By Jimmy Thomas
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com
Check below the stories for video highlights of both games. Check back Friday evening for dozens of new highlights as well.
Game 1
T.C. Williams 61, Annandale 46
T.C. Williams Coach
Jim Lewis, after his team advanced to the Patriot District
championship game with a 61-46 win over Annandale on Thursday, was succinct in explaining his team’s continued dominance.
“When you have a great player it opens up the game for everyone,” said Lewis, whose team stands undefeated at 21-0 on this season. “And this kid is special.”
The kid Lewis reference was, of course, Titan junior standout Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, who poured in 25 points to help her team remain perfect.
“We are happy to be in the championship game,” Lewis added. “I expect my team to come out and complete hard — like champions — tomorrow.”
Senior guard Brittany Burts, one of eight Titans who scored, added 16 points.
Annandale senior Jenna McRae led the Atoms with team-high 17 points, and junior guard Alexis Williams added 10.
After a 10-13 season a year ago, Annandale Coach Cleveland Williamson has his team moving in the right direction. The Atoms, with only one senior on their roster, finished 13-10 this season and have earned a berth in next week’s Northern Regional tournament.
T.C. Williams, meanwhile, is scheduled to play West Springfield at 7 p.m. Friday at Lake Braddock in the district championship game.
No.1 T.C. Williams 16 10 16 19 — 61
Annandale 11 5 11 19 — 46
T.C. Williams — Barber 1 0-0 2; Ruffin-Pratt 11 3-5 25; Boston 4 0-0 8; Fikes 1 2-2 4; Huggins 0 2-2 2; Burts 8 0-2 16; James 1 0-0 2; Horton 1 0-2 2; Norman 2 0-0 2; Team Totals: 27 7-14 61. Annandale — McRae 7 3-3 17; Clarke 2 3-4 8; Williams 4 0-0 10; Burns 2 0-0 4; Vente 1 0-0 2; Hughes 2 0-0 5; Team Totals: 14 6-7 46. Three-pointers — Annandale 4 (Williams 2, Hughes, Clarke).
Game 2
West Springfield 65, Lee 60 (OT)
West Springfield Coach Bill Gibson, in his 23rd season at the helm, has led his teams to 11 district titles, five regional crowns and two state championships. It is safe to say Gibson knows what it is like to be the hunted. But in Thursday night’s second Patriot District tournament semifinal, the Lady Spartans were the hunters — and they got their prey.
West Springfield upset No. 3 Lee, 65-60, in overtime to earn a spot in Friday’s finale against No. 1 T.C. Williams.
With :06.4 seconds remaining in regulation, senior guard Kashei Hopkins (nine points) hit two clutch free throws to give the Lancers a 52-51 lead that completed their comeback. Lee had been down by seven just moments before.
But as Spartans’ junior guard Christen Gibson brought the ball up court prepared to take the final shot of the game, she was fouled on a steal attempt and was sent to the foul line. Gibson hit one-of-two attempts to send the game into overtime tied at 52.
Spartans’ junior wing Pui Sham (18 points) started the extra period by hitting one of her four three-pointers, and West Springfield went a perfect 8-for-8 from the line down the stretch to seal the victory. Junior Sam Landers scored 15 points for the Spartans, while senior Lauren Massie added 13.
“We feel like we are on cloud nine,” Massie said. “It’s a great feeling. We came ready to play. We knew we could beat them from the beginning, and we finally executed.”
Lee was led by senior forwards Kristine Mial and Jay Babineaux, who scored 19 and 12 points, respectively.
West Springfield 13 12 16 11 13 — 65
No. 3 Robert E. Lee 10 17 12 13 8 — 60
West Springfield — McGavin 0 2-2 2; Todd 0 4-7 4; Gibson 4 4-6 13; Ngalle 0 0-1 0; Sham 4 6-6 18; Landers 4 5-5 15; 0 4-7 4; Massie 5 3-3 13; Team Totals: 17 24-30 65. Lee — Hopkins 2 5-7 9; Williams 2 0-1 4; Babineaux 5 2-4 12; Pr. Moseh 3 5-5 12; Gropp 1 0-0 2; Bayoumi 1 0-0 2; Mial 8 3-3 19; Team Totals: 22 15-20 60. Three-pointers — West Springfield 7 (Sham 4, Landers 2, Gibson); Lee 1 (Pr. Moseh).
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