Ready for her last shot

For the past two weeks, Shawntae Payne has playing every game as if it were her last.

Heading into Tuesday’s Group AA, Division 4 semifinal matchup with Loudoun County, the leading scorer for Charlottesville (23-6) is ready to lay it all out on the court.

“Last year when we lost, we realized that we really wanted a ring,” Payne said. “And right now, we know that defense is going to get it. Last year was serious, but not that serious because I knew it wouldn’t be my last game. This is going to be my last game in high school if we lose.”

Of course, the venue — in Richmond at the Siegel Center on the Virginia Commonwealth campus — has only given Payne added motivation.

“I’m kind of nervous, but ready,” Payne said. “I know scouts will be in the stands and I’m just ready to show them — I’m going to play my hardest.”

Stopping Allison Kain will be at the top of Charlottesville’s list defensively. It was just over a week ago that the Raiders guard poured in 31 points to fuel her team past the Black Knights, 73-61, in the Region II, Division 4 championship.

“The game plan is to hopefully play better defense for four quarters,” said Charlottesville coach Harry Terrell. “And then our inside game will take off. That’s the key for us. They shoot well, and they also play very hard from beginning to end. I was very impressed with them. They do an excellent job of playing the both ends of the court.”

Terrell hopes his seniors, Payne and Tanyqua Williams, will lead the way and light a fire under the younger players.

“Between those two we should have the inside-outside game,” Terrell said. “It’s kind of funny, too. With those two, when the leadership is there, the other players follow suit.”

Terrell knows that Loudoun (23-5)  will look to stop Payne and Williams first, making sophomores Olivia Levine and Ellie Von Storch and freshman London Todd all the more important.

“Two players can’t do it all,” Terrell said. “All they have to do is play a gimmick defense. A triangle-and-two, a box-and-one — that can neutralize everything. So we always say to the others that they have to help them run the offense. Nobody can afford to take a rest. Everyone has to be involved. The more involved we are, the harder it is for them to defend.”

The Black Knights and Raiders tip off today at 7 p.m.

Defending Hairston a tall order for CHS boys

The Charlottesville boys have seen a lot of quality players through out the season, but probably none as intimidating as Courtland’s Duke-bound star, Josh Hairston.

Going into the Group AA, Division 4 semifinals against the Cougars, the undersized Black Knights will have to find a way to play beyond their size.

However, outside of the 6-foot-8 Hairston, CHS coach Mitch Minor likes his team’s chances.

“I think we match up well except with the big guy, Hairston,” Minor said. “We going to have to make sure to put a body on him, but as far as speed and athletic abilities I think we match up well.”

One thing is certain, the Black Knights are more than happy to be facing Courtland for the first time, rather than Orange County — the Cougars’ quarterfinal victim — for the fifth time.

“I didn’t really want to play Orange for a fifth time,” said CHS senior guard Kevin Leatherwood. “It’s not that I didn’t think we could beat them. I know we could have. It’s just about going into the state tournament and getting the opportunity to play some of the teams from the other part of the state. Playing another team from the Jefferson District — it was getting boring.”

In the past few weeks Charlottesville has found a way to make teams run with them. On Saturday night, Minor wasn’t certain that he would take the up-tempo and aggressive approach with Courtland.

However, Minor’s players want to keep things familiar.

“I think we’ve just got to do the same things we’ve been going,” said junior guard Maurice Jackson. “We’ve just got to push them. Play defense and keep them off the boards. We’ve just got to play ball. I’m ready.”

Charlottesville and Courtland will play at 9 p.m. at the Siegel Center.