Dale Top 10, 12/25/09

But that sixth one came up big as the Knights dispatched of Highland Springs 67-58 in the first round of the Times-Dispatch Invitational Tournament Monday morning at VCU’s Siegel Center.

The reserve is Shawnee Sweeney, a junior who completed three nifty passes from Duke-bound Ka’lia Johnson to help halt Highland Springs.

The first was in an 8-0 third-quarter run by the Knights, ranked second in the latest DigitalSports Top 10, to take an eight-point lead into the fourth period.

Johnson, who poured in a game-high 26 points, scored two field goals before finding Sweeney underneath for two.

Then with the game on the line and the No. 8 Springers charging, Johnson threw two beautiful bullet passes to Sweeney underneath for wide-open layups that extended Dale’s lead from three to five points.

“As a point guard my head has to be up,” Johnson said. “That’s how you get those open layups. As long as they keep making them, they’ll keep getting the ball.”

After Kyra Coleman scored eight points in the first 10 minutes of the game, Dale’s diamond-and-one on the Springers star, paced by Alyssa Frye, took Highland Springs’ offense out of gear.

But Coleman started to find room with strong, quick drives to the basket as the Springers closed within two points early in the third period, and the aforementioned three-point deficits late.

Coleman finished with 19 points, a team high. Linisha Tinsley threw in 13 for the Springers.

For Dale, Frye, Sweeney and Andrea Hobbs each had 10 points to help Johnson’s effort. Taylor Bradley had nine.

“We weren’t getting the calls that we wanted to,” Hobbs said. “So it shows a lot about our team to keep playing against adversity. It shows a lot of heart and how far we can go this season.”

Thomas Dale 13 13 20 21 – 67
H. Springs 14 10 14 20 – 58
Thomas Dale (4-0): Frye 10, Sweeney 10, Johnson 26, Williams 2, Hobbs 10, Bradley 9. Totals: 23 19-26 67. 3-point goals: Hobbs 2.
Highland Springs (4-3): Jones 6, Jeffries 7, Dabney 9, Jenkins 0, Coleman 19, Cannon 4, Tinsley 13. Totals: 21 11-19 58. 3-point goals: Jones 2, Jeffries, Coleman, Dabney.

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Girls hoops top 10, 12/14/09

Posted on 14 December 2009 by .

Records as of Sunday, Dec. 13
Current STANDINGS HERE!
Team (Record, Prev. Rank)

1. Cosby (4-0, 1)

2. Thomas Dale (3-0, 2)

3. Monacan (4-0, 4)

4. Henrico (1-0, 6)

5. Mills Godwin (2-1, 5)

6. L.C. Bird (3-1, 9)

7. Meadowbrook (4-2, NR)

8. Highland Springs (2-2, 3)

9. Patrick Henry (2-1, 8)

10. Hermitage (4-0, NR)

Others receiving votes: Midlothian (3-2, NR); J.R. Tucker (3-1, 10)

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Boys hoops top 10, 12/14/09

Posted on 14 December 2009 by .

Records as of Sunday, December 13
Current STANDINGS HERE!
Team (Record, Previous Rank)

1. John Marshall (2-0, 1)

2. Petersburg (1-0, 4)

3. Highland Springs (1-0, 5)

4. Thomas Dale (4-1, 3)

5. Monacan (3-0, NR)

6. Huguenot (4-1, NR)

7. Meadowbrook (2-2, 2)

8. Cosby (2-2, 6)

9. Hopewell (3-2, 9)

10. L.C. Bird (2-1, 7)

Others receiving votes: Deep Run (4-0, NR); Henrico (2-1, 10); Douglas Freeman (3-2, 8)

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State Championship Blog: Thomas Dale 35, Braddock 21

Posted on 12 December 2009 by .

This is Stephen Lewis from DigitalSports Richmond!
Stay here for live updates from the state Group AAA Division 6 final from U.Va.’s Scott Stadium.

