Injury and Marshall Doom HD in City Title

Ron Bailey, Publisher

Seton gets it done in City Title matchup.

March 15, 2010 - DCIAA champion HD Woodson (DC) started out like they do must games when playing the best of this year's WCAC, Elizabeth Seton on Sunday; they used their vaunted 1-2-1-1 press backed by a nice 2-3 matchup zone to carve out a 13-8 lead early in the City Title Game this year. And as per usual, Woodson's senior, University of Georgia-bound guard Ronika Ransford was leading the charge.

The game was close for two-thirds of the game, unfortunately due to injury and the excellent play of Seton (23-5), Woodson (23-9) would fall to Seton 51-30 at the Verizon Center-played game.

Ty Marshall simply got it done.

Ransford, though not necessarily intent on finding teammates for shots was dominant early, hitting several difficult shots, including stop and pops and challenged layups. She would finish with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists, on 6 of 15 from the field.

But disaster struck with around three and a half minutes to play in the third quarter, as Ransford went up for a layup and came crashing down to the hardwood, never to return. Though mercurial, she was the proverbial straw that stirred Woodson's drink, and down four at the time of her injury, the Northeast, DC school looked discombobulated afterward, never getting closer.

Ransford had to be consoled on the bench.

To suggest Seton won because of Ransford's injury would be a dis-service to the team, as Game MVP, senior swing player Tyuanna Marshall was marvelous, dropping 23 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Headed to Georgia Tech next season, Marshall's impact was felt early and often is it was her early contributions, some in fastbreak settings, that not only buoyed, but drove the Roadrunners to their commanding win. Furthermore, she displayed impressive efficiency throughout, shooting 8-12 from the field and making seven of 10 charity stripe shots.

Alyssa Ablanese, a Seton junior, also finished in double figure scoring with 10 points, while fellow third year backcourt player Melanie Dunning dropped six points, to go along with five rebounds. A quintet of Roadrunners recorded points, while a total of eight grabbed at least one rebound. Seton is coached by Jazz Perazic.

The Warriors, coached by Frank Oliver, Jr, got four points and four rebounds from senior guard Shanice Parker, and four points, three boards via senior guard Courtney Cayard. The fact only three other players scored, none more than three points, further illustrates the importance of Ransford to Woodson.

For exclusive interviews with Oliver and Perazic, click the links.