Hailey Morris made this brilliant no-look pass to Martha Apple last week in the William Monroe girls basketball team’s win over Madison County.
It looked at that moment like the sophomore guard who’d been pushed into a different role with Bryanna Woofter’s emergence at point guard was starting to understand that new role. She was starting to understand how to contribute in a huge way without being the lone spark in the backcourt or having the ball in her hands all the time like last year.
That indicator was unequivocally correct.
Morris scored 16 points Saturday as William Monroe, without the services of a banged up Sam Brunelle as she nursed a foot injury, beat Charlottesville 60-54 to clinch the Daily Progress Holiday Tournament for the second-straight year. Morris earned tournament MVP honors for the effort.
Morris scored all but three of her 16 in the second half as the Dragons built a 43-37 lead in the third quarter that Charlottesville couldn’t dig out of as the Dragons hit free throws down the stretch to keep the Black Knights at bay. Monroe went 9-for-14 at the charity stripe in the final frame to secure the win. Woofter and Morris were a big part of that as Woofter went 12-for-16 at the line on the night for all 12 of her points. Morris went 6-for-8 and Jenna Velasquez stepping into an expanded role in the post with Brunelle out hit two of her own free throws and notched nine points on the night. Apple had a big game as well with 11 points, carrying the Dragons early on with all 11 coming before the break.
Iyanna Carey finished with 10 points as well in a balanced offensive effort.
Charlottesville put up an impressive fight coming off a hard-fought win over Western and trailed just 26-25 at the break. Carmella Jackson continued her recent top notch play with a 14-point effort while T.C. Younger was big down the stretch, scoring eight of her 12 points in the final frame. La’Kasia Calloway chipped in eight points on the night.
The Monroe girls host Fluvanna County Wednesday night while the Black Knights will host Powhatan Thursday night.
