Fresh off their regional semi-final win over Freedom South Riding, the lady Yellow Jackets looked to keep things rolling on the road at Woodbridge in the final. They would do just that, winning 52-42. The win extends their current streak to eighteen games and puts them at 24-1 on the season.
The two teams would engage in a bit of a feeling out process for the better part of the opening quarter. Osbourn Park junior Alana Powell would break the ice at the 3:53 mark with a layup. Minutes later, freshman center Alex Brown would be fouled and make the shot. Junior Kori Cole would add on, going coast-to-coast and giving OP a 6-0 lead.
With :25 left, Woodbridge senior Reina Washington got her team on the board with a long three-pointer to cut the Yellow Jackets' lead in half. The visitors would answer with a three-pointer of their own. Kori Cole found Hailey Kellogg for a three-pointer just before the quarter ended with OP up 9-3.
Woodbridge senior Amani Melendez was held scoreless in the opening stanza, going 0-7 from the field. With 6:12 to go in the half, she'd make the most of her first trip to the free throw line by hitting both shots. Melendez finish the game with 23 points.
The rest of the second quarter played out like a heavyweight slugfest with neither team backing down. Reina Washington would hit another deep three to cut OP's lead to a point at 9-8.
Osbourn Park answered Woodbridge's run with one of their own as Alana Powell found Kori Cole to put their team up 14-8. Not to be outdone, Melendez hit two more free throws to knot things at 14 with just over three minutes left in the half. Powell found Cole again- this time from behind the arc- to go up 17-14. Woodbridge's Washington was scorching hot, draining her third three-pointer to tie the game at 17 with just over a minute left in the half. A free throw by Osbourn Park gave them an 18-17 lead after two quarters.
Woodbridge would take their first lead of the night when Amani Melendez scored five straight in the opening minute. Despite the surge and raucous home crowd, the Vikings would only hold the lead for a total of a minute all game.
Hailey Kellogg would connect with Alana Powell, but a Melendez three-point play knotted the game at 25. The Yellow Jackets would get momentum at a pivotal time via a 4-0 run, followed by a charging foul on Woodbridge. Down 31-27, the Vikings countered with a three from freshman Elawnie Wilkins. OP sophomore sharpshooter Angie Yann came into the game and immediately swooshed a three. Osbourn Park headed into the final quarter up 36-32.
The road team got off to another stellar start to open the fourth after a three from Kellogg then a steal and layup by Powell. Woodbridge would call a timeout, down 41-33 with 6:22 to go in the game.
Amani Melendez seemingly answered coming out of the timeout with a basket- but it was nullified when a ref called her for a charge on OP's Alex Brown.
Osbourn Park junior Danielle Darfour scored her only basket to give her team a 43-33 lead. She'd also go 2-3 at the free throw line and gather 3 rebounds- but her most important contribution was her stout defense all night on Amani Melendez. Darfour constantly stayed with her and in front of her, never being close to getting in foul trouble.
After a timeout at the 4:10 mark, Hailey Kellogg threaded the needle and found Alex Brown for a basket. Amani Melendez countered to keep her team within nine points at 47-38, but a Woodbridge turnover led to Kori Cole finding Brown to put OP up 49-38 with 1:25 left in the game.
The rest of the game was academic with Osbourn Park hitting 5 of their final 6 free throws. Hailey Kellogg, Alex Brown and Alana Powell led the Yellow Jackets with 6 rebounds a piece. Kori Cole led the team with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while going 5-6 from the charity stripe. Other double-digit scorers for the blue and yellow included Kellogg (13) and Powell (11). Another key stat would showcase Osbourn Park's offensive discipline as they only totaled 4 turnovers.
I spoke to Yellow Jackets head coach Chrissy Kelly after the game.
"It feels great. I'm exhausted, tired- but completely filled with pride for a group of kids where only one experienced this last year...and that was Hailey. To be able to handle all that comes with being in that moment, I'm just ridiculously proud."
With the win comes a whole week off for Osbourn Park, and Kelly is rewarding the team.
"I gave them the day off tomorrow. They need rest. We find out who we play, and take it literally one day at a time."
When I asked her how she would celebrate the momentous occasion, the Osbourn Park head coach put everything in perspective.
"Not watch film. Not practice plan. Not a lot of people know, but my sister's terminally ill. Basketball season takes me away from her. I'm going to spend the weekend with my sister. If she could be here, she would be. She was a huge supporter of me growing up. She's fought the last six years and she's my inspiration."
Osbourn Park will host their first round match-up against James River Midlothian (20-3) next Friday, March 4th. James River Midlothian is coming off a 44-38 loss against Thomas Dale in the Region A championship. The loss snapped an 11-game win streak for the Rapids. The Rapids enter the state playoffs averaging 53.9 points per game.
For more on the Osbourn Park girls, follow them on Instagram @OPHSWBB.
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