CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The familiarity James Monroe and Wyoming East have with each other meant there were hardly any secrets leading into Friday’s Class AA semifinal.
The No. 1 Mavericks were well aware they had a distinct size advantage, while the No. 5 Warriors figured they’d have to be creative to find ways to overcome their lack of size.
Ultimately, James Monroe’s size and defensive prowess ruled out, with the Mavericks holding the Warriors to 10 field goals and forcing 21 turnovers to claim a 49-30 victory for a spot in the state title game.
“Our kids played really good defense today,” James Monroe coach Shari Helvey said.” It was not the prettiest win, but we’re heading to a state championship after two years of coming up short in a semifinal, and it feels really good.”
JMHS (24-1) will face No. 2 Williamstown in Saturday’s Class AA final.
Although the Mavericks shot 5 for 20 in the first quarter, they held the Warriors to 1-for-10 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds to Wyoming East’s nine to hold an 11-4 lead.
“That’s what has fueled us all year is the defensive intensity,” Helvey said. “Sometimes you question how do they guard us, but when we’re not hitting shots, we’re able to guard most people. It’s a big deal when I can throw four or five kids in from off the bench and they can guard others the same way.”
Grayson Johnson served as an offensive catalyst for James Monroe in the second quarter and accounted for seven straight Maverick points, including a layup for a 22-9 lead, and the Mavericks went to halftime on top, 24-12.
Although Helvey’s team was 1 for 16 from three-point range in two quarters, the Warriors managed only four first-half field goals and had 13 of 21 turnovers between the two teams.
“When I see them, the first thing I see is a lot of really taller girls. At the end of the day, that matters,” Warriors’ coach Ryan Davidson said. “They’re skilled and do a lot of stuff well, but size matters. They were posting us with three different players. When your height has skill, that’s an extra problem.”
Any thought of a Wyoming East (18-7) rally was put to rest over the first 4 minutes of the third quarter. The Mavericks’ Mya Dunlap and Monaka Moore accounted for the first two field goals of the third quarter, and not until Abi Baker’s driving layup at the 3:43 mark of the frame did the Warriors manage a field goal, at which one point they trailed 34-15.
Wyoming East was limited to 3-for-15 shooting in the third and hurt its cause by missing 6-of-11 free throws in the period, which ended with James Monroe clinging to a 42-23 lead.
Mya Dunlap had game-high totals of 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Lydia Dunlap posted a similar stat line of 12 points and 12 boards.
“Whenever you crash the boards on those shots we’re not hitting, it creates way more second chances,” Mya Dunlap said. “We have more size than them, so me and Lydia can get a jump a little bit. Just out-hustling them and getting after it.”
Johnson scored nine and Trinity Hill eight to go with six rebounds off the bench.
James Monroe had a 17-3 advantage on bench points and overcame 1-for-27 shooting on threes by holding the Warriors without a trey on 12 attempts.
“It’s been a strong suit for us. Some of these kids that come off our bench would start for anybody,” Helvey said. “Trinity always so plays well against them because of the size. She was poised and under control.”
The Mavericks also had 25 offensive boards to win the rebounding battle, 50-44.
Baker paced Wyoming East with 10 points and Coley Tolliver scored nine to go with 10 rebounds in defeat.
Three of the Warriors’ seven losses this season came against the Mavericks.
“James Monroe is No. 1 for a reason. You can’t fake it for an entire season,” Davidson said. “I’ve been in their shoes and what they’re doing right now is one of the hardest things when everyone picks you to win and you have to.”