Top-ranked Eagles thwart Lady Panthers’ state run

Charles City’s Kayla Otey gets off a shot over East Rockingham defender Sarah Cameron as Lady Panther teammates Adrienne Miles (21) and Jessica Hill look on.

Andre' Jones photos

As Charles City’s Lady Panthers stepped on the basketball court inside James Madison University’s Convocation Center, they knew the task at hand– take down the number one ranked and defending Division 1 state champion East Rockingham Lady Eagles to earn a final four berth at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center. Unfortunately for the Lady Panthers, the Eagles lived up to their billing.

East Rockingham pitched a 24-0 shutout in the first quarter of play en route to a 71-25 domination of the visiting Lady Panthers in last Saturday’s Division 1 state quarterfinals, thus ending Charles City’s season at 17-7.

Rattled nerves on the part of the guests loomed apparent from the opening tip. The Lady Panthers turned the ball over on their first five trips down the floor, thanks in part to East Rockingham’s half-court trap. Charles City head coach VaShaun Otey called two time outs in the first quarter, but neither quelled the Eagles’ massive run.

Adrienne Miles’ jumper at 7:42 of the second quarter finally put the guests on the board, but Region B player of the year Jessica Lam proved why she earned that honor. After a pair of free throws from teammate Madison Comer, Lam strung together seven consecutive points during a 10-0 run to stretch the lead to 32.

Charles City staged its strongest run at the end of the first half. Cheyenne Davis scored three points before Miles’ putback and subsequent trifecta capped off an 8-0 run for the guests, trimming the halftime deficit to 36-12.

After the break, Hailey Holmes’ lay-up coupled with a pair of shots from the charity stripe forced East Rockingham to take a time out at the 4:52 mark, despite leading 40-16. The Lady Eagles returned to their trap, reeling off a 14-0 run to end the quarter and holding the Lady Panthers scoreless until the 6:50 mark of the fourth quarter.

Even with the starters on the bench, the Lady Panthers failed to muster any offense as they shot a dismal 11 percent from the field and turned the ball over more than 30 times. By comparison, East Rockingham eclipsed the 50 percent mark on field goals.

After the game, Otey expressed how proud he was of his team.

“This is the first time this team has come this far,” he said. “We won the district tournament and we were regional runners-up.”

Otey noted the pressure his team felt on taking the court.

“I think most of it was nerves,” he said. “I think the opposing team rebounded the ball very well. They played the passing lanes very well and converted baskets.”

Davis spoke about East Rockingham’s ability to deny the lane.

“They were very good at holding their ground,” said the junior all-district guard.

Miles also commented on the experience throughout the game.

“It was hard for me at first because I wasn’t use to bigger girls actually stepping out that far,” she said.

Victorious head coach Paul Comer spoke about his team maintaining its humbleness.

“I was impressed with our effort,” he said. “But I want them to compete every time we go out.

“We set the tone early, and I’m pretty proud of them for what we did all year, let alone today.”

Despite the loss, Otey will have a strong core returning to the court next year. Four of five starters return as well as eight significant contributors from the bench. Davis, Miles, and Jessica Hill, the team’s leading scorers, return.

“We will be back,” concluded Otey.

Miles finished in double figures with 13 points. Davis added seven while Holmes and Ke’Ara Jones tossed in two each and Sydney Richard chipped in one.

East Rockingham (24-1) placed three in double figures led by Lam’s 20.

Lady Panther Meryah Bates puts up a shot in traffic after an offensive rebound while East Rockingham defenders Kristan Wilkins, Tiarra Smith (14), and Lydia Miller (15) sandwich Lady Panther Jessica Hill.