Girls Basketball: Freedom's All-Time Leading Scorer Dionna Scott Heads to Winston-Salem State

South Riding (June 23, 2011) - Dionna Scott, Freedom High School's all-time leader in points scored, steals and assists, is heading to Winston-Salem State University after leading the Eagles to two state titles in her prep career.

Scott finished with 1,752 points along with 282 steals and 211 assists and helped Freedom win a VHSL Division 3 state title in 2008-09 and a Division 4 state title in 2009-10.

“It was a pleasure having the opportunity to coach Dionna over her entire high school career," said Freedom girls coach Joe Crawford. "Her dedication on the court and in the classroom enabled her to grow into a well rounded young lady. She will be missed by all, but I’m really grateful that she has the opportunity to further her education and basketball career at such a fine university.”

Winston-Salem State is a NCAA Division II school of 6,442 and plays in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

“We are very excited to have a player like Dionna Scoot join our program here at Winston-Salem State University," said WSSU women's basketball head coach Stephen Joyner, Jr. "As we build this program to be the best in the CIAA and Division II our first task was to recruit young ladies that are well rounded people as well as well as basketball players. Dionna has shown over her high school career that she is willing to go above and beyond both on the court and in the classroom. I look forward to four great years and many more records for this young lady.”

Girls Basketball: Freedom's Dionna Scott to Play at Winston-Salem State; VivaLoudoun's Class of 2011 College Choice Chart Hits 100!

South Riding (May 12, 2011) - Freedom High School senior Dionna Scott, the Eagles all-time scoring leader, will play next season at NCAA Division II Winston-Salem State.

The Rams with an enrollment of almost 7,000 students is located in Winston-Sale, N.C. and plays in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

With Scott's decision, the VivaLoudoun exclusive College Choice Chart has hit 100 athletes for the Class of 2011!

Girls Basketball: Loudoun County's Brittany Batts Named Region II D4 Player of the Year, Fisher Earns Coach of the Year

Brittany Batts

(Feb. 28, 2011) - Region II Division 4 girls basketball champion Loudoun County High School swept honors in a vote of coaches with senior Brittany Batts named the Player of the Year and first-year coach Derek Fisher selected as Coach of the Year.

Freedom senior Dionna Scott earned first team honors as well.

All-Region II

1st Team:

Courtni Green (D3 POY) - Millbrook

Dionna Scott

Brittany Batts (D4 POY) - Loudoun County
Jazmon Gwathmey - Liberty
Erin Drumheller - Sherando
Dionna Scott - Freedom

2nd Team:

Sara Mead - Millbrook
Ellen Shaffrey - Western Albemarle
Alisha Mobley - Millbrook
Elizabeth Wood - Liberty
Kelsey Taylor - Brentsville

D3 COY - Debby Sanders - Millbrook
D4 COY - Derek Fisher - Loudoun County

Girls Basketball: Raiders Rule Region with 54-51 Win over Rival Freedom in Latest Match-up in Epic Series

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun Editor

Leesburg (Feb. 25, 2011) - The epic series between the Freedom and Loudoun County high school girls basketball teams stretched across 17 incredible games during the brilliant 4-year careers of Eagle swing player Dionna Scott and Raider guard Brittany Batts and the two veterans saved the best for last as they combined for 47 points Thursday night in a contest won by Loudoun County, 54-51.

The win avenged a loss by the Raiders at Freedom in last year's Region II Division 4 semifinals and sent Loudoun County onto the regional final Saturday at 7 p.m. at Liberty and assured the Raiders of a trip to the VHSL state tournament in a week.

"I love playing against Freedom. You know they are always going to bring it," said Batts who scored 14 of her team-high 23 points in the final quarter, the most she has ever scored against two-time defending state champion Freedom. "That loss (in regionals) last year was tough so getting them back on our homecourt tonight felt great."

Scott, with a game-high 24 points and team-high 16 rebounds -- her second best offensive effort ever against the Raiders -- did everything she could as Freedom, with junior Alexis Mayo scoring 15 points, built a 10-point first half advantage but Loudoun County fought back and nosed ahead in the second half.

Girls Basketball: Freedom Senior Dionna Scott Sets School's All-Time Scoring Mark in Win at Potomac Falls

Great Scott!

Dionna Scott's school records

Career
Points: 1,544
3-pointers: 50
Free throws: 332
Steals: 251 (as of Jan. 10)

Season
Points: 538
Steals: 105
Free throws: 93


By Carl Lukat
Loudoun Times-Mirror Sports Editor

Sterling (Jan. 23, 2011) - Senior Dionna Scott became Freedom High School’s career scoring leader in girls’ basketball during the Eagles’ 47-30 victory over host Potomac Falls on Jan. 21 in Sterling.

Scott scored 23 points in the win to push her career total to 1,544 points, surpassing the previous mark of 1,540 held by 2010 graduate Kelsey Buchanan, who now plays at the University of Delaware.

“I can shoot and I can drive,” said Scott, explaining what makes her a potent scorer. “So most of the time if people are too late coming [to defend] I can shoot the ball or if they are right there, I feel like I can pump fake and go around them. We do a lot of picks and a lot of cutting so that also helps.”

"I can shoot and I can drive ... "

Scott, a 5-foot-11 forward, also holds Freedom records for converted 3-pointers, converted free throws and steals in her career. As a sophomore, Scott set season records for points, steals and free throws to help the Eagles’ win their first of two consecutive state championships.

Despite her lofty numbers, Scott was not considered the team’s focal point until this year. Meixandra Porter, now playing for Colorado State, and Buchanan held that distinction in recent seasons.

“It means a lot because I’ve always been the underdog,” Scott said of setting the career scoring mark. “I was never that person where [our opponent] would be you have to watch her. Now on the court, you hear watch out for [number] 14 or here comes Dionna. It feels good to know people are figuring out that I’m a scorer and a main person [to defend].”

Scott has flourished in her role as a team leader this winter, scoring in double figures in all 16 games and averaging 21 points per contest.

“She’s been here for four years and the last three years we’ve always had Kelsey or Meixandra that would kind of carry the load,” said Joe Crawford, in his first year as Freedom’s head coach after previously serving as an assistant.

“She’s always got her points and rebounds but she wasn’t in the limelight,” Crawford said of Scott. “Now, they are gone and she’s a senior and she’s had to step up. She’s done exactly what I’ve wanted her to do and proven that she’s a really good player. I’m really happy for her and I’m really proud of her.”

Scott and her Eagle teammates return to action Jan. 24 against Dulles District rival Loudoun County. The winner of that game will gain sole possession of first place in the district. VivaLoudoun will be on hand at the game with Live! Updates and follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/vivaloudoun) as well for updates each big sports night.


Carl Lukat is a friend of the VivaLoudoun Fox and long-time sports editor of the Loudoun Times-Mirror ... follow his great coverage in print weekly and online daily at www.loudountimes.com.