry them to the top of the Dulles District. Led by senior forward Alysa Carrigan, the young Huskies have started four underclassmen at points throughout the season, including in their 52-18 win over rival Loudoun County on January 3 in Leesburg.
“I’ve just tried to set the standard: always giving 100%, being more aggressive,” Carrigan said.
Carrigan isn’t new to the spotlight as she played an important role in Tuscarora’s state semifinal appearance last season, but this year, she’s had to play more as a facilitator with opponents knowing the threat she poses on both ends of the floor.
“She’s been the focal point of every team we’ve played, and she’s just risen to the occasion. She’s truly played so well,” Tuscarora head coach Tayler Cook said. “We’ve known as a staff and people across the county have known that this is what she’s capable of. She’s really just spread her wings and flown this year.”
Despite scoring just four points in the win over the Captains, she chipped in three rebounds, four steals, and a blocked shot, and assisted sophomore center Paige Hahn on each one of her four field goals.
“A lot of it is just finding the open players. I’ve already had a lot more assists than I’ve had in past years,” Carrigan said. “Continuing to find open teammates will eventually create more space for me.”
With the focus on Carrigan, the Huskies spread the ball around throughout the night as junior forward Natalie Tikalsky led the way with 13 points and 5 rebounds.
“Our three main focal points today were effort, energy, enthusiasm,” Tikalsky said. “As a bench player, when you come on, you want to give your best effort and show that you want to stay on the court.”
With so many fresh faces this winter, the Huskies are continuing to figure out which rotations work well together, noting that players who continue to work hard in practice are going to get their chances.
“Natalie is a freaking workhorse,” Cook said. “The way she played tonight is the way she plays every single practice.”
In addition to Tikalsky’s contributions off the bench, Tuscarora freshman guard Delainey Duggan chipped in 12 points, including a pair of three pointers.
“We’ve been on Delainey to shoot more. She’s too good to not be shooting more,” Cook said. “Last game she was 2-for-2. Shooting 100% is great, but I need her shooting more. That’s part of the learning curve with a young team.”
The young Huskies (0-0, 7-3) will have two more tune ups before their district schedule begins as they travel to Independence on January 5 before hosting John Champe on January 10. Meanwhile, the Captains (0-0, 0-10) will look to earn their first win of the season when they host Lightridge on January 4.
“Most days, it’s all about us. We’re just trying to get as good as we can before district play starts,” Cook said. “I think people might overlook us because we graduated six seniors, but our girls are playing so hard, and they’re on a big winning stretch right now.”
Caroline Layne captured 100+ photos at the game!
Tuscarora Stats
| Tuscarora | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | FT |
| Natalie Tikalsky | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Delainey Duggan | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Paige Hahn | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1-for-2 |
| Lily Middleton | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1-for-2 |
| Alysa Carrigan | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2-for-2 |
| Jessica Owusu | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0-for-0 |
| Madison Motley | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-for-1 |
| Tara Muradi | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Audrey Szebalskie | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Kasi Horvatinovich | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0-for-2 |
| Chloe Page | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Sicily Ure | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Totals | 52 | 31 | 7 | 14 | 5 | 4-for-9 |
Loudoun County Stats
| Loudoun County | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | FT |
| Sammy Boyers | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0-for-0 |
| Allison Mallow | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1-for-2 |
| Olivia Eastlake | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Sharon Manni | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0-for-2 |
| Esther Paul | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Zoe Ward | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Abigail Chinn | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0-for-2 |
| Katherine Klerekoper | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Erin Lavery | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0-for-0 |
| Cyre Davis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0-for-0 |
| Totals | 18 | 21 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1-for-6 |