While it took the Madison Warhawks a while to find their rhythm on offense, the team’s smothering and lock-down defense was spot on right from the opening tip.
The steady and stingy game-long play of that unit propelled the girls high-school basketball team to a 34-24 victory over the Robinson Rams in a March 6 semifinal game of the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 state tournament.
Madison (24-4) next attempts to win its fourth straight state title, and sixth overall, against the Manchester Lancers (22-5) of Midlothian in the 6 p.m. March 10 championship game at the Siegel Center in Richmond.
If Madison defeats Manchester, the Warhawks will become the first team in VHSL history to win four straight state crowns at the highest enrollment classification. Madison and Cosby High of Midlothian (2014 through 2016) are the only teams in that category to win three straight state titles.
“I think people underestimated us about having the chance to get back to the state final again this season,” said Madison coach Kirsten Stone, whose team graduated four starters off last season’s squad. “The girls have worked very hard and have been very determined. They have been here before and they have experienced this. So they know the feeling and what it takes.”
What the Warhawks knew it would take to defeat Robinson was a strong defensive effort by clogging the middle and making it difficult for the Rams to score inside. Robinson shot just 29 percent from the floor, turned the ball over 14 times and looked uncertain on offense much of the game. Only three Robinson players scored.
“We pressured the ball, played a sagging man-to-man and we stuck with that game plan,” Stone said.
Robinson (26-3) had its 11-game winning streak snapped, and scored its fewest points in a game this season.
The Rams started well, taking a 2-0 lead as Madison missed its first six shots of the game and didn’t score until 4:20 remained in the first period. Thanks to a pair of first-quarter three-pointers by Madison point guard Adeline Suryabudi, the Warhawks led 8-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Robinson tied the game at 8 in the second, then Madison took the lead for good at 10-8 when Lillian Perkins (four points) made two foul shots. The Warhawks were ahead 20-15 at halftime, 27-18 after three periods, with Robinson getting no closer than six in the final quarter.
Madison shot 38 percent and had just eight turnovers.
Senior forward Sarah Link led Madison in scoring with 10 points to go with four assists and three rebounds. She teamed with Kayla Dixon (six points, four assists) and Stella Gougoufkas (seven points, two assists) on several back-door plays on the offensive end that led to layups.
“We didn’t shoot well early, but we kept looking for each other on offense and eventually got some good shots,” Link said. “On defense, we boxed out, made them shoot from the outside, and we didn’t give up much inside.”
Madison junior forward Avery Griepentrog finished with 10 rebounds, one point and three blocks. Suryabudi had three rebounds and two steals.
“Avery has blocked a lot of shots in the playoffs, and that makes our defense stronger,” Stone said.
In Madison’s six playoff games this season, Griepentrog has blocked 22 shots. She has more than 50 for the season.
NOTES: The state-tournament victory was Madison’s 10th in a row. Madison is playing in the state tourney for the fifth straight season, finishing 0-1 in the 2019 event . . . Princess Anne of Virginia Beach holds the record of playing in five straight VHSL girls state basketball finals at the highest classification.
