Freedom Wins Va. AA Division 3 Title

Eagles Capture County's 1st State Hoops Championship

By Paul Tenorio

Saturday, March 14, 2009

RICHMOND — Freedom-South Riding had struggled at the start of games since its opening contest in the state tournament last week, and Freedom Coach Jason Eldredge was concerned about what would happen if the No. 11 Eagles found themselves in another hole on Saturday in the Virginia AA Division 3 championship.

But if there were any doubts about how ready the team was at the start, those questions were allayed before the opening tip, when senior guard Meixandra Porter ran through her line of teammates and shook hands with the referees and opposing coach - before her name was announced in the starting lineup.

Porter laughed and returned to the bench to wait for her name to be called. but, like Porter, Freedom (28-2) didn't wait long to get going here.

Behind the outstanding play of sophomore Dionna Scott, who finished with a game-high 24 points, the Eagles used an 18-0 run to open up a commanding lead and rolled to a 58-33 win over Robert E. Lee-Staunton (23-6), bringing home the first basketball state title in the history of Loudoun County.

Photo Gallery

Freedom Wins State Championship

Photo: 0/1

« Previous | Next »

Larger Version

Robert E. Lee's Angela Mickens fouls Freedom's Dionna Scott with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

From left, Freedom's Maria Haas, Robert E. Lee's Kathleen Thompson and Freedom's Meixandra Porter, fight for a loose ball under Freedom's basket late in the first half. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

The buzzer sounds, and it's time for the Eagles to celebrate their 58-33 win over Robert E. Lee. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Freedom fans begin to celebrate their school's first state championship as the seconds tick down. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Freedom's Kelsey Buchanan is fouled by Robert E. Lee's Daquaa Scott in the first quarter. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Freedom's Kelsey Buchanan is first blocked by Robert E. Lee's Kendra Scott, gets the ball again and scores. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Assistant coach Joe Crawford picks up and hugs head coach Jason Eldredge in the moments after Freedom's 58-33 victory. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Freedom's Meixandra Porter, left, and Alexis Mayo, facing camera, share a hug after Freedom won the Virginia AA Division 3 championship. (Tracy A. Woodward)

Larger Version

Robert E. Lee's Daquaa Scott fouls Freedom's Meixandra Porter on her drive to the basket in the fourth quarter. (Tracy A. Woodward)

View all thumbnails

The championship held extra meaning for a program that finished with just one win in its inaugural season in 2005-06. And also for a team that had dedicated its season to Freedom teacher Eric Olsen, who died on Jan. 25 after a battle with cancer.

It was the end to a historic run for Freedom, which won the first district, region and state title in any sport for the four-year-old school.

"We had our games when we were down and we could have gave up but I think the tough games we played . . . let me know that there's nobody that can really beat us," Porter said. "And having that confidence in your teammates . . . knowing you have those people on your team and people who just push and run with you, I think that's what helped me personally give me the confidence that there's nothing we can't do.

"And I knew that if we got to the state championship, and got to this game, we weren't going to lose. I wasn't going to allow my team to lose this game."

Lee did not make it priority to limit Scott because of what they had seen on film, according to Coach Jeremy Hartman, instead sagging in to limit Buchanan, and the sophomore guard made them pay.

With the score tied early, the Eagles scored 18 consecutive points - 12 of them from Scott - to open up a 22-4 lead.

Meanwhile Buchanan, a 6-foot-3 junior center, nullified Lee's front court, registering a triple-double with 11 points, 21 rebounds and a Virginia AA state tournament record 10 blocks. And Porter added 18 points, five assists and four steals.

"We've gone two and a half weeks ... struggling each round," Eldredge said. "And I think it's because they saved it for today, because I'm not sure we're 25 points better than them. I think we just came and brought it today. And that's a testament to these kids."

Notes: Senior Liz Turpin, the lone holdover from the 2005-06 team that finished 1-21, played four minutes in the game and registered a rebound. After the game, Coach Jason Eldredge recognized Turpin for her dedication to the program. ... Freedom closed the season on a 22-game win streak, winning those games by an average of 21.5 points. Only six of the games were won by fewer than 11 points.

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks