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Lady Riders bring crown home
(Published March 8, 2004)

By DAVID STEINBACHER
Special to The Common Denominator

In the end, the DCIAA girls varsity basketball championship game wasn’t much of a contest.

The powerhouse Roosevelt Lady Rough Riders rode over the Anacostia Lady Indians to a 72-41 victory at Coolidge Senior High’s gym on Feb. 27 to win the title.

The victory gave Roosevelt a 25-1 season record and a shot at the City Title on March 13, while Anacostia had to settle for runner-up status and a 16-6 season.

The Lady Rough Riders, coached by Tyrone Pittman, led the Lady Indians, coached by Frank Briscoe, 15-11 and 35-20 after the first two quarters, respectively. Roosevelt outscored Anacostia 37-21 in the second half to prevail.

"We wanted to pressure their guards and keep the ball out of their big girls hands. We hustled and we executed. This feels great. We lived up to what we wanted to achieve," said coach Pittman.

"We played pretty well in the first half. In the second half, they got in a groove and made some big shots. Finishing in second place is still an honor," said Anacostia junior standout forward Jessica Adair.

Leading Roosevelt: junior post Katrina Wheeler (23), freshman guard Brittany Hilliard (23), junior guard Shanae Brice (18), senior guard Jennifer Thomas (four), junior guard Diamond Mitchell (two) and freshman post Courtney Roberson (two).

Leading Anacostia: junior forward Cherise Smith (15), junior post Jessica Adair (12), junior guard Shontia Jackson (five), sophomore guard Danielle Richardson (five), junior forward Jasmine Adair (two) and junior guard Chuckia Brooks (two).

Roosevelt, ranked #1 by the Washington Post, will square off against St. Johns, coached by Eddie Simpson, in the 2004 City Title Game on March 13 at George Washington University’s Smith Center.

Both DCIAA girls semi-finals were played Feb. 25. Roosevelt defeated Ballou 88-48 and Anacostia defeated Dunbar 52-51.

Leading Roosevelt: Hilliard (31), Wheeler (26), Mitchell (12), Brice (nine), Thomas (eight) and junior forward Shamere Brooks (two).

Leading Ballou: sophomore Danyelle Gilbert (19), sophomore Ikeia Gafford (12), sophomore Ciara Banks (six), freshman Tiffany Mace (five), junior Tiffany Jones (four) and junior Leah Stover (two).

Leading Anacostia: Smith (17), Jasmine Adair (14), Jackson (10), senior guard Sharell Kyle (five), Richardson (four) and Jessica Adair (two).

Leading Dunbar: senior LaQuanda Brandon (16), senior Nyaimah Ware (nine), senior Sophia Bratcher (eight), senior Mia Willis (eight), senior Rickia Johnson (five), senior Ebony Evans (four) and senior Maya Toney (one).