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Jackets advance to final

Region A girls semifinals

By TAFT COGHILL JR.

Date published: 2/27/2005

JM defense leads way yet again

CENTRAL GARAGE--The James Monroe High School girls basketball team had its lowest scoring output of the season, and failed to convert a 3-point basket last night in the Group A, Region A semifinals against Middlesex. And it still came away with a 10-point win.

The Yellow Jackets advanced to the region championship game by defeating the Chargers 45-35 behind a stifling defense.

James Monroe (24-0) will face Franklin for the regional championship tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. at King William High School. The Broncos defeated Essex 57-53 in the other semifinal.

"Hopefully we're saving all our shooting for Monday," JM standout guard Alicia McMorris said. "I don't know what was wrong, but hopefully we'll get it together."

Added JM coach Julian Bumbrey: "No game is going to be easy at this point. Everybody is coming at us with their best shot. Middlesex gave us a good fight, and I expect the same from Franklin."

The Chargers (16-6) suffered two blowout losses to JM during the regular season, but that was without standout point guard Patricia Price. The sophomore was injured in the first two meetings, but she played last night.

Bumbrey said Price gave the Yellow Jackets problems by getting into the paint with her quickness.

Still, she was held to seven points, and the Yellow Jackets were able to stop her from setting up other teammates.

"Defense is our game," JM forward Shylan Bumbrey said. "When our offense isn't on, our defense can carry us."

The Yellow Jackets didn't show signs that they would struggle offensively in the first quarter. Bumbrey came out and hit four straight mid-range jumpers to push her team to a 14-9 advantage at the end of the quarter. She finished with 20 points for the game, including 14 in the first half.

But JM struggled mightily to score in the second 20 minutes. They converted just eight field goals and shot five-of-11 from the free throw line. McMorris even missed a wide-open layup on a fast break.

"We definitely need to improve by Monday," McMorris said. "Overall, that was just some sloppy basketball."

Middlesex was led by 11 points from Sharnell Burnett. Kashae Beverly added nine. Beverly, a 5-foot-9 athletic center provided a stiff challenge for JM's post players.

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Date published: 2/27/2005