Frederick D. Thomas Middle girls wrap up inaugural season 12-1
In their first season, the Frederick D. Thomas Middle School girls’ basketball team nearly went undefeated but had to settle for a 12-1 record and a runner-up finish in the Capital Classic Leroy Betts Construction bracket. They lost 40-32 to Fifer Middle School Feb. 15.
“I didn't know what to expect coming into it. Rumor on the street was that we had some talent, but I really didn't know what I was getting myself into,” said Fred Thomas coach Renada L’Italien. “This is the most special group of girls that I've ever been around, and I mean every single one of them – all 13 of them – have done nothing but work hard all year. They've all loved on each other. They get along so well; they're just really a special group of girls. I've never experienced anything like it, and I'm gonna miss this team a lot.”
“This was my favorite team that I've ever played for,” Elena Pereda-Garcia said. The eighth-grader took home the Sportsmanship Award following the loss.
Things started off right for the Vikings, as they took a 21-14 halftime lead, thanks to 13 points from eighth-grade superstar Kha’Nihya Johnson and six from seventh-grader Malia Jackson.
“With this team, it's never been about individual accolades. Even having a superstar on our team, it's not about [her]; it's all about every person on our team,” L’Italien said. “Everyone has stepped up and made big plays throughout the year. KJ has been great at leading them, and when you have a player like that around you, it just makes you become better. Her energy has elevated all of us and all the girls, and they just feed off each other, and they're like a working unit.”
Immensely talented on both ends of the court, KJ added another three points to her total in the third quarter. Unfortunately, her hustle on defense led to a few too many fouls, and she fouled out with just under four minutes to go in the fourth quarter. She ended the contest with 16 points, and the game was knotted at 30-30.
Jackson had to fill in for KJ, but the momentum had shifted firmly in Fifer’s favor at that point.
“Malia Jackson played amazing ... and she just really played like a player I always knew that she could be,” L’Italien said. “She's strong, she finishes under the basket and she pushes hard on defense. I switched her from playing down low all year to a wing tonight when KJ got in foul trouble, and she stepped up and she executed, exactly how she was supposed to. I couldn't be more proud of that girl.”
Jackson was noticeably upset as the game came to a close, a sign she was leaving everything out on the floor for her team that lost 40-32.
KJ, the player Jackson was filling in for, also had to be consoled by her teammates minutes before. Sophia Smith-Barr could be seen trying to make her smile. The electric playmaker eventually came around with a smile but had to watch her first middle school loss from the bench. She finished her career with an amazing 38-1 record.
“I played with different teams; it's been really fun,” KJ said. “I'm gonna remember all the teamwork, practices, laughing moments and all the fun moments we had, things like that.”
KJ was named to the tournament all-star team.
