Frankenberry and Rubama

Welcome to the High School Basketball Playoff blog. Check it out regularly for updates from staff writers Jami Frankenberry and Larry Rubama as boys and girls basketball postseason heats up.

Category: H.S. Basketball

Girls hoops: Is Dozier done?

Mar 08

12:07 AM

Do you believe him? Has Darnell Dozier really coached his final game at Princess Anne High School?

After the Cavaliers’ 51-42 loss to Forest Park in Tuesday’s Group AAA state semifinals, Dozier surprised reporters by saying “I’m job-searching.”

He said if Princess Anne had won a state title, he planned to stay. “If not,” Dozier said, “I’m out.”

Dozier has hinted about leaving before. He said as much after he guided the Cavaliers to the state championship in 2002. He could go out on top, Dozier said then.

His previous hints, though, were greeted with more amusement than anything. This time, he wasn’t smiling.

Dozier said he had two job offers. He wouldn’t name them. He wants to coach somewhere else in Virginia, preferably Northern Virginia, but he doesn’t want to inherit a losing program.

In the locker room after the game, Dozier said he told his team he probably was finished as Princess Anne’s coach.

“I’m shocked,” senior Tonya Clark said. “I kind of knew it was going to come, but I didn’t know it was going to be our class.”

If Dozier exits, he leaves Princess Anne with a career record of 325-35 over 13 seasons. His teams won two state championships and 10 Beach District regular-season crowns.

And he leaves a program that is widely regarded as one of the best in Virginia, one that this season featured 6-3 freshman Elizabeth Williams.

“I would hate to leave Elizabeth, because I love her to death,” Dozier said. “But sometimes it’s better to get a relocation.”

Added Dozier, “I think it’s time to go, I really do.”

- Jami Frankenberry

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WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS DOZIER DONE? DO YOU AGREE WITH HOW HE HANDLED IT?

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Boys hoops: Bulldogs lose and All-Tidewater

Mar 08

11:39 AM

BULLDOGS SEASON OVER

King’s Fork’s first trip to the state Group AAA tournament was short-lived as the Bulldogs, in only their fourth year of existence, lost to T.C. Williams 59-39 Saturday in a quarterfinal game at Robinson Secondary in Fairfax.

The Bulldogs were only down 26-24 at the half but T.C. Williams used a 14-2 run to begin the third quarter to blow the game open.

The Bulldogs made just two field goals in the second half.

Jaquon Parker, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer in the postseason, scored only six points in the second half. That’s much lower than his 19-point average in the playoffs.

Teammate Jamar Wertz, the team’s second-leading scorer, didn’t fare any better. He came in averaging 17 points but was held to nine points overall and just four points in the second half.

“We had our chances,” said King’s Fork coach Josh Worrell. “We just couldn’t get the ball to fall into the tonight.”

Added T.C. Williams coach Ivan Thomas:

“We didn’t talk about offense a lot this week at practice,” he said. “All we talked about was defense.”

It was the just second time this season that Parker and Wertz didn’t score in double figures this season. Parker scored a season-low eight points against Deep Creek in the region tournament. Wertz had nine points against Nansemond River during the regular season.

BRIGHT SIDE

King’s Fork sophomore center Jay Copeland played perhaps his best game of the season.

He finished with a team-high 15 points. He also had nine rebounds.

But it wasn’t his season high. Copeland scored 16 points against Hickory and had a career-high 18 points against Nansemond River.

GOOD NEWS

As tough as the loss was, there is hope for next season as King’s Fork returns all of its top players, including Jaquon Parker and Jamar Wertz.

The only player the Bulldogs lose is senior reserve Yussef Ola.

You can bet King’s Fork will come back next season hungry and with something to prove.

DELAY

The King’s Fork-T.C. Williams game was delayed by nearly two hours because of a power outage.

But Worrell said that didn’t have any affect on his team.

“I don’t think it hurt us in the long run,” he said.

Still, it had to difficult for the players and coaches to wait.

NO HELP

T.C. Williams coach Ivan Thomas isn’t a stranger to South Hampton Roads basketball. He played at Norview High School under then Pilots coach Ed Young, who is now at Nansemond River.

