Princess Anne, Hampton rev up title defenses
State berths at stake in region semifinals
Princess Anne (Class 5) and Hampton (Class 4) are the area’s girls basketball defending state champions and, it appears, the biggest threats to win those titles again.
But both will have to negotiate challenging region semifinals just to get back to the state tournament. Princess Anne (20-2) faced its biggest Beach District challenge recently against Kellam (19-4), its opponent in the Class 5 Region A semifinals Wednesday at Deep Creek.
Hampton (19-3) has lost this season only to Princess Anne and 2022 Class 5 state champion Menchville (twice). Still, its game Tuesday against Eastern District co-champion Manor (19-3) in the Class 4 Region A semifinals at Jamestown figures to be tough.
All of the semifinal winners — two in each region — advance to the state tournament. Like Princess Anne and Hampton, most of the teams looking to face that season-defining step are likely to be presented with challenging region semifinals.
Below is a look at the ongoing region tournaments.
Class 5 Region A Wednesday’s semifinals at Deep Creek:
#1 Deep Creek vs. #4 Salem, 5:30 p.m.; #2 Princess Anne vs. #3 Kellam, 7 p.m.
Up next: Championship game at Ocean Lakes between Wednesday’s winners.
The buzz: It’s a rare season when Princess Anne doesn’t have the best player in Hampton Roads and, in 6-1 forward Micah Ojo (18.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.7 steals, 4.2 blocks and 3.5 assists per game), this one is no exception. “She’s just a little better than most to come through and just as good as some to come through,” Cavaliers coach Darnell Dozier said. “She’s going to be a good player, but our seniors are walking her through everything,” Those seniors include guard Tinasia Spencer (11.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.3 spg, 2.6 apg) and Celeste Bailey (7.3 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 spg). Dozier credited Kellam for playing well in the Cavaliers’ recent 63-52 victory. Kellam coach Brook Parker calls Princess Anne the “gold standard of Virginia high school basketball” and says his team will treat it like a state championship game. The Spain sisters, freshman twins Mia and Kate (12 ppg each) are getting plenty of assists from junior sibling Molly Spain, while Caroline Casady is averaging a double-double (13 ppg, 10 rpg). Although Princess Anne is the favorite, Deep Creek (21-1) is the top seed. The Hornets, led by Asia Keels (13 ppg, 8 apg), Alaya Monroe (13 ppg, 11 rpg) and freshman sensation Morgan Herbert (11 ppg, 11 rpg), should get a stern test from Salem (15-6), which got 13 points and nine rebounds from Zakyah Lindsay in its 83-21 win over Indian River in the quarterfinals.
Class 5 Region B Today’s quarterfinals at Maury:
#1 Menchville vs. #8 Maury, noon; #4 Woodside vs. #5 Bethel, 2 p.m.; #3 Norview vs. #6 Warwick, 4 p.m.; #2 Nansemond River vs. #7 King ’s Fork, 6 p.m.
Up next: Wednesday’s semifinals at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall — Maury-Menchville winner vs. Woodside-Bethel winner at 2 p.m.; Norview-Warwick winner vs. Nansemond River-King’s Fork winner at 4 p.m.; Championship game at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall — Wednesday’s winners at 6 p.m. Friday.
The buzz: There is quality in this bracket from top to bottom. Still, it would be a surprise if Menchville (20-2), looking for a region title repeat, did not have to face surging Norview (16-5) in the final for a third consecutive season. Menchville is getting 26 points a game from Cyriah Griffin and 14 per game from Ayame Colson. Norview struggled early in the season but has everyone healthy now and has won nine consecutive, led by Leyla Minor (17.8 ppg, 10 rpg), Kiyah Fitchett (17.5 ppg) and Taylor Christful (11.7 ppg). King’s Fork (12-9), the 2022 Class 4 state champ, has made five consecutive state tournaments, but probably will have to overcome Norview in the semis to reach a sixth. That’s if it can get by Nansemond River (18-3), which won the regular-season meeting 37-36 on a free throw by Brittany Evans (17.3 ppg) in the final seconds. Jordin Richardson (18.7 ppg) is also a big scorer for Nansemond River, while Riley Hite (19.5 ppg) and Imani Clemons (18 ppg, 10 rpg) can fill it up for King’s Fork, thanks in part to eight assists per game from Dnayshia Jenkins. Bethel (13-8) is led by guard Milan Brewington (16.2 ppg) and Warwick (14-8) by Amariona Collins-Epps (14.4 ppg) and Jaliyah Nettles (11.2 ppg).
