PA reaches 17th title game

Freshman Ojo, big third quarter spark Cavaliers in a rout

NORFOLK — Princess Anne is returning to yet another state title game.

The Cavaliers beat Deep Creek 70-48 Friday night at Norfolk State in a rematch of the Class 5 Region A final game from a week ago. The win secured Princess Anne its 17th state title-game appearance in school history and will give the Cavaliers a chance to defend last year’s title.

Princess Anne, aiming for a ninth state championship in 11 years, will play James River of Chesterfield County at 4:30 p.m. next Saturday at VCU’s Siegel Center in Richmond.

The Cavaliers used a big third-quarter push to bury the Hornets. With just more than four minutes remaining in the quarter, Princess Anne led 37-31 after Deep Creek went on a run to cut into the deficit. Asia Keels led the Hornets with 26 points.

The Cavaliers responded by turning up the heat and ended the third quarter on a 19-6 run. Princess

Anne ultimately outscored Deep Creek 23-13 in the third quarter and 37-23 in the second half.

“We try to wear out teams down,” Princess Anne coach Darnell Dozier said. “We run a lot, our players can play the whole game as y’all have noticed before. We just train so hard for events like this, for times like this. It’s hard to get here, but once you get here, you gotta be relaxed and just play.”

Freshman phenom Micah Ojo had a big impact on the game, finishing with 15 points on 7-for13 shooting and also tallying eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

“I’m just gonna put my head down, take my team with me and we’re just gonna push ourselves,” Ojo said of carrying momentum from her performance into the state title. “Because we know this is going to be our last game of the season. It’s win or go home, no matter what, so we know we just have to put our all out on the court no matter what.”

Ojo was one of three Cavaliers who scored in double figures. Tinasia Spencer led PA with 16 points and Damaria Moree finished with 10. Nine of the 14 players Dozier sent onto the floor scored.

“To be able to help add another (championship) win to (Dozier’s) collection and PA’s collection, it’s a dream come true,” Ojo said. “And also to get my first one, that’s definitely

a goal. Our team can really get there if we push ourselves.”

BILLY SCHUERMAN/STAFF PHOTOS Princess Anne’s Celeste Bailey, center, is swarmed by teammates as they celebrate their Class 5 state semifinal victory over Deep Creek on Friday night at Echols Hall in Norfolk.

Princess Anne’s Jasiah Olds, left, strips the ball from Deep Creek’s Morgan Herbert as the Cavaliers’ Hailey Harris also defends on Friday night.