James Wood girls close out regular season with rout of Handley

By JIM LAISE | Special to The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — James Wood High School’s girls’ basketball team rode a stealthy defense and key scores from its seniors Friday night in dashing Handley 58-37 in the final Northwestern District regular-season game at James H. Shirley Gymnasium.

The Colonels (16-6 overall, 7-5 district) and the Judges (12-10, 5-7) will open play when the district tournament tips off on Tuesday.

The Colonels had whipped the Judges 56-40 at Maddex-Omps Gymnasium earlier this season and they did likewise at Shirley Gymnasium on Senior Night.

“The truth is this team is so tight that Senior Night is an emotional time for us,” aid James Wood coach Krista Crites. “To tell you the truth, I thought we might come out a little tight. But they didn’t. They played hard.”

It is no secret around the district — even though Handley had won 10 more games than last year — that the Judges have had their troubles shooting the ball. They’ve scored 43 points or less 13 times. And they were without top scorer and rebounder Taylor Beard, who did not play because of a coach’s decision according to Handley’s Randi Jones.

Having played the Judges once, Crites decided to pack it in around the lane and force the Handley to shoot from the perimeter.

“It worked tonight,” said Crites.

It certainly did.

Handley did not have a field goal in the first quarter and had just two at the half. By that time, the Colonels had built a 29-13 lead.

Handley ran disciplined sets and cut its turnovers down to just 12, but was frigid from the field.

“We had looks,” Jones said. “We had good looks. Can’t argue with that. They just wouldn’t go in.”

Ahead 15-1 after the first quarter, the Colonels seemed to lose their focus a bit on offense and let Handley creep back as close as it would come for the night.

After running out to a 20-4 lead with 5:27 left in the second quarter, the Colonels watched the Judges go to the free throw line. Handley made 3 of 6 from the stripe to cut the deficit to 20-7.

Following a basket by James Wood’s Amber Wooldridge, Miah Finley finally scored Handley’s first basket to make it 22-9 with 2:33 showing in the half.

But, another Wood senior helped put this tussle out or reach.

Donyell Sloane scored just after Finley for a 24-9 game.

After a free throw from Handley’s Neysha Washington and a three-point-play by Judges freshman McKenzie Jolliffe made the score 24-13, it was Sloane who rattled in two field goals. Sloane’s baskets expanded the lead to 15 points just 34 seconds until the half and the Colonels never looked back.

While it was Sloane who made those key baskets, senior Wooldridge and sophomore Makayla Firebaugh continued to fuel the Colonels’ offense.

Wooldridge led all scorers with 21 points and added three rebounds and two steals. Her three baskets early pushed the lead to 10-1.

“We’re a really close group, so it really doesn’t matter who’s getting the points,” said Wooldridge.

Firebaugh added 16 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block.

Other James Wood seniors who saw action were Brittany Haney and Savannah Swanner.

Jolliffe led the Judges with 13 points.

Ticket info set

Tickets to Northwestern District postseason basketball games are $6 and no school, local, or district passes can be accepted. The only acceptable passes for tournament games are VHSL, VHSCA, and VIAAA.

The Northwestern District Tournament opens play Tuesday. The semifinal games are slated for Thursday with the championship games on Friday. All games will be played at the site of the highest seed.