Mid-season matchup will test Stonewall's mettle

The advantage, according to Nsonji White, isn’t in Stonewall Jackson’s formidable full-court pressure defense. Or even in the intense practices that are designed to make his team tougher, smarter and stronger than anybody else.

In high school basketball, White’s philosophy for success includes both of those things, but it begins — and ends — with the backcourt.

And that is the reason that the Raiders will travel to Northwestern High School on Saturday believing that they can defeat Riverdale Baptist for the first time in school history.

“The game is guard oriented. If you have a good guard you are going to prevail. That’s the key and I have one of the best guards in the country,” coach White said.

And he isn’t just saying that because senior playmaker Kyani White is his daughter.

Midway through her fourth varsity season and headed to Virginia Tech on a scholarship in the fall, Kyani is the player who attracts double teams and gimmick defenses on a nightly basis. And even that doesn’t slow her down.

“She’s a problem for everybody,” coach White said.

With Kyani White running the offense — and averaging 17.8 points and 8.2 assists per game — the Raiders are 7-1 and seemingly destined to contend for the program’s first Group AAA state championship.

“I think the upper echelon teams in the state right now are Princess Anne, Indian River, us, Cosby and Hampton,” coach White said. “Right now, I don’t think we’re ready to win state, but we have the players.

“I know we work harder than everyone else and I’m confident about Saturday. Most important, they are too.”

Facing the Crusaders is part of White’s strategic plan to get the Raiders ready for what lies ahead in late February and, hopefully, March.

The early-season schedule has featured several daunting opponents — City College, Freedom-South Riding and Princeton Day, among others — and Stonewall has emerged from the opening month with a keen awareness of its collective talent.

“I’d play the Mystics the day before we play Riverdale Baptist because I know that will prepare us,” coach White said.

The Raiders are as deep and talented as any opposing team they’ve faced so far. Only Freedom-South Riding has proven to be more resilient.

Yet taking on the Crusaders, and their University of Virginia-bound guard Ataira Franklin, offers a different type of challenge.

“This is going to be a game that will allow us to see exactly where we are,” coach White said. “They’re a very physical team and an aggressive team like we are, but I think we’re better skilled in five positions. We don’t have any weaknesses right now.”

That is especially true at point guard — Kyani White’s domain — and center, where senior Joy Caracciolo, an East Carolina University recruit, is averaging a team-best 22.1 points per game. Already this season, she’s scored a career-high 31 points against City College and 27 against Westfield to emerge as the same type of versatile performer that former star Gwen Washington was during her high school days.

“I learned a lot from Gwen about how to square up and shoot,” Caracciolo said. “She taught me not to second-guess myself and to go for it.”

No one wearing a Raiders’ jersey doubts the team’s ability. And that confidence won’t waver on Saturday when they stand face-to-face against Riverdale Baptist.

“They’re a really good team. They hustle, they’re physical and they play good defense. They play a lot like us, actually,” Caracciolo said. “We should beat them, though.”

The Crusaders (9-5) have won five consecutive games since December 22 and the Raiders eagerly await the challenge. They’ve devised a game-plan to counter Riverdale’s athleticism and defending Franklin, who has raised her average to 14.6 points per game, was the primary focus of a mid-week video session.

“They have one girl who can stick it consistently and she’s going to be trapped all night,” coach White said.

Beyond that, the Raiders will rely on the same style of play that has enabled them to reach the Group AAA state tournament in each of the past four seasons.

“Any game begins with defense,” Kyani White said. “Defense is very important to winning. But we’re going to have to continue to push hard to get where we want to be.

“Beating Riverdale Baptist is a must. If we go out there and do what we’re supposed to do and play defense the way we’re supposed to play it, we should have a good night.”