Washington Informer

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Photo #5269
H. D.Woodson guard Ronika Ransford (15 points) drives to the basket under pressure from Seton's Alyssa Albanese (left, 10 points) and Tyaunna Marshall (#15, 23 points)

Photo # 5385
James N. Leary, commissioner of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference gives the winning championship trophy to, Tyaunna Marshall, Alexis Martin and Julia Weatherly.

Elizabeth Seton 51, H.D. Woodson 30
Story and Photos

The 2010 Girls Abe Pollin City Title game at the Verizon Center Sun. March 14 was expected to be a battle between Elizabeth Seaton's Tyaunna Marshall and H.D. Woodson's Ronika Ransford.

During the first quarter Ransford scored 13 points and Marshall 12, but the game quickly changed course.

During a drive to the basket Ransford slipped, sustaining a hard hit to her head on the floor. The game was stopped for five minutes before trainer Jennifer Rheeling made the decision to move Ransford to the bench.

Ransford reportedly suffered a concussion.

“I'm sorry, but there’s no way I can let you get back into the game”, Rheeling informed Ransford.

Ransford was taken to Children's hospital for observation. Meanwhile, Seaton went on to win its first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and City Title since 2001, denying Woodson its chance to become the first girls’ team to win three consecutive City Titles.
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SPORTS-Abe Boys#1 3-18-10
DeMatha players show the N0.1 winning sign.

SPORTS-Abe Boys#1 3-18-10
Ballou’s Donte Thomas(#24)lands a picture perfect dunk.

Boys Abe Pollin City Title Game
DeMatha 80, Ballou 70.
Story and Photos By John E. De Freitas

The second game at the Verizon Center Sun. March 14 was a match-up between No. 1 DeMatha against No.2 Ballou. The largest crowd (7,553) ever to witness a City Title game was entertained with fast, competitive and skillful basketball. The 80-70 win gave the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference its ninth boys’ City Title.

Quinn Cook scored 28 points; Jerian Grant added 17 and Michael Hopkins had 13 points for DeMatha. Donte Thomas scored 24 points and Christian Leach had 18 for Ballou.

“We noticed them all season just like they noticed us all season,” said DeMatha’s Coach Mike Jones, whose team beat Ballou, 55-48, in last year's City Title Game. “This was the dream match-up, one versus two. This is the way it should be.”

“I think a couple players didn’t expect this atmosphere and they weren’t mentally ready for the game,” said Ballou Knights head Coach Jenkins Dormu, whose team had not lost to a local opponent previously this season. “It was two big dogs going at each other. DeMatha is a great team. They made fewer mistakes than we did.
 
That’s why they won the game.”