Derica Wiggins of Oakhaven is aiming her not inconsiderable talents
back Downtown toward a repeat appearance in the MIAA Class AA
championship game. And this time, she figures she's got a stronger
supporting cast.
Wiggins and the Hawks put to rest the matter of the District 16-AA regular season title Thursday night, blasting visiting Mitchell 57-30.
The 5-7 junior scored 23 points, while spelling injured point guard Mar'shea Lewis. She also dished out nine assists and helped lead a defensive charge that Oakhaven (13-1, 8-0) used to keep Mitchell (8-11, 5-2) off kilter all game.
"We upped our defensive intensity, and we also were going to go inside all night," said Wiggins, who in her second meeting with the Tigers this season had the benefit of 6-foot sophomore Morgan Walton, who missed a 64-54 win at Mitchell earlier this month because of back problems.
That left senior Robin McClatchey to contend with 6-2 Mitchell senior Crystal Johnson. This time around, McClatchey and Walton largely negated the Tigers' top weapon. McClatchey had 12 points and Walton 10, while Johnson and sophomore Erica Jackson each had just 10 (eight in the second half with the game out of reach) for Mitchell.
Johnson had five of her points early in the second half to keep the game close at 27-18. Then a burst of defensive energy, led by LaDonna Jones, gave Oakhaven a 35-18 lead at the break and the Hawks never lifted off the defensive gas pedal after that.
The Hawks swept the 16-AA titles last year, but they were routed twice by Manassas, in the city championship and the regional finals.
"That experience has taught these girls where they had to improve," Thorns said. "And this group is also spending more time together off the court and that's helped them play better
"We're still flying under the radar in terms of exposure, but now is the time where we can really show ourselves."
Despite the disappointing outing, new Mitchell coach Christhol Howard has taken her team light years from the 2-20 record it stumbled to a year ago.
"We're still finding our way," said Howard, whose team is littered with freshmen and sophomores. "But we've turned a couple of heads this season, and next year we'll be even better."
Wiggins and the Hawks put to rest the matter of the District 16-AA regular season title Thursday night, blasting visiting Mitchell 57-30.
The 5-7 junior scored 23 points, while spelling injured point guard Mar'shea Lewis. She also dished out nine assists and helped lead a defensive charge that Oakhaven (13-1, 8-0) used to keep Mitchell (8-11, 5-2) off kilter all game.
"We upped our defensive intensity, and we also were going to go inside all night," said Wiggins, who in her second meeting with the Tigers this season had the benefit of 6-foot sophomore Morgan Walton, who missed a 64-54 win at Mitchell earlier this month because of back problems.
That left senior Robin McClatchey to contend with 6-2 Mitchell senior Crystal Johnson. This time around, McClatchey and Walton largely negated the Tigers' top weapon. McClatchey had 12 points and Walton 10, while Johnson and sophomore Erica Jackson each had just 10 (eight in the second half with the game out of reach) for Mitchell.
Johnson had five of her points early in the second half to keep the game close at 27-18. Then a burst of defensive energy, led by LaDonna Jones, gave Oakhaven a 35-18 lead at the break and the Hawks never lifted off the defensive gas pedal after that.
"We brought a lot better defensive intensity this game, and having Morgan back was a big plus," said first-year Oakhaven head coach Frederick Thorns, whose team has not lost since an opening-night contest with AAA power Overton. "Playing the point has been good for Derica to play more under control and look for her teammates. And a lot of players on this team are stepping up in games, and in practice. Last year we had 2 or 3 players who would go hard in both games and practice, now it's a lot more."
The Hawks swept the 16-AA titles last year, but they were routed twice by Manassas, in the city championship and the regional finals.
"That experience has taught these girls where they had to improve," Thorns said. "And this group is also spending more time together off the court and that's helped them play better
"We're still flying under the radar in terms of exposure, but now is the time where we can really show ourselves."
Despite the disappointing outing, new Mitchell coach Christhol Howard has taken her team light years from the 2-20 record it stumbled to a year ago.
"We're still finding our way," said Howard, whose team is littered with freshmen and sophomores. "But we've turned a couple of heads this season, and next year we'll be even better."
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