Thomas said he spoke to Young this week on Young's radio show.

“He told me he always knew I’d go into coaching,” Thomas said. “He told me he couldn’t give me a scouting report on (King's Fork) but I understood.”

ALL-TIDEWATER

Now that the boys basketball season is over, it’s time to focus on postseason honors.

South Hampton Roads has many great players who are worthy to make All-Tidewater but only 10 make it.

There are many public school athletes to choose from, including Corey Law (Deep Creek), Kendrix Brown (Norview) and Marcus Davis (Ocean Lakes). All three players were chosen Player of the Year of their district.

You also have to look at players from the winning district regular-season and tournament title teams.

And don’t forget the private schools players as Ryan Barbosa (StoneBridge), Isaac Ballou (Nansemond-Suffolk), Donte Hill (Norfolk Collegiate), Keith Wright (Norfolk Collegiate), Steven Pledger (Atlantic Shores), Andre Dawkins (Atlantic Shores), Damiane Ryans (Cape Henry), Darrian Freeman (Cape Henry), Terrell Allen (Cape Henry) and James McAdoo (Norfolk Christian) all deserve consideration.

So who would you choose? Again, you can only choose 10 players.

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Girls hoops: A look at PA’s seniors

Mar 08

12:03 PM

Then and now

During the 2004-05 season they were precocious freshmen, finding their way on a varsity squad that was loaded with talent.

Back then, Princess Anne’s roster featured sweet-shooting guard Kim Rodgers, the leading scorer, back court mate Megan Masch and an inside tandem of Tiffany Benson and Britne’ Rodgers.

But the Cavaliers also had a trio of sophomores playing significant minutes: Tonya Clark, Raven Harris and Kay Vick. They were part of a team that won its final 21 games on the way to a Group AAA state title.

Now, Clark, Harris and Vick are seniors and team leaders. And Saturday, the trio begins their quest to help Princess Anne bring home another state title, its third since 2002.

As a freshman, Harris averaged 6.6 points per game. Coach Darnell Dozier predicted she would one day lead the Cavs in scoring. She’s done that this season and was the Beach District Player of the Year. She has signed with American University.

Clark, who averaged 3.1 points per game as a freshman, this season was the district defensive player of the year. She’s headed to Delaware State.

The versatile Vick – she scored 2.9 ppg as a freshman - has been a force inside and outside this season. She was a first-team All-Beach pick and has signed with Radford.

Saturday’s game

Group AAA state quarterfinal: Princess Anne (28-1) plays R.E. Lee-Springfield (25-3) at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax. Game time is 2 p.m. Winner gets either Forest Park or Mills Godwin.

- Jami Frankenberry

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Girls hoops: Princess Anne-Heritage recap

Mar 08

10:38 AM

A night of firsts

Heritage captured its first region basketball title and handed the Cavaliers their first loss of the season after 28 consecutive victories.

Good news for PA? The Cavs (28-1) already had made the Group AAA state tournament and play Robert E. Lee-Springfield at 2 p.m. Saturday in Fairfax.

On Monday, though, Princess Anne struggled mightily offensively. The Cavaliers missed layups and just about everything else, finishing 6 of 26 from the field during the second and third quarters. That’s when Heritage took control of the game.

“Sputtered,” is how Princess Anne coach Darnell Dozier described it. “We just shot the ball poorly tonight. We did have some good looks and missed some layups and just weren’t focused for this game tonight. Maybe it was too much hype, I don’t know.”

Star guard Raven Harris had a disappointing night, scoring only five points and going without a field goal. But Harris was forthright afterward, fighting back tears after coming out of the lockerroom to answer questions about what went wrong. That’s not easy to do.

“We just weren’t clicking tonight like we normally do,” Harris said. “Our shots weren’t falling. They played hard on a couple of our key players and it was hard for us to come out and do what we normally do.”

Bonae’s big night

Bonae Holston scored 22 points – seven above her season average – to lead the Hurricanes. Sonia Johnson scored nine.

