Raines, Petersburg turn back Henrico

With just over six minutes remaining in the Central Region semifinal, Petersburg senior Cadarian Raines soared to block his sixth and final Henrico shot.

Seconds later, at the other end of the court, Raines went up again -- this time to jam the ball home. The message was clear. There would be no Henrico rally, as No. 1 Petersburg pulled away to win 77-59 yesterday at the Siegel Center.

With the Raines' dunk, Petersburg (28-0) took a 14-point lead over the Warriors, its largest advantage to that point.

"At that time, we just wanted to slow it down a little bit and keep on pounding the ball inside," Petersburg coach Bill Lawson said. "Cause that's what really got us up, that inside post to Cadarian and Chris [Evans]."

Henrico (19-9) never was able to get within 10 points again, and for a third consecutive year, Petersburg advanced to the Central Region championship game.

"My three years playing varsity, we've always won the tough semifinal game and then lost the final game," Petersburg senior guard Drejon Scott said. "So this might be a big confidence builder for me, if I am able to go out there with my team and win a regional final for the first time with Coach Lawson, and stay at home for the first round of the state [tournament]."

Petersburg opened play with an 8-0 lead, holding Henrico scoreless until forward Justin Coleman scored from the field with 3:30 remaining in the first quarter. Petersburg led by 10 after one quarter.

Henrico rallied before the half, outscoring the Crimson Wave 23-18 in the second quarter. Coleman scored 11 of his team-high 19 points in the second quarter, including a 3-pointer with 1:51 left that cut the Petersburg lead to five. Coleman also led Henrico with 18 rebounds.

"Our team predominately is made up of so many young players that we go through some spells where we're playing really well," Henrico coach Vance Harmon said. "Then sometimes, we kind of let down. Really, I would say the middle quarters were kind of -- once we got settled in -- the middle quarters were the kind of team that we can be and that we will be more consistently next year."

Raines was 12 of 14 from the field for the Crimson Wave and had a game-high 27 points to go with 10 rebounds.

Petersburg was the region runner-up in 2007 and 2008. The senior-dominated team is determined to make its last shot a good one.

Harmon used his last timeout with 4:48 to play. With only two seniors in his huddle, he tried to tell them to plan ahead, to get what they could out of the final minutes.

"Just to look at the atmosphere," sophomore guard Trey Davis said. "To kind of look around us and see, because we want to be back here next year."

HENRICO (19-9)

Walden 9, T. Davis 16, Burston 2, Zavelsky 0, Coleman 19, Groomes 2, Harrison 9, B. Davis 0, Carter 2, Johnson 0, Wells 0, Thorpe 0, Robinson 0. Totals 23 17-22 59.
PETERSBURG (28-0)

Desmore 0, Moore 2, Evans 11, Scott 13, Raines 27, Green 6, Mason 6, D. Maxwell 10, Greene 2, E. Maxwell 0, Tyler 0. Totals 37 8-17 77
Henrico ------------------------- 9 23 16 11 -- 59
Petersburg ------------------------- 19 18 21 19 -- 77

3-point goals: H -- T. Davis 2, Walden, Coleman. P -- Scott 3, Mason 2.