After Dezaun Robinson banked in a running 3-pointer from just over the halfcourt line to end the first half of the Class 3 state quarterfinals Tuesday night at James Monroe High School, Yellow Jackets head coach Chuck Ellis sprinted off the court screaming and pumping his fists, nearly barreling into spectators in the process.
“I’m an old guy,” Ellis said. “But I still get excited, too.”
Ellis has good reason to be overjoyed.
His Yellow Jackets were in peak form in front of a capacity crowd in their first appearance in the state tournament since 2012.
James Monroe, buoyed by Robinson’s six 3-pointers and game-high 23 points, rolled to a 91-67 victory over visiting Booker T. Washington, setting up a trip to Norfolk State University Friday at 8 p.m. to take on Lake Taylor with a berth in the state championship game on the line.
“It’s real exciting,” Ellis said. “Guys are stoked that we have gotten to this point. They played together. They played hard. They played defense. They shot the ball well. I just knew that at some point, they’d really get going and they did.”
James Monroe’s offense was on fire with 10 3-pointers.
But it took a defensive change to swing the momentum early. The Yellow Jackets switched to a zone against the tall and athletic Mighty Bookers (17-11), and it paid off.
Booker T. Washington struggled shooting the ball from outside the paint. And while the rest of James Monroe’s offense took a while to get going, Robinson kept the Yellow Jackets in contact with a trio of first-quarter 3s.
“I put up a lot of shots before the game because I had an off game [in a win over Meridian],” Robinson said of what was working for him early. “Makel [Minor] had a great game that night, so he helped me put up shots.”
Robinson’s teammates caught on in the second quarter. Junior guard Michael Edwards scored all 22 of his points from the second quarter onward.
Minor added 19 and Tee Ford contributed 14. Minor is now just eight points shy of surpassing former East Rockingham star Tyler Nickel’s Virginia High School League record for points in a season by a freshman (662).
But he also dished out eight assists Tuesday, prompting Ellis to say: “He’s one of the most unselfish superstars you could have on a team.”
“I know my teammates. I’ve got trust in them,” Minor said. “If they’re open, I know they can hit the shots.”
The Yellow Jackets were ahead 43-34 at halftime after Robinson’s long-distance shot. They broke open a game they led just 36-34 in the second with a 16-4 run to take a 52-38 lead. The Mighty Bookers drew no closer than 12 the rest of the way.
“After that shot [by Robinson], we came out of halftime hot,” Ford said. “Momentum was different. We definitely did the job.”
The Yellow Jackets will see if that will continue when they face the Titans (24-1) on Friday.
Lake Taylor dispatched Region 3B runner-up Meridian 56-36 Tuesday after leading 25-8 at intermission.
Robinson said the Yellow Jackets have confidence they can compete against anyone.
Ellis said Lake Taylor boasts plenty of size with two members of their frontcourt standing 6-foot-6 and 6-foot-8. He said they also have solid point guard play, but he added that the Jackets will be ready.
“They’re kind of reckless, too,” Ellis said of the Titans. “I watched hours and hours of footage and I have a plan that I want to put together to go after them.”
Booker T. Washington 18 16 11 22 – 67
James Monroe 16 27 20 28 – 91
Booker T. Washington (17-11): Anthony Brown 4, Tyquan Baker 2, Zymareon Mitchell 17, Antonio Williams 23, Carmello Brown 8, Razell Tann-Johnson 6, Tione Lee 3, Lord Messiah Diggs 4. Totals 27 10-22 67.
James Monroe (22-5): Dezaun Robinson 23, Tee Ford 14, Michael Edwards 22, Jeremiah Branson 0, Makel Minor 19, E’Shun Davis 7, Mathias Johnson 4, Ty’Kori Pettus 2. Totals 30 21-28 91.
3-pointers: Booker T. Washington 3 (Mitchell 2, Williams). James Monroe 10 (Robinson 6, Ford 2, Edwards 2).
