Kennedy Harris, Kaliyah Perry star as Hampton dethrones King’s Fork for Class 4 Region A girls championship
Forget the myth that Hampton High’s girls basketball team is all Kennedy Harris. Harris was good, very good on Friday — her 29 points almost matching her season average of more than 31.
But Harris got big-time help from Kaliyah Perry, a sophomore who scored a career-high 25 points. Together, their one-two punch delivered a 75-43 knockout of defending champion King’s Fork in the Class 4 Region A championship game in the Crabbers’ gymnasium.
Both advance to the Class 4 state tournament, but while the Crabbers (22-3) host their state quarterfinal, King’s Fork will begin defense of its state title on the road. The Crabbers never trailed after the second of two Perry 3-pointers gave them a 6-5 lead.
“Last night (in a 52-49 semifinal win over Deep Creek), I was good on the boards, but my shots weren’t falling,” Perry said. “But every night is a new night, and I was ready to go and my shots were falling from the start.”
Ditto for Harris, a senior who will play for George Mason next year. She scored the Crabbers’ next eight points on a pair of free throws, a three-point play and a 3-pointer. They continued apace, and when Perry drained a pull-up jumper late in the second quarter, the lead was 28-9.
“She was amazing,” Harris said. “People are going to box-and-one me in postseason tournaments, so it’s great to see her play her best.
“I love it.”
King’s Fork star Cyriah Griffin (13 points) warmed up after a slow start with several baskets to pull the Bulldogs to within 33-23 early in the second half, prompting Bulldogs coach Maurice Fofana to exclaim “you’re right back in it” to his players. Hampton retaliated quickly.
Harris, Perry and company responded with a 23-5 run to increase the lead to 56-28 and clinch the Crabbers’ second region title in three seasons. They now set their sights on a state title they last won in 2020, when Harris was a freshman.
“We need to stay together, stay humble and everyone has to play their role,” Harris said.
Perry added, “There are rings to be won. I wasn’t able to play (in the region tournament loss to Deep Creek) last year, so I’m ready to give a go and give it my all.”
