Capital District: Highland Springs girls, Henrico boys win titles

Coach Franklin Harris said his Highland Springs girls basketball team set a goal coming into this season — making the Group AAA tournament.

While the Central Region tournament lies ahead, the Springers took another step toward accomplishing their goal as they defeated Varina 87-54 in the Capital District tournament championship game Friday.

"These girls have played like this all year," Harris said. "These girls set a goal. They've used that goal to attain what they want to do, but they understand that it's one practice, one day, one game at a time."

The Springers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

Highland Springs' defense wreaked havoc on the Blue Devils, as they set themselves in the passing lanes and pounced on loose balls that they turned into offensive points.

"Our defense leads to our offense," Harris said. "They know to beat anybody, they have to shut them out. That's the philosophy they have toward our defense."

The Springers' black and gold uniforms were flying all over the court, reminiscent of another area team that utilizes the same color scheme.

"It's the 'havoc' defense that Coach (Shaka) Smart runs at VCU," Harris said. "We try and run the same thing because they are athletic and they are fast."

Causing offensive havoc for the Springers were Kermisha Clark (27 points) and Capital District player of the year Jazzmin Dabney, who scored 22 points, 15 on 3-point shots.

"When Jazzmin is hitting her 3s, that takes pressure off Kermisha, takes pressure off Dejone (Robinson)," Harris said. "They all feed off that."

"We had to come out with the right mindset," Dabney said. "If we were in the right mindset, everything else would be on point."

Jasmine Clark and Anasha Dickerson each scored 15 points to lead the Blue Devils.

In an intensely physical matchup, Timmy Jones and Jordon Talley each scored 18 points to lead the Warriors past the Springers in the Capital District tournament championship game.

"They (Highland Springs) have an outstanding program led by a Hall of Fame coach," Warriors coach Vance Harmon said. "We feel like we are building toward something special. We had a typical Henrico game, we put four players in double-digit scoring."

Highland Springs got off to a fast start, holding a five-point lead in the first quarter and hit a buzzer-beating shot to go into halftime up by two.

However, after hitting just two 3-point shots, the Warriors' outside game came alive in the second half with four 3-pointers, widening the gap in the fourth quarter to 56-46.

The Springers cut the lead to five after two foul shots and a D.J. Johnson 3-pointer, but Henrico responded with a three-point play to keep the Springers at bay.

Stephen Booker hit two free throws with six seconds left to ice the game for the Warriors.

VARINA (20-5) — M. Cox 7, Fitts 15, Logan 11, Tedder 2, Dickerson 15, D. Cox 0, Fields 0, Nightingale 2, Taylor 0, Harding 2. Totals 16 20-34 54.

HIGHLAND SPRINGS (24-1) — Clark 27, Justice 3, Cooper 8, Robinson 15, Dabney 22, Blake 2, Winfield 8, Steel e 0, Byrd 0, Jones 2, English 0, Hardy 0, Logan 0. Totals 30 22-37 87.

3-point goals: V: M. Cox, Fitts; HS: Dabney 5, Clark.

HIGHLAND SPRINGS (17-8) -- Wiggins 4, Thomas 29, Jennings 2, Stovall 2, Crossin 13, Dennis 11, English 0, Richardson 5, Cosby 2, Brooks 0, Waller 0, Carter 0, Sherman 4. Totals 24 17-29 73.

HENRICO (24-1) -- Jones 18, Talley 18, Allen 15, Booker 5, Thorpe 14, Smith 4, Barber 2, White 4, Adkins 0. Totals 24 26-34 80.

3-point goals: HS: Thomas 4, Crossin 3, Sherman; H: Jones 2, Talley 2, Allen 2.