By Logan Riddick / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
Orange County closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run and continued pouring it on from there en route to a 64-37 Conference 16 semifinal victory, thereby securing the top-seeded Lady Hornets a spot in the Region 5A North tournament for the first time in head coach David Rabe’s tenure.
“In our team meeting, I said, ‘congratulations, you’re now in the Region,’ and they clapped. There wasn’t yelling and screaming and bouncing off the walls,” said Rabe. “Two or three of them said, ‘we ain’t done.’ Not only is it a goal to win the [conference] championship, but winning on Tuesday gets us home games all the way through the Region. It’s a lot more fun playing in this atmosphere with the band and turning the lights out for the anthem, so of course we want to play home games.”
After more than a week off due to weather postponements, the home fans turned out with the high school drumline and a pair of students staging a mock “High School Gameday” courtside broadcast. The team picked up on that crowd support.
“It definitely pumped us up, [the Gameday guys] showing that they cared and put that much effort into getting us excited,” said senior guard Rebecca Harvey, who finished with a game-high 28 points.
Before Harvey and the offense warmed up, the visiting Comets hit three early field goals and led by four midway through the first. Over the final two minutes, though, the Hornets’ shots began falling, and full-court pressure on defense served up transition opportunities.
“It’s funny how all of a sudden you get some steals and some layups, and then your halfcourt offense starts to open up and your shots start falling,” Rabe said, as junior guard Kiki Hudgens racked up eight steals, several of which yielded assists to Harvey. “It always helps when anyone starts hitting outside shots. I got a little nervous in the first quarter, but when [Harvey] started warming up, it makes everyone breathe a little easier.”
Building on their run that ended the first quarter, the Hornets dominated the second 11-5 to take a 23-11 lead into the break.
“In the second quarter especially, we started to box out and rebound a little bit better,” said Rabe. “We rebound a little bit better, we get some steals and our shots fall, I’m a happy coach on the sideline.”
Harvey and senior forward Markiana Smith guided the offense to a strong second half start with a pair of buckets apiece as the lead balloon to 19. The bench saw extensive time in the fourth quarter.
“In the second half especially, we made it a point to keep looking inside and give [Smith and senior forward Elisha Richardson] opportunities to go up strong,” said Rabe. “Looking inside is definitely something we’re going to have to do a better job of, not only in the conference championship, but as we move on in the Region.”
Smith finished with 13 points and grabbed six rebounds, tied with Hannah Brown for team-best on the boards. Hudgens matched her steals total with eight points.
Senior Brittani Boxley led the Comets with a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds).
“Brittani’s been our leader all year, actually for the past two years, so I hate to see her leave,” said Halifax coach Carlton Reaves. “We had one starter for the last game who started the first game. We played well to start, but we just couldn’t match up well with them.”
Orange (17-7) hosts the Conference 16 final on Tuesday at 7pm.
