Hampton shows it’s ready for repeat bid

HAMPTON — Hampton repeated as the Class 4 Region A girls basketball tournament champion and, based on its form in a 53-35 win over previously unbeaten Jamestown on Friday, the Crabbers are a threat to defend their state title.

The Crabbers (22-3) led the entire game after Jakyra Bienaime grabbed the opening tip and streaked to the basket for a layup. It was the first salvo in an 8-0 run in which the Crabbers took full control.

Kaliya (KD) Perry scored five points in the run, the first two on a stickback, before she drained a 3-pointer on the Crabbers’ next possession. She scored a game-high 14 points, right at her average.

“KD is big-time for us,” Hampton coach Shanda Bailey said. “She’s really come into her own. As a freshman and sophomore, she was a big part of the program, but she was a role player. She’s really emerged this season into being ‘the’ player.”

The Crabbers (22-3) have a lot of good players, and Perry got ample support from several others in double figures: Dreyanna Foster (11 points), Jaiden Hunter (11) and Dajanelle Linton-Robinson (10). All of those Crabbers play stellar defense as well, as they showed in holding Jamestown star Maddie Leach to a season-low six points.

Leach entered averaging 21.3 points after scoring a careerhigh 37 in a win Tuesday over Warhill that vaulted the Eagles (22-1) into a state tournament for the first time in 18 years. But, after scoring four points as the Eagles trailed 17-10 after a quarter, Leach added just two more amid non-stop double-teams.

“I just told our kids we were going to keep someone in her face,” Bailey said. “We were going to run two defenders at her, make her uncomfortable and get rid of the ball.

“Once she did, we were going to deny her getting it back.”

Raini Mayo had 11 points for the Eagles, who were never as close as seven points after the early moments of the second quarter. Like Hampton, the Eagles had already secured a state tournament berth, but they will be on the road in the quarterfinal round.

Hampton will be back in its home gym, site of its triumph Friday.

“It feels wonderful (to be back in the state tournament), a huge accomplishment because we had to make adjustments for Kennedy Harris,” Bailey said, referring to the 2023 graduate and reigning All-Tidewater Player of the Year. “We had to figure out what style we were going to play on both sides of the ball, but the girls did a great job adjusting.”