Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It’s an important step, but it’s not the end goal. That’s how Prince Edward Lady Eagles Head Coach Howard Paras summed up Tuesday night’s James River District championship win. 

Playing at home against Amelia County High, the Prince Edward girls started slow, scoring six points in the first quarter en route to a 16-13 halftime lead. That was as close as Amelia High would get the rest of the way, however. In the second half, the Lady Eagles poured it on, scoring nine in the third and 15 in the fourth quarter to take the 40-26 win.

Still playing without several members due to sickness, the team got a major boost from senior Jayla Boyd and junior Aliyah Rachels. The two players combined to equal the entire output of Amelia County High, with Rachels scoring 14 and Boyd adding 12 on the night. 

“We still aren’t healthy, but hopefully we get there this week,” Paras said about his team’s health. “We are grateful to be able to advance.”

In addition to Boyd and Rachels, several other players contributed on the scoring end Tuesday. Sophomore Keshawna Peaks had four, with freshmen Kyla Barksdale and Kamiya Killibrew, juniors Ta’Nya Booker and Anyshia Clark and senior McKenna Vogel all finishing with two points. 

In addition to clinching the James River District title, Tuesday’s win also keeps the undefeated streak going. The team now stands at 24-0. But as Paras has mentioned before, while the district title is important, it’s not the end goal for this year’s squad. 

Prince Edward Lady Eagles stay focused 

Last season didn’t end the way the Lady Eagles wanted. The high school varsity girls basketball team was one step away from the state tournament, when they fell just short in the district tournament against John Marshall. Now here we are again. They’re back in the regional tournament, back with a chance to rewrite last year’s ending. The team has a break this week, as they wait for other districts to wrap up their tournaments. Paras hopes the Lady Eagles can use this time to fully recover, so that they’re ready for the first game in regional play with a complete roster. Beyond that, the team just needs to stay focused, he added. 

“We will try to get back to basics moving forward,” Paras said. 

The regional tournament starts on Tuesday, Feb. 25, with Prince Edward hosting a first round game against No. 8 seed Southampton. Tickets are $8 and the game tips off at 6 p.m. The school staff say tickets can only be bought by debit or credit card. Cash will not be accepted at the gate.