by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191
PETERSBURG – Don’t go too far back, just recent Thomas Dale past will do.
From track and field standouts like Alex Tatu and Dennis Boone, to title-taking football, softball, soccer, field hockey and boys basketball teams, the Knights’ athletic program is pretty special.
Then there is girls basketball. Unbelievably, there were no trophies to shine or dust off in the history of the program.
Now there are a few and maybe more to come, as Dale captured the Central District tournament crown holding off a game Meadowbrook team 53-49 Friday night at Petersburg High School.
The way the contest was progressing, it didn’t look like Dale wouldn’t couple a tournament crown with the regular-season one it clinched what seemed to be ages ago.
After taking a 30-25 lead to the break, the Monarchs won the third period 16-8 behind stellar play from flashy and focused point guard Crystal Smith.
Smith (game-high 21 points, 10 in the second period) scored five points and dished out an assist as the Monarchs took the momentum.
A deep 3-pointer, Smith’s fifth of the game, gave Meadowbrook a 39-37 lead.
“[Mike] Knight‘s a good coach,” Thomas Dale coach Kevin Coffey said. “He came out with a good gameplan. We were fortunate enough to keep our head. We made some huge shots at some big times.”
Andrea Hobbs (11 points) scored four straight points as the lead seesawed back to Dale.
Then sensational sophomore Ka’lia Johnson (team-high 16 points) split the lane for an old-fashioned three-point play as Dale led 47-43 for the most breathing room it had since it won the first quarter 21-10.
Katrina Marks answered with a bucket of her own for Meadowbrook, but Alyssa Frye (12 points) followed a Dale miss to get the four-point advantage back.
Taylor Bradley knocked in four free throws down the stretch to hold off a Monarchs team Knight has been looking for all season.
“It took a whole year to get them going,” said Knight, as his Monarchs will host Manchester Monday at 7 p.m. in one of the Central Region’s most interesting first-round games. “For how our season went, I’m happy we’re playing good basketball now.”
So is Coffey, as his Knights moved to 23-1 with 17 wins over district foes and two titles to show for it.
“It’s a wonderful feeling,” Coffey said. “It’s been long overdue at Dale. Everybody’s enjoying the ride.”
Meadowbrook 10 15 16 8 – 49
Thomas Dale 21 9 8 15 – 53
Meadowbrook (15-10): Smith 21, Forrest 2, Cunningham 2, Ka. Marks 2, Coleman 8, Arrington 0, Hatcher 14. Totals: 19 4-8 49. 3-point goals: Smith 5, Coleman 2.
Thomas Dale (23-1): Frye 12, Sweeney 0, Johnson 16, Williams 4, Hobbs 11, Scott 4, Bradley 6. Totals: 21 8-11 53. 3-point goals: Frye 2, Hobbs.