High school notes: TD’s Johnson commits

TD's Johnson commits

Two-time girls All-Metro basketball first-teamer Ka'lia Johnson of Thomas Dale has committed to Duke University.

Johnson, a 5-9 sophomore guard, was the Central District and Central Region player of the year after averaging 17 points for the Knights, who finished 24-2 and were ranked No. 2 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10 this season. Johnson missed the Knights' quarterfinal loss in the region tournament because of illness.

"Duke was in her heart. Her dream since she was in the fourth grade was to play at Duke," Johnson's father, Kenneth, said.

The Duke offer has been on the table for about a year. The universities of Virginia, Maryland and Georgia were among other schools that had extended offers.

Kenneth Johnson said his daughter made up her mind early last week, and they traveled to Durham, N.C., last weekend for an unofficial visit. She made her commitment then.

Tigers' surprise

Huge upsets in high school girls tennis are rarities. J.R. Tucker sprung one on Douglas Freeman last week.

The match began Tuesday, but bad weather halted play after the singles were completed with J.R. Tucker leading 4-2.

Douglas Freeman's No. 1, freshman Emily Hahn, nursing a sore shoulder, didn't play. Elena Rusu, a junior who transferred to Douglas Freeman after her freshman year at J.R. Tucker, moved up from No. 2 and won her match, but the Tigers won four of the next five.

Play resumed Friday. With Hahn in the lineup at No. 1 doubles and Rusu at No. 2, the Rebels quickly won pro sets (first to win eight games) to knot the score at four points each.

Meanwhile, the Tigers' No. 3 team of Shelley Parekh and Hannah Rice fell behind 4-1.

"I checked our records and found we had never beaten Douglas Freeman," J.R. Tucker coach Chris Brown said. "I let the girls know that."

Parekh and Rice rallied for 4-4, fell behind 5-6, then won the last three games. Rice served a love game to win the match.

Saints' coaching change

Chris Brown also coached the St. Christopher's varsity basketball team, but he has stepped down after four years at the helm.

"I knew when I went there it wasn't ideal for St. Christopher's or me," Brown said. "I'd leave Tucker at 3:45, walk in the door at St. Christopher's and start practice."

The Saints were 45-51 during Brown's tenure. They won the Prep League championship for the first time since 1969 in 2007, and Brown was Prep League coach of the year twice.

Brown coached the boys varsity at J.R. Tucker, then took a year off before going to St. Christopher's.

Eight of the top nine players from last year return for Brown's replacement, Hamill Jones, a St. Christopher's graduate who played at Washington and Lee. Jones has coached the St. Christopher's junior varsity the past three seasons.

Titans' big bats

Cosby played softball four consecutive days last week. Megan Bell-Hill belted over-the-fence home runs at Clover Hill (Tuesday), Manchester (Wednesday) and Monacan (Thursday).

Taylor Hall smacked two home runs in the Manchester game.

The Titans scored 22 runs in the three victories.

Cosby, ranked No. 3 in the T-D Top 10, outhit No. 5 Powhatan six to three Friday, but the Indians pushed across the game's only run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by Kelsey Waugh. - Arthur Utley