Henrico delivers message

They've experienced fits and starts, ups and downs, and a wide spectrum of emotions this basketball season.

Now, just in the nick of time, the Henrico Warriors are coming of age.

"We're a young team starting to evolve, becoming more mature," Henrico coach Vance Harmon said. "We have six sophomores, a freshman and a lot of new faces, including one student [Justin Coleman] who became eligible this semester.

"We're trying to blend those faces in and be on the same page."

Playing at home last night, the Warriors battled through a staunch defensive effort by Varina in the first half, blew open a close game in the second and dispatched the Blue Devils 73-54 to secure the second seed in next week's Capital District tournament.

"Rebounding was the big emphasis," Harmon said. "They beat us last time [58-46], and there was a huge rebounding discrepancy. They beat us in the trenches, down in the paint and off the glass.

"The coaching staff challenged the guys to see how they'd respond."

For the first half, the Warriors struggled against the Blue Devils' 1-2-2 zone, which forced 11 turnovers and kept their offense out of sync. After the break, they responded with aplomb.

"They got easy points off our turnovers," said Trey Davis, a 6-3 sophomore who scored 22 points.

"They stayed in it because of our mistakes, but in the second half, we really took care of the ball and kept attacking them.

"Once we started attacking, things turned out well for us."

Leading 31-27 after two quarters, the Warriors opened the third with a 7-0 spurt as their 2-3 zone harried Varina into three quick turnovers.

On the strength of two of Che'von Davenport's five 3-pointers from NBA range early in the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils cut their deficit to 54-46 five minutes from the end. But the Warriors used an 8-0 run over the next 1:18 to wrest the momentum for good.

"What makes their defense tough is that they're long and athletic," Harmon said. "Unless you're hitting gaps and angles, they do a good job of closing those spaces.

"In the second half, we were more cognizant of where we wanted to attack."

The Warriors shot 28 of 58 from the field, and after halftime, they had only six turnovers.

Defensively, they held Varina to 19-of-61 shooting and forced 11 turnovers.

And they outrebounded the visitors 45-30.

"You have to play with heart and desire," said Coleman, a 6-5 junior who dropped in 24 points, collected 21 rebounds, blocked six shots and misdirected numerous others. "You set your mind out to do what you have to do, and you go get it."

VARINA (7-5, 11-10)

Davenport 23, Harrison 0, Crump 4, B. Smith 7, T. Smith 2, Sellers 6, Fitts 3, King-Davis 9. Totals: 19 9-14 54.
HENRICO (9-4, 15-7)

Walden 8, T. Davis 22, Harrison 2, B. Davis 0, Burston 4, Carter 0, Johnson 2, Wells 4, Zavelsky 7, Thorpe 0, Coleman 24. Totals: 28 13-19 73.
Varina ------------------------- 15 12 10 17 -- 54
Henrico ------------------------- 13 18 16 26 -- 73

3-pt. goals: V Davenport 5, Crump, Fitts. H T. Davis 3, Coleman.