Holston, who has signed with N.C. State, constantly buried mid-range jump shots.

“Bonae can hit that mid-range shot, that’s her game,” Heritage coach Michael Gardner said. “We were very fortunate tonight that she was on, she was hitting them.”

Up next

Princess Anne’s next opponent, Robert E. Lee, is coming off its first region girls basketball title. The Lancers defeated W.T. Woodson 66-40 in the Northern Region final Saturday.

Heritage plays Woodson at 2 p.m. Saturday at Churchland.

Princess Anne and Heritage are on opposite sides of the state tournament bracket, so they could meet again in the championship game. They’re two victories from that.

“I’m still proud of my ball club,” Dozier said. “We’ 28-1, still in the state and I think we’ll be there at the end.”

- Jami Frankenberry

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Boys hoops: King's Fork falls but will play again

Mar 08

1:38 AM

ROUGH NIGHT

Monday was a rough night for King’s Fork.

The Bulldogs lost to Bethel, 54-41, in the Eastern Region championship game in front of a sold-out crowd at Churchland High School.

“We had opportunities to still win but we just couldn’t get over that hump,” said King’s Fork coach Josh Worrell.

Added King’s Fork guard Jamar Wertz:

“We felt we could be right with them but we made too many mistakes down the stretch and they capitalized on them.”

Bethel forward Bill Weaver said the key to the game was containing Bulldog guards Jaquon Parker and Wertz.

“We knew they were real aggressive and we knew we had to watch Parker and Wertz,” said Weaver, who finished with 18 points. “But we came out on a mission tonight and we made a statement.”

The good news for the Bulldogs is that the season isn’t over. They travel to Northern Virginia on Saturday where they will meet Northern Region winner T.C. Williams in the Group AAA state tournament quarterfinals.

Worrell said his team has to play better, especially on defense, or it could be a long ride home Saturday night.

THE CURSE IS OVER

Bethel coach Craig Brehon can smile again when people mention Churchland High School.

For years, Churchland hasn’t been good to Brehon and the Bruins. His teams have advanced four previous times to the region semifinals, which are held at Churchland. Each time his teams lost.

But not this season.

Not only did Bethel earn a berth to the Group AAA state tournament but the Bruins also won the school’s first regional title since 1993.

“We knew we had a good basketball team and we got better as the season went on,” Brehon said. “Those kids just believe in each other.”

What’s funny is Brehon had some Bruins believing this was going to be a bad year.

Fortunately, the Bruins didn’t believe him.

“In the beginning of the season, he told us we weren’t going to do anything,” said Tre Lee, who finished with 12 points. “But he just did that to motivate us.”

Judging by the results, it worked.

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Girls hoops: Oaks fall in final

Mar 08

12:53 AM

Norfolk Collegiate’s season – and star She’la White’s illustrious career – came to a disappointing conclusion Saturday night in Fairfax.

Paul VI defeated Norfolk Collegiate 73-69 in the VIS Division I championship game. The Oaks (26-3) were playing for their first state title.

For White, it was a rare off night, although she made some big shots late to keep the Oaks alive and finished with 22 points. She was 9 of 29 from the field, and her pull-up 3-pointer from the left wing with 4.6 seconds left pulled Norfolk Collegiate within 70-69.

“It just wasn’t going well,” White said. “I just had to keep doing what I do and keep my head up. The first half my shot wasn’t falling, so I came out in the second half with a different attitude for the rest of the game. It just happens.”

The Panthers (19-13) used a defensive strategy that Norfolk Collegiate had seen before, running two and three defenders at White. Paul VI’s Denae Hill was on White most of the night and scored a game-high 23 points of her own.

“The teams that have been successful ran two players at her and were real physical with her,” Oaks coach Suzanne Midkiff said, referring to games against Wilson and Walsingham (both losses). “They basically just worked to wear her out.”

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Foul talk

Midkiff and White weren’t happy with the officiating, and neither were many of Norfolk Collegiate fans.

Two starters – Mary Kelly and Margeaux Byrd - fouled out, and another starter, Markell Smith finished with four fouls.

