It’s also why Nice’s bounce pass two minutes into the second half, delivered through a foot-wide window and into senior Sadie Shores’s hands in transition, induced a fists-down flex in front of her bench. With this small act of familiarity, the No. 5 Wolverines erupted.
Fourteen buzzy minutes later, Woodgrove had its first state title, a 68-58 win at VCU’s Siegel Center.
“Since freshman year, there were so many times where we thought we had it,” said Nice, who finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. “To finally come through senior year, it was just an overwhelming feeling.”
After three years of almosts, Woodgrove was ready. Stars had synced: Nice missed their run to the state final two years ago because of a knee injury, Shores transferred to Paul VI last year before returning this season and freshman Amaya Ramey arrived this winter. All season, aided by a buoyant supporting cast, they employed an improvisational style opponents couldn’t prepare for and played at a pace they couldn’t keep up with.
So, after a year of blowout wins and a full season as the area’s highest-ranked public school, Woodgrove (29-1) wanted the challenge Hampton (23-4) provided. Though the Wolverines forced misses on the Crabbers’ first nine shots, they remained tied 9-9 after a quarter. After a strong quarter by Nice, they led by eight at half.
Woodgrove looked to Ramey (team-high 26 points and 16 rebounds) for much of the second half. Every time Hampton closed in, she delivered.
“All season, every game, she was everywhere we needed her to be,” Shores said.
The Wolverines kept the Crabbers’ top options off-kilter. Still, the Wolverines’ 10-point lead with two minutes left quickly was whittled to four, and Shores (nine points, seven assists) exited with a grimace and an ankle injury.
But thanks to made free throws and perimeter stops, the Wolverines hung on. At the final buzzer, Nice made a beeline over to Shores, the first embrace in a sea of many embraces at the end of the state title.
“It’s not a one-year thing to get this far,” Woodgrove Coach Derek Fisher said. “The main thing we’re going to remember is we have a group of players [who] deserve it.”