PA, Salem reach region final in contrasting styles
Cavs win by 37, while SunDevils win at the buzzer
NORFOLK — Princess Anne earned its 15th consecutive VHSL state girls basketball tournament berth on Thursday, while Salem booked a spot in the Big Dance for the first time in six years. They advanced in ways as different as those numbers.
Riding a stifling defense, Princess Anne led by as many as 41 points and cruised to a 53-16 win over Indian River in a Class 5 Region A semifinal at Scope. Then came the drama.
Inayah Lendow scored on an offensive rebound with less than a second remaining to give Salem a 43-41 win over Kempsville in the other semifinal. That sets up a championship-game showdown between Salem (20-4) and Princess Anne (22-1) at 2 p.m. Monday at Scope.
Both will advance to the Class 5 state tournament, with the region winner hosting its state quarterfinal.
Princess Anne’s Hailey Harris scored 13 points, Tinasia Spencer 12 and Zakiya Stephenson 11, but defense played a supporting role in the Cavaliers’ victory. PA forced the Braves (14-10) into turnovers on five of their first six possessions, and 10 overall, on the way to a 17-0 lead after a quarter.
“That was our intent, to end it quickly so we could get some rest,” Princess Anne coach Darnell Dozier said. “I loved our defense.
“I can’t make them make baskets, but I can make them play defense.”
The Cavaliers were so good defensively, they almost pitched a shutout in the first half. Tristan Rickenbacker, who averages 23 points, got the Braves on the board with a basket after the Cavaliers scored the first 27 points of the game.
Rickenbacker would go on to score a game-high 14 points, but the rest of the team managed just two, so Princess Anne’s annual spot in the state tournament was never in doubt.
“I stopped counting after five,” Dozier joked when asked what he thought about making 15 consecutive state tournaments.
Stephenson, who owns two state championship rings with Princess Anne and will play in her fourth straight state tournament, is more impressed.
“It’s a great number,” she said. “We just get in the gym and push each other every time, and pray about the game.
“Winning in the state tournament is going to take heart, and nothing but God. We’ve just got to play together, talk and get buckets.”
Dozier said, “I think we can play with anybody. It doesn’t matter.”
Salem appeared headed for its own one-sided win, nabbing an early nine-point lead it stretched to 23-10 by halftime. Lendow knew it wouldn’t be so easy.
“We already knew Kempsville was going to make a run because it’s Kempsville,” she said. “We just had to stay mentally engaged, and I think our mental toughness really won us this game.”
Zakyah Lindsay (18 points) led the rally and put the Chiefs (17-7) ahead 41-39 by making two free throws with 2:17 remaining in the game. Eleysia Brown (15 points) tied the score at 41with a basket inside with 1:09 remaining.
Following a Kempsville miss, Salem ran the ball down to the final seconds, when Nora Christian’s layup bounced off the rim. Lendow beat a Kempsville player to the rebound and scored on a short fadeaway in the lane.
“I thought [Christian] was fouled, but they’re not going to call that,” Lendow said. “I came on with the second effort and put it up.
“It feels great. I’m just so happy to see my teammates happy and we’re moving on.”