“I just think we kind of got frustrated with the officials and the calls,” White said. “We’re not supposed to get frustrated but we did.”

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Saying goodbye

White, a senior, leaves as one of the best high school girls basketball players ever to come out of South Hampton Roads.

She played for two seasons at Wilson High in Portsmouth before heading to Norfolk Collegiate for her final two years.

Her credentials include a scholarship to North Carolina and a spot in the McDonald’s All-American basketball game next month in Milwaukee. No other area girl has played in the prestigious event.

“It’s been great,” White said. “I would’ve like to win a state (championship), but it didn’t happen. My high school career, I’ve had a lot of ups and downs but overall it’s been good, it’s been fun.”

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Tourney MVP

Although White dominated in the tournament, scoring 92 points in three games, Paul VI’s Blair Koniszewski was named MVP. Konisewski scored 16 points Saturday and was 9 of 9 from the free-throw line. She drained six free throws in the final period.

-- Jami Frankenberry

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Boys hoops: Norcom-Bethel recap

Feb 08

12:45 AM

EASTERN REGION SEMIFINAL

What an amazing game between Norcom and Bethel.

Here’s a Greyhound team that lost its first three games and then midway through the season dropped five in a row. But somehow Norcom coach Leon Goolsby was able to turn things around to make the Greyhounds a winner. And if it weren’t for turnovers late, the Greyhounds would be making their first trip to the Group AAA state tournament since the 1992-93 season.

“I’m so proud of our guys,” he said. “I just look how far we’ve come in the last two years. They went from being district champions the year before I got here. Then the next year we made it the first round of regionals before losing. And this year we got to the region semifinals. Building program takes time and as long as we get better, hopefully we’ll get this chance again next year.”

The Greyhounds lose three of five starters – Deshaune Green, Ed Porter, Dominique Hunt – but should be competitive with the return of guards Deshawn Williams and Darius Theus. Theus was just unconscious during the postseason, averaging 24.3 points a game.

THE GOOD AND BAD

Goolsby said he hated to lose but he was happy for Bethel coach Craig Brehon. Goolsby and Brehon became friends after Goolsby spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Woodside.

Brehon is actually from South Hampton Roads. He played basketball at Lake Taylor and has served as an assistant coach at Booker T. Washington, Lake Taylor, Granby and Maury.

Tonight he’ll find out who Bethel will play when Deep Creek and King’s Fork meet for the fourth time this season.

Earlier this season, the Bruins beat Deep Creek, 56-54, at the Ronald Curry Classic at Hampton University.

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Girls hoops: Princess Anne vs. Lake Taylor

Feb 08

11:24 PM

Princess Anne (27-0) vs. Lake Taylor (23-3)

Eastern Region semifinal

6 p.m. Friday at Churchland High School

The winner gets: A spot in Monday’s 6 p.m. championship game against Heritage and a berth in the Group AAA state tournament.

Credentials: Princess Anne swept the Beach District regular-season and tournament crowns; Lake Taylor shared the Eastern District regular-season title with Wilson and lost in the district championship game to the Presidents.

Leading scorers: Princess Anne’s Raven Harris (19 ppg); Lake Taylor’s Breshara Gordon (10.1 ppg)

Key match-up: Lake Taylor’s post players, including Toia Giggetts and Ebony Belmer vs. Princess Anne C Elizabeth Williams, a 6-4 freshman. The Titans struggled offensively in a quarterfinal victory over Indian River, and an imposing shot-blocker won’t make things any easier in the semifinals.

Last region trip: Princess Anne lost in the region semifinals last season; Lake Taylor fell in the opening round of the region tournament.

Princess Anne will win if: The Cavaliers’ press defense forces turnovers and they get easy baskets in transition. If Williams dominates defensively in the paint, it could be a long night for the Titans.

Lake Taylor will win if: The Titans shake off their recent shooting woes, play disciplined defense and their post players can figure a way around Williams (pump fake, anyone?). Getting Williams in foul trouble wouldn’t hurt either. Also, it’s key for the Titans to stay close early.

Did you know: Princess Anne is 48-1 in its past 49 games.

