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Senior Special: STAB girls basketball beats Virginia Academy on senior night

Photo by Bart Isley

St. Anne’s-Belfield girls basketball’s seniors made senior night a memorable one, and they did it against another quality opponent as the Saints continue to tune up before the postseason begins. 

 

STAB, the No. 2-ranked squad in VISAA’s Division I just behind powerhouse Paul VI, beat the No. 1-ranked squad in VISAA’s Division II 83-62. 

 

“It was really emotional,” said STAB senior Mo Johnson of senior night. “We had to save the emotions for the end though because we knew this team was good. We bottled our emotions up and came out strong and got the win in the end.”

 

STAB came out of the gate firing against Virginia Academy, scoring 27 points in the first quarter to take a 27-13 lead. By halftime Virginia Academy had gotten on track but still trailed 40-27. The Saints unleashed another run in the third quarter with 23 points in the frame and Virginia Academy mustered just 11 as STAB’s pressure-oriented defense took hold in a big way, creating a ton of fastbreak chances on the other end.

 

The Saints’ trio of seniors — Johnson, Sabrina Lewis and Maddie Rice — all three reached double figures with Johnson scoring 24 points to lead the way. She also grabbed nine boards and dished out six assists as the UVa-bound senior continued a season where she’s averaging 21.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 4.3 steals per contest. 

 

Lewis went for 17 points including three 3-pointers and added four boards and two assists. That output is just three points off her season high of 20 against Catholic in STAB’s hard fought win on Saturday.  

 

“She’s one of my best friends and she steps up every time we need her,” Johnson said. “I’m always so grateful for her.”

 

Rice scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds while also notching two steals. 

 

Most encouraging for the Saints, however, was that freshman Zoe Burruss and Harmony Williams got in on the act offensively too, with Burruss scoring 14 and Williams scoring 10. Burruss was a lethal 4-for-8 from beyond the arc.

 

“Right now when we need them (they’re stepping up),” Johnson said. “I think that’s really important.”

 

The Saints now turn their attention to the League of Independent Schools tournament where they’re the defending champions and after that the VISAA state tournament. 

 

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