Thomas Dale leads Lake Braddock 14-7.

Mike Edmunds and Demetrick Jackson have the Knights TDs.

Bruins QB Michael Nebrich dove in for a one-yard score after Braddock’s Ross Renzi picked off Demitrius Campbell.

Braddock marched 92 yards for the TD after having only four yards of offense at that point.

Dale runs out the clock as the teams head to the locker room. Dale up 14-7.

Braddock will receive the kick. Check back in 15 minutes when the teams come back for the final 24 minutes, or maybe more since both of these teams won in overtime to get to this point.

THIRD QUARTER

Anthony Prevost kicks off for Dale. Peres Nubong takes it to the 27-yard line.

Nebrich hits Ali Banihashemi, then is sacked for a two-yard loss by Edmunds. On 3-and-12, Nebrich gets six to the 43. Punting time. Airek Green returns it to the 27-yard line for Dale.

Back to the ground for Dale. Jackson racks up 19 yards on first down as Dale’s mammoth line destroys the left side.

Jackson is slippery! He breaks four tackles on his way to Braddock’s 40-yard line. Now toss right to Jackson, nine more yards.

The speedster Lorenzo Fields enters the action and nabs the first down with a 3-yard run.

Rarely used Ralpheal Wheat burns the defense for 18 yards. First and goal Dale at the 10. Wheat gets stacked up the next run, two yards and that’s it.

Jackson rumbles for seven to the 1-yard line, fumbles, no, official calls him down. Huge turn of events in favor of Dale. Replay shows he fumbled for sure.

Edmunds gets nothing, fourth and goal. Looks like Dale will go for it.

Unbalanced line to the right, Edmunds goes right and waltzes in. Touchdown Dale, Edmunds second on the night.

He’s having a huge day, offensively and defensively. Prevost’s extra point makes it 21-7 Dale with 5:05 left in the third.

Braddock ball at the 22.

Nebrich is blown up by Jacob Steines on an attempt. Incomplete. Braddock runs a no huddle, as another Braddock player gets hit hard. It’s Edmunds again.

Third down, Nebrich is picked by Edmunds, he runs it back 31 yards to paydirt for the score. WOW, what a change of events.

The kick is good by Prevost, Dale leads 28-7 with 4:38 to go in the third.

Braddock ball at the 30.

Nebrich scrambles for eight. Nebrich, pump fake, no one there. Third and 2.

Osman Mansaray gets the first down on a 3-yard run. Brandon Johnson gets three yards from Nebrich.

Second down. It’s hard to keep up with this offense! Banihashemi gets a few from Nebrich.

Nebrich pressured, gets loose for a first down at Dale’s 45-yard line.

Nebrich’s pass is dropped, second down. Nebrich scrambles for a first. His legs are becoming a problem.

From the 30, Nebrich to Mansaray, he gets four. Ohhhh, Airek Green misses Nebrich on Dale’s patented blitz. Nebrich gets a third-and-1.

Converted, Johnson from Nebrich. LB in business at the 18. They need six. They get six. Johnson on a corner route, wide open and a diving catch for a score.

Nick Weiler drills the extra point, and with 28.9 seconds left in the third, Dale leads 28-14. The Knights run out the clock and there are 12 minutes left to decide the state championship.

FOURTH QUARTER

My man Phil Murphy from DS Northern Region is right beside me. This open-air press box is cool, but not in this temperature! We’re a little cold.

Back to the action. Wait, just added a bunch of Braddock photos from Phil. Dale came out too late to get pics of them.

Just got some stats. Jackson has 21 carries for 148 yards through three quarters.

WOW, what a run from Jackson. He was licked three yards in the backfield and broke out of it for a first down at Braddock’s 48.

Dale’s Ben Saunders and Braddock’s Chris Lavery lead their teams with eight tackles apiece.