- Jami Frankenberry

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Boys hoops: Semifinals

Feb 08

1:05 PM

Eastern Region boys basketball tournament

At Churchland High School in Portsmouth

Today

Norcom (17-10) vs. Bethel (26-1), 8 p.m.

Friday

Deep Creek (21-5) vs. King's Fork (23-4), 8 p.m.

Monday

Finals, 8 p.m.

SEMIFINAL PICKS

Norcom vs. Bethel: The Greyhounds have won five in a row and eight of nine. They are led by Darius Theus, who is averaging 16.3 points a game and 25.2 in the postseason. Deshawn Williams (13.2) and Deshaune Green also pace the Greyhounds. If Norcom is going to have any chance then they must have HUGE games from 6-foot-8 Green and 6-10 Dominique Hunt. Hunt, along with 6-8 Webster Parker, have to give Green help in the paint or the Greyhounds can forget about it. Bethel has four players who are 6-7 or taller, including Clemson-bound Mbai Goto Olivier (11 ppg, 11 rpg), Duquesne-bound Ali Djim, LaSalle-bound David Boroum and Bill Weaver (11 ppg, 7 rpg). The Bruins also have a great combination of guards with Paul Meredith (10 ppg, 7 apg), Jontel Evans (11.5) and Tre Lee (12 .0).

PICK: Bethel

Deep Creek vs. King's Fork: Deep Creek came into the tournament limping, losing three of its last four but the Hornets have turned it around thanks to Southeastern District Player of the Year Corey Law (20.4 ppg). He's also getting help from Chris Evans (17.9), Marcel Chesson and Ed Roberts. The Hornets, I'm sure, also haven't forgotten the 86-68 beat down they took from King's Fork in the district semifinals. King's Fork, founded in 2003, is making history. First the Bulldogs won their first district tournament title. Now they are one win away from advancing to the Group AAA state tournament. King's Fork is led by guards Jamar Wertz (17.2 ppg) and Jaquon Parker (17.1). Sophomore center Jay Copeland (9.5) also has played well. But it's hard to beat a team three times in a row.

PICK: Deep Creek

Quarterfinal results: Larry went 3-1. Wrong pick: Booker T. Washington over King's Fork. I may be wrong again Friday, too.

Overall record: 8-4

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Girls hoops: Wilson vs. Heritage

Feb 08

9:37 PM

Wilson (23-4) vs. Heritage (23-2)

Eastern Region semifinal

6 p.m. Thursday at Churchland High School

The winner gets: A spot in Monday’s 6 p.m. championship game against either Princess Anne or Lake Taylor and a berth in the Group AAA state tournament.

Credentials: Wilson shared the Eastern District regular-season championship with Lake Taylor and won the district tournament; Heritage swept through the Peninsula District regular-season and tournament.

Leading scorers: Wilson’s JoNiquia Guilford (20.5 ppg); Heritage’s Bonae Holston (15 ppg).

Key match-up: Holston and Sonia Johnson vs. Wilson’s post players. Holston, who has signed with N.C. State, and Johnson, who has signed with Delaware State, present a challenge inside, and it’ll likely be up to the Presidents’ Kendra Powell and Eulandra Forrest to stop them. Powell, a junior, scored 10 points in the region quarterfinals, while Forest – a sophomore transfer from Oscar Smith – has played well defensively.

Last region trip: Both teams made it last season. Wilson lost to Hampton in the semifinals; Heritage lost in the final to the Crabbers and reached the Group AAA semifinals.

Wilson will win if: The Presidents put the clamps on Heritage’s inside game and control the tempo with guards Shakiyla Finney and Brittany Ellis. And if Guilford gets hot from outside, look out ...

Heritage will win if: The Hurricanes pound it inside and stay out of foul trouble, and if they don't get caught too often in Wilson's harassing, trapping defense.

Did you know: Before Wilson played King’s Fork in Tuesday’s quarterfinals, officials from both schools said they ordered a man in the stands to stop filming after he said he was doing so for Heritage. The man put his camera away but stayed to watch the game.

- Jami Frankenberry

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