By Joey LoMonaco March 4 at 10:54 PM

A blue step ladder and shrink-wrapped replacement net loitered in obscurity near the threshold to Mount Vernons gym, marking the final two impediments in the face of Potomacs case for wholesale Virginia 5A boys basketball dominance.

As time ticked down in the fourth quarter of Wednesdays 5A North region final, and the Panthers built a double-digit lead against Conference 15 rival Freedom-Woodbridge, it became clear the Panthers would raise scissors to the far basket at Skinner Field House and shear an elusive regional championship off their bucket list.

Redemption, senior guard Jaren Johnson said, raising a pretend microphone to his mouth moments after the No. 12 Panthers 70-60 victory went final. Johnson was on the floor when the Panthers fell to Wakefield in last years final, marking the teams only loss that season.

Less than four miles of Jefferson Davis Highway separate Freedom and Potomac high schools in Woodbridge. Before Wednesdays region final in Alexandria, the teams had already squared off three times this season, with Potomac sweeping the previous matchups. And with that familiarity comes hostility.

Those tensions manifested themselves early. After Potomacs Armond Griebe threw down a one-handed slam midway through the first quarter, a shoving match ensued that resulted in double technical fouls on the Potomac big man and Freedoms Reginald Joiner.

A few minutes later, Potomacs Devante Bailey heaved a desperation three-point attempt that glanced gently off the top of the scoring box and fell for an improbable bank shot as the buzzer sounded to give the Panthers a 22-20 lead after one quarter. Potomac led 34-33 at halftime.

Senior Alex Ruffin led the Eagles (15-12) with 24 points and four rebounds, while sophomore James West IV, whose buzzer-beating three-pointer one night prior sealed Freedoms state tournament berth, had four threes.

Senior guard Keijon Honore led Potomac (23-3) with 18 points. His buzzer-beating floater in the lane gave the Panthers a double-digit lead to end the third quarter. After the celebratory scrum and trophy presentation, the four-year varsity player and three-year starter got the first turns with the scissors atop the ladder.

That was great, he said. That was the one thing I havent had in my career, this was one of our goals and we accomplished it as a team.

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Potomac boys basketball tops Freedom-Woodbridge to snip region title off to-do list