Hey email me if you have any questions about the game that are not answered here, doing the best I can (slewis@digitalsports.com).

Jackson to the 41, third and 3 coming up. Jackson stuffed! Dale to punt from its 40, 8:30 and counting.

FAKE PUNT! Ryan Nolan receives the snap and goes 13 yards for the new set of downs. Timeout Dale.

Wheat two straight runs, for four yards. Third down Dale. Rollout pass or keep it on the ground?

Why not keep it on the ground when these guys are running like this. Wheat a 13-yard burst. First and goal from the 5.

Enough of that says Andrew Weidenger, who stuffs Wheat for a 3-yard loss.

Patient run for Jackson, he gets back to the original line, third down.

There’s the rollout pass I called for earlier. OH NO! Mike Dudley drops a wide open TD. That could’ve sealed it.

Timeout Dale with 4:45 left. Beautiful play. They’ll go for it, and score. Airek Green in the flat, 5-yard TD from Campbell.

Stranger things have happened, but that should do it. Prevost adds the point after, 35-14 Dale with 4:42 left.

Braddock hasn’t seen the ball in the fourth quarter until now. A 7-minute, 42-second winner of a drive for Dale. Clutch.

Braddock ball, finally, at the 20, 4:33 left.

Banihashemi with another catch. This time for 12 yards. He finds hima again deep on a fly pattern.

Bruins are down to the 28-yard line. Still fighting. Mansaray tackled by Green, short gain.

Johnson almost with another spectacular catch, but it falls incomplete in the end zone.

Going to the paint AGAIN…Banihashemi, a 28-yard TD in the back of the end zone. Beautiful placement by Micahel Nebrich, the junior. Extra point is good, Dale 35-21.

Phil tells me Nebrich is a Division I recruit. Maryland, BC, Duke are interested.

Dale gets the onside attempt, and you know they’ll unleash its running game to take home the hardware. Let’s see.

A surprise, Dale passes to try to end it. Brandon Burton, who hauled in a two-point conversion to make it 14-0, can’t make the grab. Dale to punt.

Fair catch at the 21 for Braddock.

Nebrich is hit and almost picked. Second down. a Dale player is down, 2:25 left. It’s Airek Green. He’s up, looks like his knee again.

He’s OK. Nebrich deep, to long. Fourth down. 1:53 left.

Banihashemi once again, first down. It’s third down after two incompletions.

Nebrich scrambles, another first down, but a yellow hanky is down. Fourth and 13 is converted by Banihashemi-Nebrich connection. Bruins won’t die.

Brian Walker intercepts Nebrich’s deep pass. It’s all over now, 57.7 seconds to go, Dale up 35-21, and will bring a state championship home to the Central Region.

Thanks for joining us!!!

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Fall players of the week

Posted on 10 December 2009 by .

American Family Fitness
sponsors the …

Fall players of the
week
Click on the name below for that person’s
feature!

Football

December 3
Offensive player of the week: Demetrick Jackson, Thomas Dale
* Jackson got 179 yards and two TDs, including the game-winner, on 28 carries in 20-17 win over Oscar Smith
See his performance here!

December 3
Offensive player of the week: Deane Cheatham, Hanover
* Cheatham ripped off 204 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries to lead Hanover to its second Division 5 region title in three years.
See his performance here!
Defensive player of the week: Drake Evans, Thomas Dale
* Evans took down 15 ball carriers to lead the Knights to a 7-0 win over Hermitage.

November 26
Offensive player of the week: Kevin Green, Petersburg
* Scored the eight game-winning points in OT as the Crimson Wave shocked Clover Hill 22-21. Green threw for 290 yards and a TD and also ran for another score in regulation.
Defensive player of the week: Raynard Revels, Hermitage
* The defensive end collected six tackles, including three sacks to halt Highland Springs 24-12.

