Thomas Dale defeats Glen Allen in matchup of girls basketball unbeatens

The day belonged to the Knights.

The Thomas Dale Knights, that is.

Imposing their will from the opening tip, Coach Latoya Daniels’ crew summarily defeated Glen Allen 58-36 in a matchup of unbeatens in the Mid-Atlantic Girls Basketball Showcase contested Friday on the George Lancaster Court in the Grant Hudson Gym at Highland Springs High School.

After Tian Johnson set the tone with a 3-pointer from the left wing 20 seconds in, Dale (9-0) scored nine more unanswered points en route to a 17-3 first quarter lead and never looked back.

“We fired off from the jump ball with our foot on the pedal,” said Daniels. “We just kept going from there.”

Indeed, they did. No surprise there. That’s the Knights’ modus operandi, actually. 

Operating mostly from their trademark man-to-man, they defended with passion, pressed with impunity, and used their fire and grit to create offensive opportunities.  

“We had a goal coming into the game,” said Allie Broadus, a 6-1 senior forward. “We knew we’d have some competition. It was just a matter of playing together and executing what we work on in practice. We brought the intensity, we were very focused, and we had a plan.”

The plan was to avenge a 48-40 loss to Glen Allen in the Region 6A quarterfinals last February.

“We came back this year ready for the get-back,” Daniels said. “We fell short last year. We had a goal that we wanted to get them back.”

Johnson hit three of her five 3-pointers in the first quarter. Nikyah Silas added another.

“I was just confident,” said Johnson, a 5-5 senior who went 5-for-6 from behind the arc and added five rebounds and two steals. “They were in a zone. Once you get the ball in the middle, you pass back out, and it’s wide open every time.

“Once I get my feet set, I’m going to let it fly.”

Try as they might, the Jaguars could respond to the Knights’ first-quarter offensive onslaught with only 0-for-8 shooting from the field under great duress and a mere three free throws.

The first four minutes of second quarter were more of the same. 

Makayla Louis ended the Jags’ 0-for-10 drought at 6:24 with a 3-pointer from the top of the key, to which the Knights responded with a 10-0 run that culminated with Johnson’s fourth 3-ball, this one off an inbounds pass from Brianna Silas for a 29-7 lead at 4:00.

Glen Allen closed with a 7-2 run to cut its deficit to 31-14 at halftime.

The Knights shot 11-for-28 in the first half. Ten of their points came on second-chance situations, eight came from the paint, and six off turnovers. They limited the Jaguars to 3-for-25 shooting.

“We talk a lot,” said Khya Epps, a 5-4 junior guard who contributed two steals, of Dale’s defensive effort. “We communicate well with each other. We try to force bad passes (that teammates can pick off).”

The Knights returned on fire in the third quarter and, although they switched to a zone-look to protect players in foul trouble, they continued to apply pressure, allowed no uncontested shots, and clogged the passing lanes.

“With this type of team, they are quick, so they’re going to adjust,” said Daniels of her squad. “They’re going to play man, they’re going to play zone, but, however, they’re going to play defense.”

The Knights carried a commanding 48-22 lead into the fourth quarter.

Though the outcome by this time was a fait accompli, they never relented.

Neither did the Jags, who played each possession as if the game was on the line.

They scrapped and clawed and pressed. Bodies flew about the floor. No loose ball went unchallenged. Scrums abounded. 

“This is a great team,” Broadus said. “We just feed off of each other. Somebody gets hot, and you get hyped for them. Then, they do that for you.  It’s really about having each other’s back and uplifting each other through the chaos.”

All told, Dale shot 19-for-54, including 7-for-17 from behind the arc. Glen Allen hit 9-of-51 shots, including 2-of-20 from 3-point range. Dale held a 38-33 rebounding edge. Each committed 19 turnovers. Dale had 10 team assists (including seven by Silas). 

Brooklyn Brown and Abigail Foster scored 11 points each for the Jaguars. 

Johnson and Broadus scored 17 each and Epps 12 for Dale. 

What pleased Daniels most about the Knights’ performance against Glen Allen?

“Their heart and their hustle,” she replied. “And that they still continue to play as a team.”