Osbourn Park's starters from left to right: Kori Cole, Alana Powell, Hailey Kellogg, Danielle Darfour and Alex Brown.
(photo via InsideNova)
The Osbourn Park lady Yellow Jackets came into Friday's state championship rematch versus the James Madison Warhawks riding a twenty game win streak, most recently beating Thomas Dale on Monday. The streak would be snapped as the Warhawks would defend their championship throne, winning their 19th straight game, 38-29.
The two teams would battle to break the ice, with no team making a field goal for the first 3:20 of the game. Osbourn Park senior Hailey Kellogg would score the game's first point, going 1-2 from the free throw line. Gritty defense by both squads was front and center early, as both teams shot a combined 5-20 in the game's opening quarter.
Madison senior Sarah Link would help her team take a 2-1 lead with a layup a minute later. Baskets by Kellogg and junior Alana Powell would give OP their largest lead all night of three points. Link and senior Mia Chapman would give the lead back to the Warhawks with a trio of buckets to end the quarter up 8-5 over the Yellow Jackets.
The stifling defense would continue from both sides in the second quarter. A Hailey Kellogg floater early in the second quarter got her team within a point of Madison, but it would end up being Osbourn Park's only basket for the rest of the first half. The only other point would come by way of a Chloe Wolfe-Pullen free throw with 3:27 left in the half.
Madison sophomore Avery Griepentrog would get in on the scoring action with an and-one bucket after a foul by OP, and Sarah Link would end the scoring for the half as Madison led 15-8.
The sensational Warhawks senior duo of twins Grace and Alayna would be held scoreless for the first two quarters- but that would change immediately as the third quarter kicked off. Grace sank a three-pointer at the 7:05 mark to give her team an 18-8 lead.
Cedar Run Player of the Year Hailey Kellogg would score 15 points to lead all scorers in her final game as a Yellow Jacket.
(photo via InsideNova)
Junior Yellow Jacket Kori Cole would find freshman Alex Brown for a basket. A minute later, Hailey Kellogg would drill a three-pointer to climb back within seven points of Madison. Kellogg would finish the game leading OP in scoring with 15 points. She'd also add in 4 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist.
A pair of Osbourn Park turnovers would be capped off with a layup by Grace Arnolie as Madison took a healthy 24-13 lead. She'd have the ball in her hands minutes later and hit a three-pointer to put the Warhawks up 27-15. Hailey Kellogg dazzled fans on the next play when she grabbed a defensive rebound and took it the length of the court using a spin and up and under layup to get her team back within ten points.
The Arnolie sisters would link up in the fourth as Grace found Alayna on a backdoor cut to give their team their largest lead of the night of 15 points at 33-18. Madison would lead for 25:12 to OP's 4:19.
Osbourn Park head coach Chrissy Kelly has led her team to the state championship in back to back seasons, compiling a 40-5 record, 19-1 in Cedar Run District play.
(photo via InsideNova)
Alana Powell would find Hailey Kellogg for her second three of the game on the next play. Senior Kacey Kelly would steal the ball and race to the other end for a layup. A basket by Alana Powell would continue their momentum, and a pair of free throws by Alex Brown capped off a 9-2 run with 4:44 to go and Madison up 35-27.
Hailey Kellogg would find Kacey Kelly for a jumper to keep the deficit at eight points at 37-29 with 2:20 left in the game- but a long possession by Madison drained the clock down to just over a minute to go in the fourth. Osbourn Park would have to foul to stop the clock with Madison going 1-4 at the line to end the game.
I caught up with Osbourn Park head coach Chrissy Kelly after the game to get her thoughts on the team's performance.
"They're a great team. Defensively we played a really good game. It's a shame we didn't get the scoring we're capable of. But the offensive rebounds for Madison killed us in the first half."
Kelly would then reflect on Osbourn Park's season as a whole.
"At the very beginning of the season, I don't pay attention to rankings. But a coach showed me the rankings- and there were no conversations about us in them. I told the girls to remember that, because no one thinks you are going to be anything. But in the end, we got to dictate when our last practice was. We got to the state championship with minimal experience and lost by nine to a team that's been together for four years. You can't hang your head on that."
Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin presents Osbourn Park with the runner-up plaque.
Kelly would also speak to Hailey Kellogg's game, and then her effect on this year's team.
"She can't be sad. She can't be upset. She left it all out there today. She's intangible. Forget the basketball. Her mental toughness with the fortitude, her motor, her leadership- everyone who got to play with her over the last few seasons is privileged."
Hailey Kellogg finishes her career as a Yellow Jacket as a 3-time district champion, a 2-time region champion, a 2-time state runner-up, the 2022 Cedar Run Player of the Year and the 2022 Region 6 Player of the Year. She will continue her basketball career at Christopher Newport University while studying political science.
Lastly, coach spoke about her other two seniors- Kacey Kelly and Chloe Wolfe-Pullen.
"Kacey made the decision to come out this year and she was huge in this game: steals, the layup, the jumper at the end. Chloe came in and gave us valuable minutes, She got to the free throw line. Our seniors gave everything they could give to win it today."
Following the game, individual championship plaques and both the runner-up and championship trophies would be presented by Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin.
Keep up with all things Lady Yellow Jackets by following them on Instagram at @OPHSWBB.
Personally this has been a very fun run to cover. The schedules didn't always match up for me to cover both girl's and boy's basketball, but when I was able to get the opportunity to watch these girls in action, it was a blast. The effort was always there, even in games where they were up big. The hunger to be better each time out was there, too.
Watching Chrissy Kelly coach was an honor and I always appreciate the time she would give me after games were over and fans had filed out. Her staff is incredibly hard-working just like her, and their cohesiveness on the sidelines was a smooth operation. Their ability to get the absolute most out of each player was very impressive.
I'd once again like to thank student activities director Keith Lane for allowing me to cover the team as well.
Thank you to all the parents I would meet at the games. I highly enjoyed talking with you and breaking down the games. It's easy to see why these girls were so successful and determined throughout the season.
Also a big shout-out to RJ Jones and Mark Boakye who worked with the girls during practices after their season had ended.
These nine girls may have come up short in their bid for a championship, but this season will go down as one of Osbourn Park's most impressive in school history.
Catch everyone next season.
The Osbourn Park 9 finished 26-2, winning 20 of their last 21 games.
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