November 19
Offensive player of the week: J.J. Saunders, Highland Springs
* Saunders busted through for 80 yards on the ground, including the game-sealing 15-yard scamper in a win over Varina, 17-16.
See his performance here!
Defensive player of the week: Montre Carr, J.R. Tucker
* Carr swiped two passes, taking one back 44 yards for a score as the Tigers finished the season 8-2, their best record since 1964.

November 12
Offensive player of the week: Demitrius Campbell, Thomas Dale
* Threw for 215 yards and three TDs, including two in the last five minutes of the game, as Dale topped Meadowbrook 35-34.
See all three of his TD passes here!
Defensive player of the week: David Caravati, Mills Godwin
* Had 15 tackles, forced and recovered a fumble and threw in a pass break up in Godwin’s 24-16 win over Deep Run.

November 5
Offensive player of the week: Domico Phillips, Meadowbrook
* Phillips ran for four TDs and 259 yards on 14 carries in Meadowbrook’s 29-0 win over Matoaca. He’s been featured October 15.
Defensive player of the week: Blake Jones, Hanover

October 29
Offensive player of the week: Jamal Winston, Manchester
Defensive player of the week: Deshawn Holmes, Highland Springs

October 22
Offensive player of the week: Trey Johnson, Varina
Defensive player of the week: Ben Saunders, Thomas Dale

October 15
Offensive player of the week: Domico Phillips, Meadowbrook
Defensive player of the week: Conlan Cassidy, James River

October 8
Offensive player of the week: Brandon Chiles, Manchester
Defensive player of the week: Joel Caleb, Clover Hill

October 1
Offensive player of the week: Andre Coble, Meadowbrook
Defensive player of the week: Curtis Grant, Hermitage

September 24
Offensive player of the week: Wyatt Johnson, H. Springs
Defensive player of the week: Hunter Brooks, Atlee

September 17
Offensive player of the week: Dondrey Pegeas, Varina
Co-defensive player of the week: Xavier Crocker, Hanover
Co-defensive player of the week: Josh Doggett, Atlee

Boys Volleyball
November 5: Tony Song, Clover Hill
October 29: Matt Wilkinson, Maggie Walker GS
October 22: Kody Tingler, Atlee
October 15: Ross Madden, Deep Run
October 8: Quentin Moore, Highland Springs
October 1: Zach Seymour, Thomas Dale

September 24: Justin Naumann, Lee-Davis

Girls Volleyball
November 5: Valerie Carroll, Midlothian
October 29: Cassie Stergar, James River
October 22: Suzy Rosser, Deep Run
October 15: Jessica Melhorn, Cosby
October 8: Lauren Schoenborn, Douglas Freeman
October 1: Julia Cushman, James River

September 24: Erin Fitzgerald, Hermitage

Field Hockey
November 5: Haley Mathews, Lee-Davis
October 29: Kelly Keys, Monacan
October 22: Cassie Turnage, Maggie Walker GS
October 15: Kelsey Powell, Cosby
October 8: Hayley Stough, Mills Godwin
October 1: Taylor Johnson, Cosby

September 24: Hope Laramore, James River

Private Schools
November 5: Will White, Trinity Episcopal (football)
* White threw for 260 yards and five TDs on 21-of-27 passing, including the game-clincher with 47 seconds left to beat Nansemond-Suffolk 35-28. He’s been featured September 24.
October 22: Drew Pangraze, St. Christopher’s
October 8-15: St. Catherine’s field hockey
October 1: Jake McGee, Collegiate (football)
September 24: Will White, Trinity Episcopal (football)

More player of the week features
TOP PLAYERS HONORED, 10/25/09
THE 2009 SUMMER PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
THE 2009 SPRING PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

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Boys basketball, 12/9/09: #3 Dale 68, #9 Hopewell 60

Posted on 10 December 2009 by .

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

With all the offensive firepower on the floor Wednesday evening, the game came down to rebounding.

