Thomas Dale High School | Archive | January, 2008

Girl’s High
Jump
5-5, Corinna Brown (Prince George, Sr.)
5-4, Briana Hudson (Deep
Run, Jr.)
5-2, Marlena Daly (Deep Run, Jr.)

Girl’s Long
Jump
18-4, Nikki Nunn (Manchester, So.)
17-7 1/4, Ashley Orr (Deep
Run, Sr.)
17-4, Corinna Brown (Prince George, Sr.)

Girl’s Pole
Vault
12-0, Emma Dejarnette (Atlee, Jr.)
11-6, Rachael Hawks (Atlee,
Sr.)
10-9, Hillary Parsons (Douglas Freeman, Sr.)

Girl’s Shot
Put
36-1, Kristen Greene
(Thomas Dale, So.)
34-11, Sachet Wormley (Midlothian, Sr.)
32-9, Jasmine Van Story (Matoaca, Sr.)

Girl’s
Triple Jump
38-8, Jasia Richardson (J.R. Tucker, Jr.)
37-1, Ashley
Orr (Deep Run, Sr.)
36-7, Briana Hudson (Deep Run, Jr.)

Girl’s 4 x 800 M Relay
9:30.72, Midlothian
9:45.02, Maggie Walker     
9:51.08,
Douglas Freeman     

Girl’s 55 M
Hurdles
8.79, Erica Caldwell (Manchester, So.)
8.79, Regina Davis
(Lee-Davis, Sr.)
8.94, Cecily Young (Armstrong, Sr.)

Girl’s 55 M
Dash
7.27, Dionna Daniels
(Clover Hill, So.)
7.33, Shae Wilbon (Colonial Heights, Sr.)
7.38, Desiree Russell (Manchester, So.)

Girl’s 4 x 200 M
Relay
1:46.06, Manchester
1:47.08, Deep Run
1:49.40, Maggie Walker

Girl’s 1600 M Run
5:02.70, Kathleen Lautzenheiser (Midlothian, So.)
5:12.76, Barbara Strehler (Trinity, Jr.)
5:14.51, Amy Witt (Midlothian, So.)

Girl’s 500 M Run
1:17.46, Kacen
Delphin (Manchester, Sr.)
1:19.65, Paige Johnston (Midlothian,
Jr.)
1:21.71, Megan Sinclair (Colonial Heights, Jr.)

Girl’s 1000 M
Run
3:00.27, Paige Johnston (Midlothian, Jr.)
3:04.51, Sammy Dow
(Midlothian, Sr.)
3:05.24, Casey Fowler (Douglas Freeman, Sr.)

Girl’s 300 M Dash
41.54, Jayvonne Bowman (Deep
Run)
41.54, Shae Wilbon (Colonial Heights, Sr.)
41.81, Cecily Young (Armstrong,
Sr.)

Girl’s 3200 M Run
11:00.86, Kathleen Lautzenheiser
(Midlothian, So.)
11:07.50, Leia Lautzenheiser (Midlothian, So.)
11:17.77, Barbara Strehler (Trinity, Jr.)

Girl’s 4 x 400 M
Relay
4:06.38, Manchester      
4:10.03,
Colonial Heights
4:11.07, Midlothian

* Maggie Walker coach Jim Holdren compiles these
rankings. For adjustments, email him at jimholdren@aol.com.

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Records as of Sunday, Jan. 27
Previous
ranking in parenthesis

1.
Highland Springs, 15-1   (1)

2.
Petersburg, 14-2   (2)

3.
John Marshall, 11-2   (3)

4.
L.C. Bird, 14-2   (4)

5.
Prince George, 13-3   (5)

6.
Huguenot, 10-6   (7)

7.
Meadowbrook, 10-5   (8)

8.
Cosby, 13-3   (9)

9. Henrico,
11-5   (NR)

10. Douglas Freeman, 11-5   (NR)

Others receiving votes:

Deep Run, 12-3 (6)

Mills Godwin, 11-6

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by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

Before Thursday night, no one on Meadowbrook’s docket had come within double digits, other than Central District foe Thomas Dale.

The Knights did it again, putting up another excellent fight before the Monarchs walked away with a 65-63 decision to put themselves in great position to take the district’s regular-season crown.

Meadowbrook point guard Crystal Smith nailed four clutch free throws late to keep it a two possession contest. She finished with 15 points and four assists.

So what was going through her mind at the charity stripe?

“Take my time and we’ll be No. 1 in the district.”

The Monarchs are, sitting at 8-0 in the Central, 14-0 overall. Dale dropped to 6-2, 11-3.

“They just give us a good game,” Meadowbrook coach Mike Knight said of the Knights. “Whenever we play against a good team we have to keep executing.”

