Charles B. Aycock girls wasted no time making a statement in the playoffs.
The Lady Falcons dominated from start to finish, rolling past Richlands 61-19 in a commanding postseason performance. Entering the matchup at 17-4, CBA showed exactly why they were the higher seed against a Richlands team that came in at 4-18.
From the opening tip, the Lady Falcons controlled the tempo. Defensive pressure immediately disrupted Richlands’ offense, forcing turnovers and creating easy transition opportunities.
CBA’s energy on both ends of the floor made it clear early that this would be a long night for the visitors.
Head Coach Laura Romo acknowledged there were some early nerves but was pleased with how her team responded.
" Win and survive, that’s where we are at in this part of the season. I thought we settled down after some early jitters."
Junior Alonna Frederick paced the Lady Falcons with 14 points, setting the tone offensively. Senior Simone Hall added 12 points, providing a steady presence as Aycock continued to extend its lead.
In total, nine different Lady Falcons found the scoring column, highlighting the team’s depth and unselfish play throughout the night.
Hall spoke after the game about what the postseason opportunity means to her.
"I'm very grateful to have this opportunity as a senior. Last year, we didn't go as far as we planned. If we trust our coaching staff, we can go pretty far.
" I was really excited to see my teammates' score. I like being on the bench, cheering on my teammates when they make a play."
The Lady Falcons were relentless defensively, holding Richlands to just 19 total points. Rotations were sharp, help defense was active, and second-chance opportunities were limited.
Whether in the half-court or in transition, Aycock dictated the game from start to finish.
After the game, Romo praised her team’s ability to stick to its preparation.
"I'm really proud, that's the whole idea. Come back to what our training is."
With the win, Charles B. Aycock advances to the second round and will travel to South Brunswick (17-3) on Thursday.
The matchup sets up as a much tougher challenge, as both teams enter with strong records and postseason momentum. At 17-5, the Lady Falcons appear to be hitting their stride at the right time.
If Tuesday night was any indication, Aycock is playing its best basketball when it matters most.