By Josiah Turner / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
It had been 14 years since Blue Ridge coach Bill Ramsey won a state title. But Saturday, he was on the cusp again, needing just 32 minutes of solid play from his squad at Virginia State University to hang another banner back in St. George.
He and the Barons got that 32 minutes and a title.
“It’s a tremendous feeling,” said Ramsey. “It was clear to us that we had the talent at the beginning of the year to beat anybody we played, and to go on and win this state championship.”
After exploding in the second quarter to take a commanding 41-17 halftime lead, the Barons were able to hold off Virginia Episcopal 65-54 to win the VISAA Division II state championship.
It was Virginia Episcopal’s fourth state final appearance in five years, and University of Virginia commit Sacha Killeya-Jones was prepared to lead his team to a victory to finish out the season. Blue Ridge, however, had other things in mind.
Led by Malik Johnson’s 19 points, four assists and four steals, the Barons were able to get a valiant effort from their entire roster. They saw 10 different players get on the scoreboard, but only Johnson and Scott Spencer – who had 10 points on the day – finished in double figures.
“Malik has that knack (for) putting us on his back,” Ramsey said. “Sometimes he needs to score, sometimes he just needs to get on somebody [and] sometimes he needs to pick [his team] up on the court. Of the 36 Division I players that I’ve coached, he’s about the best point guard. “
The Barons led 18-8 after one quarter, but outscored the Bishops 23-9 in the second to gain a comfortable advantage. Virginia Episcopal did their best to make a late-game run, as Blue Ridge was down one big man in 6-foot-10 junior Mamadi Diakite. He was ejected from the game in the third quarter, following an on-court scuffle that led to him jumping off the bench, triggering an automatic ejection.
Blue Ridge 6-foot-8 forward Aamir Simms was in foul trouble in the second half, and spent a long period of time on the bench himself. But the continuous effort by Johnson, and the suffocating defense by the Barons as a whole, helped Blue Ridge maintain their lead.
“I came from public school last year, where we had a good team but we didn’t win the state championship,” Johnson said. “These guys were 2-18 last year, and now we come and win a state championship, so it’s a great feeling.”
Simms scored eight points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Barons, while Afanna Offor also finished with eight points – all in the first half.
Killeya-Jones’ 23 points led Virginia Episcopal and he also tallied nine rebounds and three blocks. Justice Kithcart and Delonte Jones both finished with 11 points a piece for the Bishops.
