Thomas Dale girls win their bracket at 804 Coaches for Change event

They execute their defense with passion and purpose and their offense with high-octane fluidity.

They rebound with power and technical proficiency, they trust the process, and, man, do they have fun.

No wonder, then, that the Thomas Dale Knights improved to 8-0 Monday night with a 72-37 victory over Hanover in the championship game of the Change Bracket of the 804 Coaches for Change Community Classic contested at the Henrico Sports and Event Center in Glen Allen.

“This team, honestly, does an awesome job of playing together,” said LaToya Daniels, their coach. “We’re a fast-paced team, so if the game is going slow, we’ll try to pick it up and run at our pace.

“Overall, we have a team where everybody can shoot, anybody can score, and it’s anybody’s night on any given night.”

Against the Hawks (5-1), Daniels’ crew took control from the opening tap and, true to their competitive nature, never relented.

Shakiya Lambert scored 27 seconds in with a put-back off an offensive rebound. 

Hanover’s C-Jay Bournes (16 points) answered with a jumper from the right baseline at 7:10.

Lambert (15 points) followed with a steal and layup at 6:40 and a close-range bucket off an inbounds pass at 6:12. 

Sanae Turner banked in a layup at 5:25, then hit 2-of-2 free throws at 4:47 for a 10-2 Dale lead. 

By that time Brianna Silas (13 points) hit back-to-back transition layups off turnovers, the Knights had set the tone, asserted their will, and were well into a roll that, try as they might, the Hawks could not stop.

Forcing 3-for-11 shooting and eight early turnovers, many of which they converted into close-range offensive opportunities, Dale jumped ahead 22-7 after a quarter and never looked back.

“We came out energetic,” said Turner, a 5-7 senior guard who led the Knights with 16 points. “We could have been way more energetic because that’s what we typically do with other teams. The (94-foot NCAA length) court was bigger. We’re not used to that, but we do a 10-minute run every day at practice, so that really kicked in. That (the conditioning) was there when we needed it.”

Though the outcome already seemed a fait accompli, the Hawks refused to go quietly. 

They maintained their composure as best they could despite the withering man-to-man pressure, did all within their power to find vulnerabilities, albeit rare, in the Knights’ defense, and played each possession without regard for the score.

After falling behind 33-12 with two minutes remaining in the half, the Hawks used an 8-0 run (3-pointers by Bournes and Claire Rosenfeldt, free throws by Bournes and Madelynn McCarthy) to cut their deficit to a hopeful 33-20.

At 0:05, Turner drained a 3-ball from the right wing to send the Knights into the locker room with a 36-20 lead, which they increased to 50-30 after three quarters. 

“We definitely play a fast-paced offense,” said Allie Broadus, a 6-1 senior whose ledger read 11 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocked shots, and a steal. “Defense, I felt like we were a little lacking today.”

Wait a minute. Lacking, despite a 20-point halftime lead over a very good Hanover team? Really?

 “We play more aggressive defense, usually,” Broadus continued. “We could have done a little bit better communicating and getting to the ball and helping our teammates.

“Once we came back from halftime, I think we all knew the assignment. At that point, it was about getting it done and making sure we had our teammates’ backs.”

Which, of course, the Knights did with a 22-7 final quarter.

Though the margin of difference increased, neither team’s intensity diminished.

“Once we have a lead, it’s let’s work on some of the things we need to work on,” said Daniels. “Let’s work on boxing out. Let’s run the plays and work on getting some of the other options in.  Then it’s a time to give others an opportunity to play as well so they can get experience in-game situations and not just practice.”

All told, the Knights hit 29-of-67 shots, scored 42 points in the paint, forced 10-of-41 shooting and 24 turnovers, dealt 15 team assists, and outrebounded the Hawks 44-29. Hanover created 13 Dale turnovers. 

“Our offense starts with our defense, and defense creates offense,” Broadus said. “Once we get that stop, it’s always, look up the floor and pass it to the next person.”

The Knights’ fast start against a challenging schedule begs a question about end-of-season goals.

“Overall, our goal is to continue to play team basketball,” Daniels said. “As long as we play team basketball and allow the game to come to us, no telling what the future may hold.”

As she spoke, she wore the same Santa Claus hat that she’d worn on the bench throughout the game.

“We’re all here to have fun,” Daniels said. “As long as the game of basketball is fun, you will always come out on top.”