Both offenses looked good early until Dale point guard Kalia Johnson picked up her second foul with 3:38 left in the first quarter.

With the freshman phenom missing, the Knights’ offense struggled to get going as Jessica Arnold (12 points) handcuffed Dale ballhandlers, helping to force six TD turnovers the rest of the quarter.

It helped Meadowbrook to a 19-10 lead as Smith got loose for seven of her 15 points. When she wasn’t scoring she was finding Deja Middleton for two of her team-high 18 points.

Dale rallied in the second quarter behind Johnson and Alyssa Frye. Johnson (nine rebounds, three assists) put in 10 of her 18 points in the quarter, while Frye hit seven of her game-high 25 points.

Meadowbrook’s lead shrunk to two, 33-31, at halftime.

“She was hard-nosed today,” Dale coach Kevin Coffey said of Frye. “She ran herself ragged today. She was trying to do it all.”

The lead played hot potato in the third quarter, changing hands 12 times before Meadowbrook claimed it for good on Courtney Coleman‘s score from a Smith assist for a 47-46 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Meadowbrook maintained the advantaged though Dale stayed on its bumper, until the Monarchs put up a 6-0 run, four coming from Middleton (15 rebounds, eight blocks). But a minute after Middleton fouled out.

Dale took advantage scoring five points in one possession to slice Meadowbrook’s lead to 59-57 with 1:40 left in the contest.

With the Monarchs’ main scorer on the bench, Smith took control running Knight’s set to a tee, finding Melissa Holmes with a nifty feed for a 61-57 advantage.

“We started going one-on-one,” Knight said of Meadowbrook’s offense. “Those last four minutes we executed our offense. Even with Deja on the bench, we were able to get good shots.”

Frye raced the ball back up and scored off the glass, cutting the lead two two. Dale fouled and put Coleman on the line.

She missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Holmes grabbed the rebound to set the table for Smith.

“We know we’re in contention,” Coffey said. “Our Achilles heel was rebounding. We just didn’t box out.”

Dale can’t do anything about the district crown now, as Meadowbrook has it all but locked up.

“Last year we tied with Prince George,” Knight said. “We ended up losing the No. 1 seed on a halfcourt shot. We didn’t want that to happen this time.”

Meadowbrook 19 14 14 18 – 65
Thomas Dale    10 21 15 17 – 63
Meadowbrook (8-0 Central, 14-0): Smith 15, Arnold 12, Forrest 2, Cunningham 2, Marks 4, Middleton 18, Holmes 6, Coleman 6. Totals: 26 12-16 65. 3-point goal: Smith.
Thomas Dale (6-2, 11-3): Frye 25, Johnson 18, Bradley 4, Key 0, An. Hobbs 10, Scott 4, Al. Hobbs 0, Jones 2. Totals: 25 11-19 63. 3-point goals: Frye 2.

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by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

Girls basketball is the sport where freshmen seem to make an impact on the varsity level more than any other high-school sport.

It is no different in the Central Region this year as several ninth graders are more than holding their own against females three or four years older.

It all starts in Chester with Thomas Dale’s Kalia Johnson.

“Her brother Jay played on the team about two years,” Johnson said. “Word going around was that there was going to be a freshman coming that was going to be pretty good.”

Word was right. At 5-9, Johnson is a Magic Johnson-type of player on this circuit.

She leads the Knights (5-1 Central, 10-2), ranked seventh in the DigitalSports Top 10, in rebounds and frequently pushes the caroms up, starting fastbreaks and registering assists with talented runners like Alyssa Frye, Taylor Bradley, sisters Andrea and Alexis Hobbs and Monique Key.

Run too deep into the paint in transition and any of the aforementioned Knights can nail 3-pointers, including Johnson (14.4 points per game).

She’s a rare breed already being watched by major college universities – heavily.

“It’s actually fun,” Johnson said of playing against older players. “They think, ‘Oh, she’s a freshman. She’s all talk.’ Then when we get out there and play, it’s not about the grade level.”

Johnson holds the ability to be a top-flight scorer, but her vision and Thomas Dale coach Kevin Coffey‘s desire to have Johnson fully develop her game has her at the point guard position and doing well.

“When I first got here this program wasn’t that strong,” said Coffey, a former University of Virginia wide receiver (1996-00) who played with former Henrico star Billy McMullen. He’s in his second season as the varsity head coach after five on the freshman and JV level. “Now we’ve gone through that valley. It’s been a world of difference.”

Kiera Gaines, Lee-Davis

As terrific as Johnson is, Gaines may be the northside version at Lee-Davis. At 5-8, she’s one of the team’s tallest players, athletic, a point guard and able to score.

Gaines has stepped right in and helped the Confederates (0-5, 4-8) turn from a perennial doormat to tough out along with senior Kierra Gardner.

