BY JUSTIN RICE
FAIRFAX
--James Monroe's girls basketball team came up a little short yesterday against Loudoun County's Freedom in the Group AA, Division 3 state quarterfinals.Short underneath the rim, short on depth, short on a few critical shots when time was running out.
The Yellow Jackets came up short in just about everything but heart, and that left JM one win short of a trip to the state semifinals in Richmond.
James Monroe closed as close as 45-42 late in the third quarter, but the Eagles fought off fourth-quarter foul trouble and earned a 64-57 win yesterday at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax.
"We fell short last year, and we should have been there," James Monroe coach Julian Bumbrey said. "And this year, that was the goal from the beginning. I remember watching [JM senior Bilnita Armstead] as an eighth-grader and going down to Richmond to watch [state tournament] games and her saying, 'I want to get here one day.'
"It's disappointing in that aspect, but the girls played a good game tonight. We got down in some spots, but we came back and made a run."
The Jackets had every reason to be intimidated. Freedom had a large and loud student section hounding every JM mistake. And JM arrived at Robinson just in time to see Loudoun County--a team that is 0-3 against Freedom this year--demolish Courtland, a team that has fought JM hard in Battlefield District play.
Even so, JM didn't back down.
It trailed 16-14 after the first quarter and 33-23 at the break, but the Jackets made 12 of 14 third-quarter free throws, the last of which cut the Eagles' lead to 45-42.
But Freedom's size advantage inside and JM's lack of depth were costly in the final quarter.
Freedom center Kelsey Buchanan had seven of her game-high 23 points in the fourth, and the Jackets started to run into foul trouble among their six players who saw playing time.
Freedom started the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run to put the game out of reach.
Armstead finished her standout high school career with 21 points, but three missed layups in the final period cost JM a chance to climb back into the game.
"You never know how your girls are going to show up," Bumbrey said. "But we talked about being tough. I told them: 'You played in front of a crowd, in front of that student section. We were right in the game.'
"We fought hard against a good ball team."
James Monroe | 14 | 9 | 19 | 15 | -- | 57 |
Freedom | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | -- | 64 |
Scoring
James Monroe (23-4): Kirastin Cole 20, T'Kia Jones 0, Brittini McFadden 2, Shaneekwa Christopher 5, Connie Harrison-Lewis 9, Bilnita Armstead 21. Totals: 17 21-26 57.
Freedom (26-2): Ceara Scott 0, Kelsey Buchanan 23, Dionna Scott 20, Kim Koditek 5, Alexis Mayo 2, Brittani Poindexter 0,Maria Haas 0, Meixandra Porter 14, Kendall Schneider 0, Dani Putnam 0. Totals: 23 18-25 64.
Three-point goals: James Monroe 2 (Armstead 2), Freedom 0.
GROUP AA, DIV. 4
LOUDOUN COUNTY 90,
Courtland's hopes for a Group AA, Division 4 state semifinal berth didn't survive the first eight minutes against the Raiders in yesterday's early game at Robinson.
Loudoun County (23-5) led 23-7 after the first quarter and 53-22 at the half, and all 11 Raiders scored in a lopsided victory.
"We just ran up against a better team," Courtland coach Gene Flamm said. "A team from their first player to their 11th player that wanted it more. They did all the little things."
Brittany Batts had 23 points and Alissa Kain 21 to pace Loudoun County. The Raiders never trailed, and the Cougars never got closer than 29 points in the second half. Courtland's Karina Monroe scored a team-best 13.
"We're really young, with five freshmen," Loudoun County coach Kevin Reed said. "We've been trying to find our spark all year. Right toward the end of the year, some of those freshmen, it really clicked for them.
"We've had some good games, but from [player] one to 11, there's no question that was the best game we've played."
Courtland | 7 | 15 | 17 | 12 | -- | 51 |
Loudoun Co. | 23 | 30 | 15 | 22 | -- | 90 |
Scoring
Courtland (20-8): Karina Monroe 13, Anika Trent 11, Kara Blosser 10, Jazmine Armstrong 8, Breanna Fisher 0, Shonda Jackson 0, Heather Schnake 0, Shamain Jackson 0, Jill McLean 3, Megan Wiles 2, Rachel Gallup 2. Totals: 20 9-17 51.
Loudoun County (23-5): Kendra Holmes 14, Katrina Kirby 8, Jenna Strange 2, Jocie Collins 3, Alex Lapple 2, Alissa Kain 21, Erica Linnermann 7, Brittany Batts 23, Kerry Sarver 6, Casey Cummings 2, Amanda Grimsley 2. Totals: 34 17-24 90.
Three-point goals: Courland 2 (Blosser 2), Loudoun County 5 (Batts 3, Collins, Linnermann).
Justin Rice: 540/368-5045
Email: jrice@freelancestar.com
| DIVISION 4 GIRLS
COURTLAND 51 JAMES MONROE 57 |