The WCA boy’s basketball season came to a close this past Friday and Saturday, as the team was able to advance to the state final after a win over #4 ranked Carlisle, only to drop the title game to #2 ranked Christ Chapel Academy, their first title in school history.

Stellar Defense, Banks Key Semi-Final Win

One of the major strengths of this year’s team was the quickness and ball skills of the ‘Big Three’, seniors Ra’Shawn and Da’Shawn Cook, as well as 2017 VISAA Division 3 Player of the Year Cle’von Greene. On too many occasions this year, we have witnessed these three combined for a flurry of turnover created baskets, and the other team finds itself in a 20 point hole they have to spend the rest of the game digging out of. This pattern bore out as well against the Eagles semi-final opponent, Carlisle. The lead didn’t get that carried away, but the team used several turnover-created opportunities to hold a double-digit lead much of the game. But the story of this game may have been junior guard Malachi Banks, who scored on penetration several times, and tied for high points in the game with Da’Shawn Cook at 20. With Banks one of the centerpieces of next year’s team, in addition to two year starter Dexter Radcliffe, the effort was a welcome look at things to come for next season, and was vital especially when both Cook and 2017 VISAA Division 3 Player of the Year hit a bit of a cool shooting streak, shooting just 12 of 36 from the field. In fact, an especially tough run of missed threes (the Eagles were just 3 of 19 on the day from beyond the arc) allowed Carlisle’s primary playmaker, B.J. Fitzgerald to help the Chiefs storm back and tie the game in the 3rd quarter. Fitzgerald was a force all season who averaged almost 30 points per game in the regular season. But yet another sequence of defensive pressure allowed the Eagles to answer that run with one of their own that would put the game out of range for the remainder, with the Eagles advancing to the final by the score of 85-76.

Cold Shooting Dooms Eagles Title Hopes

To defeat the Christ Chapel Lions, who beat WCA in an earlier meeting this season, the Eagles were undoubtedly going to have to improve on their shooting percentages. Unfortunately, the Eagles shooting woes continued, and the ordinarily reliable three-point shooting of the squad was just unable to click. The Eagles went the entire game without making a 3 point shot, going 0-for-13 in the Championship game. The fierce defense was still keeping them in the game, but Coach Williams squad found themselves with a tough task of playing energy intensive press defense and penetration offense. This would not typically be a problem, but with a high energy game the day before, and the fact that Christ Chapel was deep enough to swap and entirely new five players onto the floor without losing much in the way of game tempo, the fatigue seemed to get to the Eagles. Playing from behind, they were forced to take chances on steals that many times ended in man-up advantages for the Lions, who cashed many of them in. Many of those shots fell into the hands of senior Christ Chapel Forward 6’7″ Trey Barber, who poured in 31 points after averaging just ten a game in the season. Many of his points also came on offensive rebound putbacks, as the Lions were able to rebound more effectively than the Eagles the majority of the game.

Despite these challenges, the heady defense of the team and some aggressive play by junior Dexter Radcliffe were able to allow the team to close the gap and actually tie the game with 2:35 left on the clock. Coach Kenya Williams extolled his team’s effort in that final quarter, “When you have the heart of a champion, you battle back from adversity,” Williams said. “That’s what these kids are. They’re champions.”  But again, an inability to make perimeter shots in those final minutes forced WCA into a cycle of fouls, which Christ Chapel took advantage of with excellent free throw shooting. Christ Chapel seized the championship with about 45 seconds left and will raise their first-ever basketball title banner with a well-earned 72-65 win.

Senior Stars Show Impressive Poise in Defeat

There are many times when we realize what a special place WCA is, and when we are reminded of the end result of our efforts with the help of the Holy Spirit: building our graduates up to be Christian Leaders.

This is one of those times.

In interviews given to the Daily Press after the game, our three senior stars, Cle’von Greene, Da’Shawn Cook, and Ra’Shawn Cook pointed to the fact that keeping the main thing the main thing and their journeys from boys to Christian men have been the most important aspects of their years here at WCA. We just couldn’t be more proud of them, and the example they have set for the younger players on the team is astounding.

“It meant a lot,” 2017 Daily Press Player of the Year Greene described with regards to playing for WCA. “It helped me grow up as a player and as a man. “I’m glad we all stuck together, stayed here and let it grow. I really wish it had finished differently, but we can only grow from this.”

Ra’Shawn Cook said, “It’s been great. I’ve created bonds with my teachers, all my friends, and my teammates. I’ve grown as a man, I’ve grown with Christ, and with all the success I’ve had on and off the court, I’m just blessed. That’s why I’m here under the big lights.”

Da’Shawn Cook added, “Not just basketball-wise, but otherwise being at WCA made me a better person on and off the court. The school is like one big family because it’s so small and I got closer to God, took on new obstacles, and basketball-wise it made me better. I’m glad I took this journey. It’s been a long journey but a good journey.”

And we have been blessed to watch you on that journey, gentlemen….we cannot wait to see what God has in store for all three of you after you graduate from Williamsburg Christian Academy in just a few short months.

*Excerpts of this article were taken from the mentioned Daily Press Article.

**All photos provided coutesy of Savand Photography – Andrew Jackson. Click here to view all game photos.