Norview girls claim region crown
GIRLS
Class 5 Region B final
Norview’s Kiyah Fitchett and Taylor Christful made four free throws in the final 12.8 seconds Friday night to help the Pilots beat Menchville 55-51 for the Class 5 Region B girls basketball title at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall. The Pilots outscored the Monarchs 20-11 in the fourth quarter.
Fitchett made two free throws with 12.8 seconds left, but Menchville’s Cyriah Griffin made a layup to make it a two-point game. Christful was fouled quickly and calmly sank two free throws with 2.6 seconds left to seal the win.
“I wasn’t really nervous at all. I usually make my free throws,” said Christful, who was 5 of 5 from the free-throw line and scored a gamehigh 17 points.
Fitchett had 16 points and eight rebounds, including a crucial one off a missed free throw with 15.1 seconds to go. She was fouled and made two free throws.
Norview coach Jonathan Wilson said he doesn’t know when the Pilots last won a region title, but they got this one.
“It’s a blessing,” he said. “This is our third year being (in the region championship game). They beat us the last two years. So this is bittersweet, but we know it doesn’t stop here.”
Norview will face Deep Creek in a state quarterfinal, while Menchville will travel to face Princess Anne.
— Larry Rubama
Class 5 Region A final #2 Princess Anne 52, #1 Deep Creek 45:
Two freshmen paced the visiting Cavaliers, who finished on a 7-0 run in the last 37 seconds in Ocean Lakes’ gym in Virginia Beach.
Micah Ojo scored a game-high 26 points and added 17 rebounds, five steals and five blocks. Bahaar Grewal came off the bench and scored 12 points on four 3-pointers.
It was Princess Anne’s 16th region title in the past 18 years. Darnell Dozier improved his coaching record to 734-59.
Kymora Hinton (13), Asia Keels (12) and Morgan Herbert (12) scored in double figures for the Hornets, who led 14-8 after one quarter.
The Cavaliers (22-2) will play Region B runner-up Menchville on Tuesday in the Class 5 state quarterfinals. Deep Creek will meet Norview.
TCIS final
#1 Catholic 61, #3 Norfolk Christian 43: It was bombs away for
Catholic High (25-6) Nearly in its win at Norfolk Christian for the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools Tournament championship.
The Crusaders made six of their 12 3-pointers in the first quarter in staking out a 24-16 lead. Olivia Bowes, who scored 23 points, had three 3-pointers and 11 points in the first eight minutes. Sophomore Zaniyah Williams scored a gamehigh 24 points.
The Ambassadors (22-8) took a hit with 6:43 left in the first half when first-team All-TCIS selection Justice Brown-Jones went to the bench with her third foul. She finished with just five points, well below her 17.1 scoring average. Norfolk Christian was led by 12 points from Ellery Giddens
Metro Conference semifinals
#1 Hampton Christian 51, #4 Greenbrier Christian 36:
Jayla Crosby led the Warriors with 18 points while Elizabeth Thome led the Gators with 23 points. Hampton Christian advanced to Saturday’s championship game at Atlantic Shores against the host Seahawks, seeded second, who beat third-seeded StoneBridge 38-23.
BOYS
Class 5 Region A final #2 Green Run 59, #1 Kempsville 43:
The Stallions (18-7) won an all-Beach District final, going on a 28-3 run to go ahead 28-7. Both teams already had qualified for the state quarterfinals; Green Run will play host to Maury, and Kempsville will travel to meet Woodside.
Green Run took its fourth region title in five seasons and second in a row under coach Kenneth Harris.
The game was halted for several minutes in the fourth quarter after Kempsville’s Jeremiah White fell dangerously and was motionless, but he was able to walk off the floor with some assistance.
Class 4 Region A final #1 Hampton 60, #2 Churchland 48:
No. 1 seed Hampton turned back a second-half challenge by Churchland and pulled away to a victory in the Class 4 Region A boys championship game.
The host Crabbers (22-2) led by six points to start the second half, but the Truckers used a 9-4 run and pulled to within 32-31 on a three-point play by Sincere Jones. Churchland had a chance to go ahead on its next possession, but Jasiah Bowman’s baseline jumper bounced off of the rim.
Hampton put out the fire with a 15-0 run that started with a threepoint play by Daron Baugh. Malik Johnson, who led the Crabbers with 18 points, followed with a 3-pointer. Abraham Taft and Isaac Bauscher (14 points) added backto-back baskets as the Crabbers continued to expand the lead.
Monte Gatlin (15) led the Truckers, who will travel to Richmond to face two-time defending state champion Varina in their state quarterfinal. The Crabbers will be back in their own gym for a quarterfinal against Region B runner-up Dinwiddie.
— Marty O’Brien
Class 2 Region A final
#1 John Marshall 97, #2 Bruton 50: Playing in Huguenot High’s gym
in Richmond, the Panthers were the latest victim of the defending state champion Justices, who have become the most dominant basketball team in any VHSL class. Bruton nevertheless will advance to a state quarterfinal against the winner of Saturday’s Region B final between Luray and Clarke County.
TCIS semifinals
#1 Norfolk Collegiate 67, Steward 47:
Brennan Chatman scored 23 points as the top-seeded Oaks beat the Spartans of Richmond in Norfolk Christian’s gym.
#3 Catholic 57, #2 Peninsula Catholic 51: Alex Pissis scored 15 points and Brayden Thorne and Ashton Walker added 13 apiece for the Crusaders, Jaylen Wynn and Malcolm Velmar scored in double digits for Peninsula Catholic, which will try to bounce back in the VISAA playoffs.
TCIS final
#1 Norfolk Collegiate 65, #3 Catholic 63: Rashaad Williams’ 28 points led the Oaks past the Crusaders in Norfolk Christian’s gym. Alex Pissis scored 20 for Catholic.
Metro Conference semifinals
#1 Hampton Christian 78, #5 Denbigh Baptist 54:
The top-seeded Warriors outplayed the Minutemen of Newport News to move into Saturday night’s final at Atlantic Shores against the homestanding Seahawks, seeded second, who beat third-seeded Greenbrier Christian 66-36.