Class 4 Region A
Tuesday’s semifinals at Jamestown: #2 Manor vs. #3 Hampton, 5:30 p.m.; #1 Jamestown vs. #4 Warhill, 7 p.m.
Up next: Friday’s championship game at highest remaining boys seed at 7 p.m.
The buzz: With all of their players healthy for the first time all season, Hampton — which lost a 58-54 nail-biter recently to Menchville — is clicking on all cylinders. The Crabbers possess depth, and quality in the likes of junior Kaliya Perry (14.2 ppg), senior Jaiden Hunter (14.3 ppg) and freshman Lyla Ames (14.0 ppg), while freshman Jakyra Bienaime is emerging at point guard. Manor retaliates with five double- figure scorers in Sian Lewin (16 ppg), Jada Clark (15 ppg), Kobe Haggins (17 ppg, 10 rpg), Lauren Williams (10 ppg, 10 rpg) and Ca’Asia Brown (10 ppg). “They look to just get the rebound and go,” Hampton coach Shanda Bailey said of the Mustangs. Jamestown (21-0), the only unbeaten public-school team in the area, seeks its first state tournament berth since 2006 and, with sophomore star Maddie Leach (21.1 ppg) and a strong senior class led by Raini Mayo (15.8 ppg), the Eagles have a good shot. But Warhill (17-4) is surging, having won 13 of its past 14, led by D’Shela Walker (15 ppg) and Mary Drakes
(13 ppg, 10 rpg). The Lions won’t be a pushover with a state tournament berth at stake.
Class 3 Region A
Tuesday’s quarterfinals: #8 Tabb at #1 Hopewell at 7 p.m.; #5 Colonial Heights at #4 Lafayette at 5:30 p.m.; #7 Heritage at #2 Grafton at 6 p.m; # 6 Norcom at #3 Lake Taylor at 5:30 p.m.
Up next: Thursday’s semifinals at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall — Tabb-Hopewell winner vs. Colonial Heights-Lafayette winner at 2 p.m.; Heritage-Grafton winner vs. Norcom-Lake Taylor winner at 4 p.m.; Saturday’s championship game at 1 p.m. at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall between Thursday’s winners.
The buzz: Lafayette (14-8) is seeded fourth, but after finishing the regular season 9-2 once reigning Bay Rivers District Player of the Year Dynasti Pierce (20.8 ppg, 8.5 apg, 4.5 spg) became eligible, the Rams are a threat in a potential semifinal against top seed Hopewell (16-5) with a state playoff berth on the line. Grafton (17-5), Lake Taylor (14-5) and Norcom (13-11) are all capable of emerging from the other side of the bracket to go to state, and of winning the region. Grafton has gotten terrific play in a rebuilding season from sophomore forward
Taylor Ragland (19.1 ppg, 11.5 rpg) and senior guard Alonni Wells (14.5 ppg, 6.1 apg). Jadah White (28.5 ppg, 10 rpg, 8 spg) — the area’s leading public-school scorer — will be a key for Norcom. Sophomore guard Lamari Budd has scored more than 20 in numerous games of late for Lake Taylor.
Class 2 Region A
Tuesday’s quarterfinals: #8 Lunenburg Central at #1 John Marshall, 6 p.m.; #5 Greensville County at #4 Prince Edward, 6 p.m.; #6 Amelia at #3 Poquoson, 6 p.m.; #10 Bruton at #2 King William, 6 p.m.
Up next: Thursday’s semifinals — Lunenburg CentralJohn Marshall winner vs. Prince Edward-Greensville County winner at higher seed, time TBA; Amelia-Poquoson winner vs. Bruton-King William winner at higher seed, time TBA; Friday’s championship game at higher seed, time TBA.
The buzz: Should seedings hold, Poquoson will play at King William on Thursday with a state tournament berth on the line. Annabelle Simmons scored 32 points in a game for the Islanders recently, but more impressively had a quadruple-double of 23 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 13 steals in another.