L-D has only four wins, but lost by two points to Patrick Henry and James River, by four to Varina and eight to Henrico. In seasons past those games would have gone into the loss column by big double digits.

“I pretty much knew from day one that she would be on varsity and our starting point guard,” first-year coach Russell Williams said. “I think she’s going to be one heck of a basketball player. Definitely a Division-I talent.”

Gaines scores 14.4 points, the same as Johnson, grabs six rebounds, dishes three assists, blocks two shots and grabs four steals per game. She shoots over 50 percent from the field and is working on raising her 25 percent 3-point shot and her free-throw shooting.

“My confidence goes down,” Gaines said. “I don’t know if I’m going to make it or miss it.”

That block isn’t anywhere else on the floor and Gaines hopes to keep it that way.

“I’m not intimidated by anybody,” Gaines said. “I just play.”

Emma Newins, Deep Run

Sharpshooter. In two games DigitalSports has covered, Newins hasn’t missed a 3-point shot (5 of 5) or a free throw. Deep Run coach Shawna Duda calls Newins one of the smartest people in the school.

“I didn’t think so,” said the soft-spoken Newins when asked if she thought she would play varsity. She switches between the sixth-man role and starter. “But it’s exciting, I guess.”

She’s a big key to eighth-ranked Deep Run’s success.

Henrico Trio

Remember Henrico’s 1996 freshman class led by Natasha Starkes and Michelle Atkins? Well, Bria Harris, Ashle’ Freeman and Chelsea Tyler have a long way to go to match them, but they are on their way.

A great shooter from outside and a nice slasher, Freeman leads Henrico in scoring with 14 a game. She’ll nab about three steals for coach Jean Adkins‘ squad as well.

Harris is putting in nine points a game and dominating the boards for Henrico. She’ll be even better once Elaine Derricott returns. Tyler is a bonus. She’s been playing very well of late, according to Adkins.

Raneka Dunaway, Varina & Meadowbrook Twins

Dunaway is a key guard for the 6-9 Blue Devils. She throws in eight points per game on a veteran squad.

Meadowbrook’s unbeaten. A lot of credit needs to go to PG Crystal Smith, center Deja Middleton and guard Jessica Arnold.

Doing a lot of the dirty work are forwards Katrina and Kiara Marks. They put in eight points combined. Look for that total to double if not triple next season with improvement and more playing time once Middleton graduates.

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Defensive – Saturday, February 2: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at U-Turn Sports Performance Academy, 2013 Maywill Street, Richmond, VA 23230 (the old Circuit City building off of Staples Mill Road)

Offensive – Saturday, February 9: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at U-Turn Sports Performance Academy, 2013
Maywill Street, Richmond, VA 23230 (the old Circuit City building off
of Staples Mill Road)

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I couldn’t wait to see Prince George’s Andre Williamson play Friday against Meadowbrook.

Boy was he impressive. He registered 24 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks.

I never saw former Thomas Dale star and All-Metro player of the year Brad Byerson play, but I heard he was a big guy capable of playing on the perimeter.

Williamson is, too, but he prefers to be an enforcer inside. But he can step back by the 3-point line, as he showed by drilling two treys in the game, calmly and confidently.

He may be a little biased, but Prince George coach Bill Russell believes he’s better than Byerson was.

I haven’t seen anyone more or as impressive inside other than Ed Davis of Benedictine and John Marshall sophomore Travis McKie, who probably is a wing on the next level.

If you get a chance, take a look at the 6-7 Williamson, he’s a player.

* Congratulations to Thomas Dale’s boys, who won their second straight game after starting the season on a six-game losing streak.

The Knights took down a good Dinwiddie team 58-56 Friday behind 12 points from a bunch of guys, including volleyball standout Steven McGraw. He’s been steady all season.

It’s good to see TD bounce back sort of like the football team did after so many tragedies have touched the campus, including the death of star athlete Malcolm Piggott.

You may have to throw TD’s name in a crowded hat with Meadowbrook, Prince George, Dinwiddie, Matoaca and Hopewell as teams vying for spots behind Petersburg in the Central District.

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by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

Terrific Thomas Dale defensive back Ryan “Chili” Davis is headed to Campbell University in Vuies Creek, N.C., to continue his football career.

Davis played out of position this season at safety and played well as the Knights improved as the season went on.

The 5-7, 168-pounder is actually a cornerback and will play that position at Campbell, a new program who’ll play their first game in 2008 for Division I-AA (now known as Subdivision).

“It really will allow me to be a part of history,” Davis said. “I like the coaches. I like the environment. I like it because it’s a new program.”

The University of Richmond, Virginia State and Virginia Union showed interest in Davis, who will major in Mass Communications.

“The process has been really smooth,” Davis said. “Ever since I went to the camp [at Campbell] it was down hill from there.”

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