VISGBA girls hoops: White fuels Norfolk Collegiate victory in quarterfinals

With her team's lead dwindling early in the third quarter, White called a timeout to regroup. The huddle helped.

Norfolk Collegiate proceeded score 18 of the last 19 points in the period as White propelled the host Oaks to a 64-37 victory over Trinity Episcopal in the quarterfinals of the VISGBA Division I state tournament. .

White had the kind of game you might expect from a McDonald's All-American. She scored 28 points (sinking five three-pointers), dished out seven assists and hauled in seven rebounds.

It was the 14^th time this season Norfolk Collegiate (25-2) has held its opponent to 40 or less points and 17^th occasion White has posted 20 or more points. The Oaks won their 21^st game by double figures.

Norfolk Collegiate travels Friday to Paul VI in Fairfax to square off against the winner of Thursday's game between Flint Hill and St. Anne's-Belfield. Game time is 6:45 p.m.

Mary Kelly contributed 12 points, Andrea Paphites added 10 and Markell Smith tallied six points and six rebounds for Norfolk Collegiate.

It didn't take White long to get going, scoring Norfolk Collegiate's first basket of the night, a little over a minute into the game. White drilled three three-pointers in the first quarter to give the Oaks a 17-13 lead that they never relinquished.

"I just came out on a mission. I made a statement that I'm ready to win states," White said.

Norfolk Collegiate finished the second quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 30-19 advantage into the half, with White accounting for half of the team's total points.

However, the Titans closed to within two points, at 30-28, rattling off nine unanswered points to start the third quarter. White broke the Oaks' drought with a three-point play, getting a tough layup in traffic to drop after being fouled and then hitting the free throw.

Trinity only scored one more point in the third and Mary Kelly (12 points) connected on a three off a feed from White to give the Oaks a 51-31 lead, demoralizing their foe, who managed only six points in the fourth.

"I've always accomplished everything I wanted to, but right now I want a state title," said White, a North Carolina recruit who is averaging 28 points in her last five games..