Thomas Dale’s Andrew White and Malcolm King could advertise for Windex they cleaned the glass so well in the Knights’ 68-60 victory over Hopewell.

After the lead changed hands 10 times in the first three quarters, White’s offensive board work put the game out of reach.

With a 51-48 lead on two free throws by Myles Turner (12 points), White followed a Dequantae Mason miss with a putback, then put in King’s miss for a 55-48 advantage with under four minutes to go.

“I thought Andrew White and Malcolm King were both huge on the glass,” Hopewell coach Reggie Simon said. “It seemed like whenever they missed Andrew White was there to get the stickback.

“You must secure the defensive glass if you’re going to be a good team and beat a good team like Thomas Dale.”

Hopewell sliced the lead to 55-52 as McKindley King and David Rose – who each had 14 points – scored two-point field goals.

But Dale, ranked third in the preseason DigitalSports Top 10, went on a 9-1 run as Michael Eaton (10 points), White (game-high 22 points) and Mason all swished both of their free throw attempts putting No. 9 Hopewell and Pedro Berrios (team-high 18 points) in a precarious position.

“Coach [Eddie Goss] just tells us to crash the boards every game,” said King, who had 15 points, 12 in the first half on an array of fastbreak buckets. “Every game we’ve got to control the boards. That’s what me and Drew do.”

One down, many to go for Thomas Dale in the no-doubt toughest Central Region district.

“Big win,” White said. “I feel like they outworked us, outhustled us in the first half. The second half, my shots weren’t falling. So I decided to get in there and hit those boards.

“It ended up paying off.”

Hopewell 14 15 17 14 – 60
T. Dale 17 10 20 21 – 68
Hopewell (0-1 Central, 2-2): Reeves 4, Gholson 2, Webb 2, Berrios 18, King 14, Rose 14, Tra’Shaun Smith 6. Totals: 26 6-12 60. 3-point goals: Reeves, Berriors.
Thomas Dale (2-0, 4-0): Jordan 0, White 22, Mason 7, Hevener 2, Eaton 10, Turner 12, King 15, Williams 0. Totals: 27 12-21 68. 3-point goals: Mason, Eaton.

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Football: AAA Division 6 State Final Preview

Posted on 10 December 2009 by .

By Phil Murphy

Senior Multimedia/Content Manager, Washington D.C. Metro Area

Thomas Dale (11-2) vs. Lake Braddock (11-2), Saturday, 4:07 p.m.
Points Per Game Scored: Thomas Dale – 27.7; Lake Braddock – 32.2
Points Per Game Allowed: Thomas Dale – 13.0; Lake Braddock – 15.5
State Championship Appearances: Thomas Dale – 1992, 2001; Lake Braddock – never
State Championship Titles: Thomas Dale – never; Lake Braddock – never

It took a pair of overtime thrillers, but the only remaining unbeaten teams in Division 6 both fell in the state semifinals.

Thomas Dale beat Oscar Smith, ranked in the top 10 nationally by USA Today and ESPN Rise, Saturday in Richmond, 20-17. Lake Braddock followed suit, beating Battlefield, 27-24, in one of the most exciting games conceivable.

The Bruins rode junior quarterback Michael Nebrich
to 415 of their 419 yards from scrimmage. Nebrich scored the apparent
game-winning four-yard touchdown run with :14.2 seconds left to put
Lake Braddock ahead, 21-14.

Lake Braddock kicked off and, with Kip Hill Stadium emptying, Battlefield junior Bobo Beathard fielded the kickoff at his 32-yard line. He was almost immediately wrapped up by Bruins, but flipped the ball to senior Blaine Mason.

With the clock racing towards zeros, Mason got an alley and sprinted for a game-tying touchdown with less than one second left.

The
Stanford-Cal reenactment was followed by a Battlefield field goal on
their first overtime possession. Lake Braddock was pushed back to a
3rd-and-goal from the 15, needing a field goal to tie, a touchdown to
win.

Nebrich, who completed 17 of 32 passes for 304 yards, three
touchdowns and no interceptions, was flushed toward the boundary and
floated a pass towards junior receiver Chris Williams in the end zone.

Williams did not have a career touchdown reception before Monday.

That changed.

Williams came down with the 15-yard grab to lift Lake Braddock to its first-ever state title game appearance.

This
season, Nebrich, the Northern Region Offensive Player of the Year,
accounted for 4,276 yards and 43 touchdowns, 23 rushing.

The Bruins ran 45 plays Monday. Nebrich ran or threw on 42 of them.

Lake
Braddock can expect a similar time of possession disadvantage against
Thomas Dale to the one it had in the semifinals. The Bruins had the
ball for just 14 of the 48 minutes Monday.

They run a
no-huddle and strike quick. Their three scoring drives in regulation
lasted 1:30, 1:14 and :36 seconds, respectively, at an average of 65
yards.

Battlefield ground out the clock with a power-running
game. The Bobcats’ 8-minute, third-quarter drive was longer than the
Bruins held the ball in either half.

The Knights employ a similar, between-the-tackles style, which was advantageous in adverse conditions against the Tigers.

Dale outgained Oscar Smith 173-48 in the first two quarters, limiting the Tigers to 16 first-half plays.

Gatorade Player of the Year, senior Philip Sims,
committed to Alabama, was held to 3-for-11 passing for 46 yards,
largely a product of horrendous conditions Saturday as Oscar Smith’s
28-game winning streak was snapped.

Dale took a 14-0, first-quarter lead on a 48-yard touchdown run by Demetrick Jackson and a 1-yarder by Mike Edmunds.

On the year, Jackson has 1,191 rushing yards and seven scores. Edmunds boasts 512 yards with 15 touchdowns.

Twice
this year, the Knights blew 14-0 leads and they looked well on their
way to a third come-from-ahead loss when the Tigers scored 14
unanswered points to force overtime.

After holding Oscar Smith
to a field goal, Dale won an 8-yard run by Jackson on 2nd-and-goal.
Jackson finished with 28 carries for 181 yards and two scores.

Quarterback Demetrius Campbell adds 1,116 passing yards with an efficient 12:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The
Knights are slightly more run-oriented than the Bruins’ semifinal
opponent. Lake Braddock is just as pass-happy as Dale’s last opponent,
but the no-huddle spread is tough to prepare for in five days.

Most
interestingly, the Knights run a 3-5-3 defense and pride themselves in
man coverage. The Bruins most almost solely five-wide sets between the
20s, a scheme that’s almost impossible to defense with linebackers.

Senior Ariek Green
leads the talented corps, but he tweaked his knee celebrating a sack in
the semifinals and had to leave the game. He’s likely to start, but it
remains to be seen if the injury has lingering effects.

Expect
Dale to bring weakside blitzes at Nebrich, something Battlefield had
success with in stretches in the semis. The onus falls on all-region
guard Martin Quan and monster tackles Khamrone Kolb and Jack Phillips to pick up the dogs and Nebrich to diagnose the pressure, checking down accordingly.

When the Knights have the ball, they’re coming downhill, daring the Bruins to stop them. Braddock linebackers Chris Lavery and Andrew Weidinger need to drive ball carriers backwards to get the defense off the field.

Penalties
will be key, as Dale will struggle if put in long conversion
situations. Lake Braddock was bitten by flags and turnovers against
Battlefield.

If the weather is clear and the Bruins can approach
the 8.21 yards per play they posted against the Bobcats, they will walk
away with their first all-time state football championship.

On
the contrary, if the Knights’ pressure bothers Nebrich and forces
overthrows or turnovers, Dale will keep the opposing offense sidelined
long enough to get their first-ever title. It is 0-2 all-time in the
state championship.

Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com

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Thomas Dale High School | Archive | December, 2009