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Fairfax girls can’t keep up with Cosby in Virginia 6A quarterfinal defeat Fairfax girls can’t keep up with Cosby in Virginia 6A quarterfinal defeat
(about 1 hour later)
As the second half of Friday’s Virginia 6A state quarterfinal got underway, it became apparent that Fairfax possessed some valuable things Cosby lacked. The Rebels’ hectic full-court press revealed their advantages in speed, transition play, intensity and, after they cut an eight-point deficit to three, momentum. As the second half of Friday night’s Virginia 6A state quarterfinal got underway, it became apparent that Fairfax possessed some valuable things Cosby lacked. The Rebels’ hectic full-court press revealed their advantages in speed, transition play, intensity and, after they cut an eight-point deficit to three, momentum.
But Cosby had something even more valuable all along: a pair of future Atlantic Coast Conference players.But Cosby had something even more valuable all along: a pair of future Atlantic Coast Conference players.
Senior center Tyra Whitehead, a Wake Forest commit since her sophomore year, scored a game-high 20 points to power Cosby into Tuesday’s state semifinals with a 53-44 win at Robinson. Fellow senior Jocelyn Jones, a North Carolina commit since the eighth grade, added 19 for the two-time defending state champions.Senior center Tyra Whitehead, a Wake Forest commit since her sophomore year, scored a game-high 20 points to power Cosby into Tuesday’s state semifinals with a 53-44 win at Robinson. Fellow senior Jocelyn Jones, a North Carolina commit since the eighth grade, added 19 for the two-time defending state champions.
The Titans (21-5) led wire-to-wire Friday night, but Fairfax (27-3) mounted a furious run midway through the third quarter that nearly turned the game in its favor. Following back-to-back Fairfax buckets, Karah Murphree intercepted a Cosby pass at midcourt, raced in for a layup and appeared to cut the Titans’ lead to one when she finished through contact. But the referee signaled a charge, and Jones buried a three-pointer on the other end to swing the momentum back to the visitors from Midlothian. The Titans (21-5) led wire-to-wire, but Fairfax (27-3) mounted a furious run midway through the third quarter that nearly turned the game in its favor. Following back-to-back Fairfax buckets, Karah Murphree intercepted a Cosby pass at midcourt, raced in for a layup and appeared to cut the Titans’ lead to one when she finished through contact. But the referee signaled a charge, and Jones buried a three-pointer on the other end to swing the momentum back to the visitors from Midlothian.
“It really stung, but we tried to get back on defense and get the ball our way,” the Rebels’ Noe’ll Taylor said. “It just didn’t work out.”“It really stung, but we tried to get back on defense and get the ball our way,” the Rebels’ Noe’ll Taylor said. “It just didn’t work out.”
Taylor kept her team in the game almost singlehandedly after halftime. A state qualifier in the 4x100 and long jump last year on the track, the senior darted up and down the court like a bullet train in the second half, racking up three steals and 14 points in the third quarter alone. Taylor kept her team in the game almost singlehandedly after halftime. A state qualifier in the 4x100-meter relay and long jump last year on the track, the senior darted up and down the court like a bullet train in the second half, racking up three steals and 14 points in the third quarter alone.
“Noe’ll is like grease lightning,” Fairfax Coach Pat Deegan said. “She closes on the ball better than anyone I’ve ever coached in 34 years.“Noe’ll is like grease lightning,” Fairfax Coach Pat Deegan said. “She closes on the ball better than anyone I’ve ever coached in 34 years.
But Taylor couldn’t sustain her breathtaking pace in the fourth quarter, and neither could her teammates. Following a Taylor basket to begin the final period, the Rebels failed to convert another field goal until Murphree knocked down a three from the left corner with 13 seconds to play. But Taylor couldn’t sustain her breathtaking pace in the fourth quarter, and neither could her teammates. Following a Taylor basket to begin the final period, the Rebels failed to convert another field goal until Murphree knocked down a three from the left corner with 13 seconds to play.
During that drought, Cosby moved Jones into the middle of its half-court zone. Positioned near Whitehead’s indomitable 6-foot-3 presence, the duo clogged Fairfax’s driving lanes and forced the Rebels into three-point shots that refused to fall.During that drought, Cosby moved Jones into the middle of its half-court zone. Positioned near Whitehead’s indomitable 6-foot-3 presence, the duo clogged Fairfax’s driving lanes and forced the Rebels into three-point shots that refused to fall.
Even amid their tears after the game, Fairfax’s players threw up one last spirited cheer in the locker room and reflected back on a sparkling season.Even amid their tears after the game, Fairfax’s players threw up one last spirited cheer in the locker room and reflected back on a sparkling season.
“They’ve just been a great group of kids that have stayed on a nice equilibrium all the way through and have been very supportive of each other,” Deegan said. “They’re maybe the best team I’ve ever had in terms of their love of the game.”“They’ve just been a great group of kids that have stayed on a nice equilibrium all the way through and have been very supportive of each other,” Deegan said. “They’re maybe the best team I’ve ever had in terms of their love of the game.”
Cosby moves on to face Herndon in Tuesday’s semifinals in Richmond. The Hornets upset 6A South champion Woodside, 53-41, at VCU’s Siegel Center on Friday night.Cosby moves on to face Herndon in Tuesday’s semifinals in Richmond. The Hornets upset 6A South champion Woodside, 53-41, at VCU’s Siegel Center on Friday night.
Junior guard Indeya Sanders led Herndon (21-6) with 22 points, including her 1,000th career point late in the fourth quarter. Junior guard Indeya Sanders led Herndon (21-6) with 22 points, including her 1,000th career point .
“I just told them, ‘Nobody expected us to be here. Play with a chip on your shoulder. Two years ago we were 3-20, last year we were 9-13 and this year we’re 21-6,” Herndon Coach Cornelius Snead said. “Credit to these girls for sticking with each other and seeing their hard work pay off.”