The Salem High girls came up bridesmaids again when they played in the state championship basketball game last Saturday morning. It wasn’t what the girls wanted but it was better than the 51 Virginia High School League Class 4 schools who weren’t in the wedding at all.
Salem came in second in Class 4 for the second year in a row, and this time it really hurt as four of the starters and three reserves are seniors. The Spartans lost a heartbreaker, 43-40, to Manor High in a game that went down to the wire at the VCU Siegel Center in Richmond.
“Obviously it was very disappointing,” said Salem coach Scott Jester, who was recently named River Ridge District and Region 4D Coach of the Year.”These girls are like family to me. Really, we’re probably together more than we are with our own families. I hate it for them, and I know it hurts, but I wouldn’t trade these last four years for anything.”
The Spartans felt like this was going to be their year. After a 2024-25 season that saw them finish 27-3 with a loss in the state championship game, they worked hard in the off-season to finish the job. They came to Richmond with a 27-1 record and 20 wins in a row, the majority of which were decided by halftime.
However, they met a formidable foe. Manor High was 25-1 with something to prove after one of their players was declared ineligible during the playoffs, then reinstated by orders from a Portsmouth judge. That player was key to the victory Saturday, and had that judge not stepped in this might be a different story. However, the Spartans were making no excuses for a bitter loss that could have gone either way.
Defense was the order of the day, as both teams had difficulty finding open shots. Salem was forced into 27 turnovers that included 14 Manor steals, including seven by Mustangs speedy guard Jha’Zlya Babb.
The first half was back-and-forth with the score tied on four occasions and four lead changes. Salem held on to a 23-21 lead at intermission as Emme Custer had 10 points on five for eight shooting and Bailey Rider was three for four for six points. The taller Spartans outrebounded the Mustangs in the first half, 19-15.
As they have done so often this season, the Spartans came out smoking in the second half. Custer hit two free throws, Rider made one of two and Custer scored underneath to give Salem a seven point lead at 28-21. Meanwhile, the Salem defense held Manor scoreless for the first four and a half minutes of the third quarter.
At this point Manor fired back, going on a 7-2 run to end the quarter and cut the lead back to two at 30-28 with eight minutes to go. It was a wild game down the stretch with Custer hitting two big free throws with 1:12 on the clock to give Salem the lead at 38-37.
Babb hit a layup at the other end as Manor regained the lead, but Custer answered with a bucket with 40 seconds to go to give the Spartans a 40-39 edge. It would be the last lead of the day for Salem as Leah Williams regained the lead for Manor with 30 seconds on the clock. Rider drew a foul but two free throws spilled off the rim and the Spartans were forced to foul.
Kaliyah Eason made one of two for a 42-40 Manor lead with 16 seconds still on the clock. Jester used his final timeout to set up a play with hopes of tying or winning the game. Instead, the swarming Mustangs forced a jump ball with the arrow going their way, putting Salem behind the eight ball.
“We had the set we wanted, we just didn’t let it open up,” said Jester.
Salem fouled Ca’Asia Brown, who made one of two for a three point lead that kept it a one possession game. However, only seconds remained and a half court heave had no chance of creating a miracle.
Tears flowed as the Spartans accepted their second place trophy. The girls kept their composure and were good sports despite the devastating loss. Seniors Custer, Rider and Gabby Crawley joined Jester in the VCU press room to answer questions they’d just as soon not hear.
“The three of us have played together for a long time,” said Crawley. “It’s been a dream of mine to play at VCU when I was a little child. We didn’t win the game but I hope Salem is proud of us.”
Custer led the Spartans with 20 points and had three blocked shots. Rider had 11 points, three assists and led the team with six rebounds. Crawley, Kourtney Goens and Aniyah Fox had three points each and Goens also had three assists.
For Manor, Babb was high for the game with 23 points but she had to earn them, as Salem held her to five for 19 shooting from the floor. She went to the line 12 times and made 11, and that was likely the difference in the game along with the 27 Salem turnovers to 15 for Manor. The fouls were about even with 18 for Salem and 17 for Manor, and the Mustangs outrebounded the Spartans by just two boards, 34-32.
It was a tough end for the Salem seniors, but as the years go by the girls will realize what a special ride it was. In the past three seasons the Spartans have won 77 games and lost just 10 with two Region 4D championships and two chances to play in the ultimate high school basketball game. The 87th game didn’t go their way, but who’s to say if there had been another two minutes on the clock the result might be different.
“This group of girls, there’s no one I’d rather be with,” said Custer. “I feel like we took this program from good to great.”
PHOTOS BY BRIAN HOFFMAN
