An undefeated H.D. Woodson Warriors basketball team won the DCIAA boys’ basketball title Feb. 24. (Photo by Breana Pitts)
At the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) boys’ championship game, H.D. Woodson High and Roosevelt Senior High schools had the entire crowd on its feet. The last time the two teams met, H.D. Woodson nearly saw their undefeated season slip away with a down-to-the-wire, one-point victory over Roosevelt. This time, with the championship on the line, they didn’t want it to be that close.
H.D. Woodson edged Roosevelt, 68-57, to win back-to-back DCIAA titles on Feb. 24 at the University of the District of Columbia. Woodson continues its quest to become the first D.C. public school team since 1985 to finish undefeated.
After exchanging leads in the first quarter, H.D. Woodson went on a run in the second quarter to take the lead for good. Senior Antwan Walker – reigning DCIAA player of the year – shifted the momentum with a one-handed alley-oop dunk, and Woodson never looked back.
When Roosevelt chipped away at the lead in the second half and only trailed by one point with less than three minutes left the play, Walker didn’t doubt his teammates for a second.
“We just had to keep our composure and play our game. So we calmed down,” he said.
Before the game, head coach Lawrence Mines told his seniors to “go out with a bang.” Senior Kavon Montgomery—who finished with 19 points—was at the center of two critical plays that ultimately kept Woodson afloat.
Montgomery scored a layup off of a steal by senior Clenteous McCoy III. Then, he followed up with another steal of his own on the next defensive possession. Montgomery made a fast break to the basket to give Woodson a 59-54 lead, and Roosevelt wouldn’t recover.
No. 2-ranked H.D. Woodson will play the winner of the Cesar Chavez-St. Albans matchup in the D.C. State Athletic Association quarterfinals on March 1.