VIRGINIA BEACH — Because Catholic was thought to be a rare Hampton Roads girls basketball team able to compete with Princess Anne, one of the largest crowds in the history of PA’s “Dozier Dome” gathered on Wednesday to watch their showdown.
The game did not live up to the hype as the Cavaliers, ranked No. 1 in the 757Teamz Top 15, dispatched No. 3 Catholic as handily as the 67-39 score indicates. But the night was a memorable one for the Cavaliers precisely because of their loud student section and fans standing two or three deep along the baselines.
“I just love when everyone comes out to show respect to the girls basketball team,” Cavaliers’ senior Tristan Rickenbacker said after tying for a game-high with 18 points. “I love everyone who came out so `Thank you guys!’
“We couldn’t have done it without them on our back, too.”
Micah Ojo, who also scored 18 points, said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen our gym this packed before. Once we saw that we knew we had to show out.
“I was just so amazed to see everybody come out and support girls basketball.”
The highly anticipated matchup was close only for the first five minutes or so, but Rickenbacker said it wasn’t nerves. She credited the Crusaders (7-8) for making things tough in the early going.
“We didn’t expect (Catholic) to come out as strong as they did,” she said. “They put up a good fight, but we just came together on that first timeout and all agreed that we had to clean it up.”
The Cavaliers missed 11 of their first 12 shots and turned the ball over twice to start. But the suffocating pressure defense that is a signature of longtime coach Darnell Dozier — who has guided the Cavaliers (12-0) to a Virginia High School League record 15 state titles — was always present.
Catholic led 6-4 midway through the first quarter on a layup by Justice Brown-Jones assisted by Siniyah Ross, before the Cavaliers’ offense caught up with its defense. PA finished the first quarter on a 16-point run — capped by 3-pointers from Jizelle James and Ojo — to lead 20-6.
The second quarter started with Ojo driving the length of the court for a basket off of a steal, moments after Bahaar Grewal (six points) made a 3. When Rickenbacker scored on a stickback the Cavaliers led by more than 20 points for the first time and then pulled away with defense.
They limited the Crusaders to 4-of-18 shooting in the second quarter and turned them over seven times. The second half was more of the same as the Cavaliers led by 32 points although Catholic played hard to the end.
“Even though it was a big game and a lot of people showed up to watch it, I felt like we kept our composure, played well, played as a team and got the job done,” James said.
Dozier said, “I love a crowd. The more people show up the more I show off. My girls come to play every night, every night.”
