One year ago they left the court exhausted and elated after seeing a big second-half lead melt away and still escaping with a Group AAA state semifinal victory.
Edison’s girls basketball team made its return appearance to the state semifinals on Wednesday afternoon at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center. This time without the dramatics.
Senior guard Doreena Campbell scored a game-high 23 points and junior forward Chasity Clayton had 10 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the top-ranked Eagles cruised to a 76-64 victory over Heritage.
Edison (30-1), the Northern Region champion, advances to the state title game for the second year in a row. Heritage (22-7), the Eastern Region runner-up, was playing in the state tournament for the first time. Senior forward Sonia Johnson led the Hurricanes with 20 points.
“This is what we’ve been playing for this entire season,” said Campbell, whose team lost to Forest Park in last year’s championship game, 57-56. “It’s exciting because we’re right where we want to be.”
Edison was on fire from the start, dominating the game defensively. The Eagles forced 10 Heritage turnovers in the first half alone and led 29-17 after the first quarter. That lead would swell to 21 midway through the third quarter and the Hurricanes never threatened, finishing with 24 turnovers.
“We want to savor this today and then try and take the next step on our journey,” said Edison coach Dianne Lewis. “Our girls remember how close we came last year. That’s always going to be on their minds before a game like this.”
Eagles fly high
» Edison knocked off Princess Anne in the Group AAA state semifinals in 2006. The Eagles led that game by 15 points before stopping a late rally by the Cavaliers in a 56-51 win.
» The Eagles face Hampton, the Eastern Region champion, at 3 p.m. in the state title game on Saturday at the Siegel Center.
» Senior forward Tamonica Brackins (Longwood) recorded seven points and seven rebounds for Edison.
