By Ryan Minkrmink@digitalsports.comThere was a mixture of power and speed, a blend of the past and the future for H.D. Woodson in Monday’s City Title Game at the Verizon Center.
And when it all came together in Woodson’s final game of the season, a 61-43 win over WCAC champion Good Counsel, Woodson realized the massive expectations it had when the season started – the No. 3-ranked team in the nation.
“We dominated inside, we dominated on the perimeter,” junior
Ronika Ransford said. “We just played great basketball today.”
Ransford led H.D. Woodson (22-6) to its second straight city title behind a game-high 21 points, 19 of which she scored in the second half. Woodson 6-foot-6 senior center
Janiece Johnson scored 14 first half points before picking up her fourth foul early in the third quarter and fouling out in the fourth.
“It was too much Johnson in the first half and too much Ransford in the second half,”
Good Counsel Coach Tom Splaine said.
Woodson started by pounding it down low to Johnson, whose wide frame is unparalleled in the Washington region. Johnson drew at least two defenders to her whenever she touched the ball and was still having her way.
At 5-foot-11, Good Counsel senior
Symone Lyles actually laughed during the game about the mismatch. Johnson has certainly learned to joke about it too when asked what it was like pushing the Falcons (27-4) around.
“It was kind of easy, but I had to keep my composure cause I’m bigger than everybody,” Johnson said. “When I’m playing those smaller players I just have to be careful because I don’t want to hurt nobody or myself.”
Johnson drew huge ovations throughout the night as she was playing in her final high school game. She was ruled ineligible early in the season only to be reinstated, helping Woodson get back to the national prominence it garnered in December.
“Playing with JJ is one of the best things to happen to me and this team and I’m definitely going to miss her next year,” Ransford said. “You can’t find too many people like that; she’s a great player and basketball player. I’ve seen JJ turn into a monster.”
Ransford will be the player in charge of once again defending the Warriors’ city championship next season. And in the second half, she showed the Warriors will be in good hands.
Despite Woodson’s 18-point victory being the largest victory in city title history and marking the first time a DCIAA team won back-to-back titles, it was a five-point game late in the third quarter.
Ransford hit the final bucket of the third quarter to give the Warriors a seven-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Then she connected on her second acrobatic back-to-the-basket and-one near -- while switching hands in mid-air -- the start of the fourth quarter, which pushed Woodson’s lead to an insurmountable 12 points.
“That stuff I do all the time,” said Ransford. “Not bragging or nothing, but I do stuff like that and it doesn’t amaze me anymore. It’s kind of a signature move.”
At end of the game, as the Warriors were receiving their trophies, Johnson took one final bow to the crowd. Seconds later, Ransford was called forward to receive the Most Valuable Player award.
“It’s basically a passing of the torch,”
Woodson Coach Frank Oliver Jr. said. “This will be Ranika’s team completely next year. She basically gave us a sneak preview of the best player in the Washington DC area.”