Sure, there is more to come. But William Monroe’s girls basketball team should have been savoring the moment Friday night as they won the Conference 28 title. They’d earned it.
“We have worked really really hard on a lot of things obviously basketball related but also creating a culture,” said Monroe coach Jess Stafford. “That is special, it doesn’t happen all the time. To watch all of their faces, their passion and cheering for each other was amazing.”
The Dragons had to fight for it too, rallying to beat Brentsville 42-35 after trailing 18-13 at the break. Monroe surged down the stretch with an 8-0 run with Sam Brunelle hitting two 3-pointers sandwiched around a bucket inside. Suddenly Monroe was up three with 2:32 to play. Brunelle’s play down the stretch was huge and she finished with 27 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks. She also hit four free throws in the final three minutes, going 4-for-4 at the line.
“She had struggled a little bit in the first half — we all struggled in the first half,” Stafford said. “We talked at the half about what it would take to come back and part of that was fighting through the physical game and making those shots. She once again had ice in her veins and didn’t shrink from the moment.”
Brunelle’s clutch play mattered because Dajour Strother came out of halftime on a mission. She finished with 11 points and eight rebounds on the night.
“In the third quarter, Dajour put us on her back,” Stafford said. “She had some opportunities down low and she cashed in on them. (With Brunelle and Strother) you’ve got two kids that obviously really want it badly and understand their roles. They shined in their roles last night. “
It was yet another outing where the Dragons proved they could respond after absorbing a big punch from the opposition. For Stafford, that lesson, that developed ability may mean more than any win.
“The past four or five huge games we’ve had, it’s been like a heavyweight matchup,” Stafford said. “Being able to fight back and not hang our heads is something they’ll take with them the rest of their lives.”
William Monroe will play Monday at home in the Region 3A East tournament against the loser of the Petersburg/John Marshall matchup.
