Glenville’s girls capture Senate title 

Mike Peticca Plain Dealer Reporter, February 01, 2008 10:32 p.m.

Glenville’s girls had a new standard to live up to this season. The standard of a champion. The Lady Tarblooders met expectations on Friday night at Cleveland South. They defeated South, 60-49, in the Senate Athletic League basketball championship game. The title is Glenville’s second straight, after going 14 seasons without winning one. “We had big shoes to fill from last year,” said Tarblooders senior point guard Dianea Willis. “We have good teamwork and chemistry. We work together and we practice hard.” Willis finished with 11 points, eight assists and five steals. Senior forward Sabrina Wynn totaled 14 points and 14 rebounds for Glenville and sophomore center Tiara Harrison contributed eight points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Tiarra Hopson scored 11 points. Glenville routed South, 70-42, in a regular-season game last Friday. It was the lone loss for the Flyers in their nine games previous to Friday. South (13-7) reached the title game with a 59-58 semifinal win over John F. Kennedy on Tuesday night. Senior guard Malika Isom won the game at the buzzer, as she drove the length of the floor and then put in the rebound of her own missed shot. Isom came back with a rousing effort on Friday, scoring 26 points on a variety of outside shots and drives to the basket. “It was our first time in the playoffs in a long time,” said South’s first-year coach, Melvin Kado III. “All of our players carry a 3.4 grade-point average or better, and they’re all in honor classes. They’re going to get college degrees. They’re all heart.” Glenville expanded a 28-26 lead to 43-28 late in the third quarter. Willis, with her ability to get into the lane, dished four assists during the run, threw another pass leading to two made free throws, and also sank two free throws. Tarblooders coach Yvonne Renee Wright, who has led five teams — including three at John Hay — to SAL titles, called Willis “our general.” “Dianea looks like she’s not that fast, but she is fast, and she’s quick off the dribble,” said Wright, just before she sang a rousing version of the national anthem prior to the second game of the championship doubleheader, the boys game. “South was on a roll after beating JFK. We maintained our poise and the lead.” Isom, averaging nearly 25 points a game, drilled two 3-point shots and a jumper and senior guard Jasmine Joiner scored five of her 11 points to pull South to within 50-45 with 3:30 left. “This is all I’ve ever wanted in my high school career,” Isom said of the Flyers’ sparkling season after starting for losing teams the last three years. “We never give up.” Glenville regained control as Hopson swished a baseline jumper, Willis fed Wynn for a layup and Willis hit two free throws for a 56-45 lead. 