HAMPTON — Menchville reestablished its dominance in Peninsula District girls basketball Tuesday with a 63-30 win over Hampton in the Crabbers’ full and noisy gymnasium.
The Monarchs (9-0 overall, 4-0 district) will look now to make some noise nationally. Their opportunity will come Saturday when they play Northern Virginia school Bishop Ireton, ranked No. 25 by espnW, in the Highland Springs gymnasium.
“I think we could get a national ranking if we win that one,” Menchville coach Adrian Webb said.
The Monarchs have had their way so far with opponents ranked in the 757Teamz Top 15. They followed wins over No. 7 Manor (75-51) and No. 8 Kellam (57-48) with the the comfortable win over No. 10 Hampton.
Long-range shooting was the key. The Monarchs made seven 3-pointers in building a 26-6 lead after a quarter — four by James Madison recruit Maddie Leach, who scored a game-high 19 points.
JaiDen Rhodes made the first 3 just seconds after the Monarchs controlled the opening tip, before Chi’shiya Rogers (six points) scored inside for the Crabbers on a nice pass from veteran point guard Jiana Price.
The usual competitive game between the 2022 Class 5 state champion Monarchs and the Crabbers — Class 4 state champs in 2020 and ’23, and finalists in ’24 — appeared to be in the offing. But after Leach buried her four 3-pointers, it was 23-2.
“Maddie’s been scoring her points driving to the basket, so it was good to see her hit those 3s,” Webb said. “We’re one of the better shooting teams in the area with Maddie, JaiDen Rhodes (15 points, four 3s) and Nevaeh Reid (15 points, two 3s).
“Even (6-foot-2 center) TaNya Henson (nine points) stepped out and hit a 3. I’m not sure what our percentage was, but we shot well.”
Webb was especially pleased with that because of the atmosphere in Hampton’s packed gym. A similar setting could await Saturday and, if all goes as many expect, in a showdown with nationally ranked Princess Anne for the Class 5 state title in March at VCU.
Hampton has state title ambitions of its own in Class 4.
“Hampton will contend in Class 4, so this was a good test,” Webb said. “It seems like it’s come down to us and Hampton in the Peninsula District the past eight years.”