The Osbourn Park girls came out of the gates with a convincing 58-26 win after almost two weeks since their last game.
(photo via Helen Jones)
After wrapping up an 18-4 season on February 3rd with a 64-30 win over the Osbourn Eagles, the lady Yellow Jackets clipped another set of wings with a resounding 58-26 win over Freedom (South Riding) in the Cedar District playoff semi-finals.
Osbourn Park would jump out to a 6-2 lead early, thanks to baskets by seniors Alana Powell and Kori Cole. Cole would get an early steal and assist, too.
Freedom would keep it close at 6-4 with a basket at the 3:57 mark of the first quarter. Powell would sink another basket, while freshman dynamo Keyarah Rainey would record a steal and finish at the other end to put OP up 12-4 with 2:58 left in the first quarter. They'd finish the quarter up 14-8.
If anyone thought rust would be an issue for Osbourn Park, they dispelled any notions with an absolutely dominating second quarter. Rainey found sophomore center Alex Brown for two early in the quarter. Brown and Powell would use the free throw line to increase the lead as well, sinking three of four shots and doubling up Freedom at 18-9. After two more Powell baskets (one off of a steal), Freedom would be forced to call a timeout with 2:32 left in the first half.
Out of the timeout, freshman point guard Samia Snead would snag a steal and dish to Brown for a bucket. Junior guard Angie Yann got involved on defense with a steal of her own and an assist to Rainey to put OP up 28-9 with 1:50 to go in the second quarter.
Yann would look to score from deep with a beautiful, high-arcing three-pointer, but a three second violation would nullify it. Not to be deterred, Keyarah Rainey would continue to fill up the stat sheet with two more steals, an assist and layup as OP went into the half up 33-9. They finished the final 6:20 of the half on a 17-0 run, and only allowed a single point for the entire quarter.
Rainey would finish with a remarkably balanced box score: 6 points, 7 rebounds (all offensive), 5 assists and an absurd 8 steals.
The third quarter would play a bit tighter, as Osbourn Park finished with a 12-9 advantage. After an Eagle basket, OP would go on an 8-0 run which included a jumper by Alana Powell and a three-pointer assisted by Kori Cole. Rainey would crash the offensive glass and find - who else- Alana Powell for a hoop and harm as the home team went up 41-11 and would finish up 45-18 after three quarters.
Sophomore Julia Matthews got in on the fun with a basket at the 6:43 mark of the final quarter. Alex Brown would link up with Alana Powell for another and-one. Moments later, Powell's final basket came off another steal, putting OP up 52-20. The Cedar District Player of the Year would finish the game 9-14, (1-2 from three) with 22 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. She'd also go 3-4 from the charity stripe. I caught up with her after the game.
Cedar District Player of the Year Alana Powell led all scorers with 22 points on 9-14 shooting.
(photo via Helen Jones)
Powell mentioned winning the Cedar District Player of the Year was in part due to her close friendship with former Yellow Jacket Hailey Kellogg who won the award last year and is now playing at Christopher Newport University.
"I just tried to follow in her footsteps and grind all year. But we haven't done much yet in the playoffs as a team. That chip on our shoulder every day is what keeps me and my teammates going."
That chip on the shoulder most definitely comes from head coach Chrissy Kelly who never lets her team rest on its laurels or become complacent.
"I'm proud of my girls. They really worked hard, and give everything every single day. Any coach is looking for that level of perfection- but we have to fall in love with imperfection. In the imperfection that occurs is their ability to be molded into being as close to perfect as possible. You get caught up in the moment sometimes and forget they want it, too and are doing everything in their power to get there. They settled down after the nerves in the first quarter and did a lot of great things. I love that all my kids get to play."
Osbourn Park's Cedar District semi-final win puts them on a collision course with Gainesville (21-2, 10-2) at home on Friday at 6 pm.
(photo via Helen Jones)
"I'm glad she plays for us," Kelly said with a smile.
"She's another freshman who missed the first ten games of the season and continues to grow. That's what I love about her. Her stat line is such an unselfish stat line. She understands it. What you need in that moment, she can get you. I'm glad we have her for three more years."
Up next for Osbourn Park (19-4, 12-1) are the Gainesville Cardinals (21-2, 10-2) at home Friday at 6 pm. Gainesville's only two losses are against Osbourn Park (56-50 and 37-33).
The Cardinals come into the matchup averaging 59.5 points per game and giving up 32.1. Osbourn Park's totals are close at 56.7 and 30.9.
"They are very good. They're talented and athletic at every position. They are a well-coached team. Everything about them is what makes them hard to beat. We have to play from this point forward pretty close-to-perfect games. We need to keep our focus high with practice tomorrow and carry it into Friday."
Alana Powell echoed that sentiment.
"They're very skilled and well-coached. We aren't looking past them. We just need to get back at it tomorrow and grind in practice."
For more on the Osbourn Park girl's team, follow them on Twitter at @OPHSWBB and Instagram @OPHSWBB.
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