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[Lynn Burke]

Hampton girls ranked ninth nationally
By Jason Jordan | jjordan@dailypress.com

Hampton high girls basketball coach David Six has never put a great deal of stock into national high school basketball polls.
Earlier this season his Crabbers beat Malcolm X Shabazz from Newark, N.J. which was ranked 10th in the east and still Crabbers remained unranked.

But after rolling through this season with a 30-2 record, the best in the school history, and winning their second Group AAA state title, it finally seems as if the Crabbers are getting the respect that they deserve.

Student Sports ranked Hampton No. 9 in its postseason national girls Fab 50.

“To my knowledge that’s the first time we’ve been ranked nationally,” Six said. “We didn’t really care about rankings because all we were trying to do was win states. I’m surprised, but it’s a tremendous honor for those kids. That’s great.”
Hampton guard Raychele Payne hit a short jumper to lift the Crabbers past Edison, 47-46, in the Group AAA state title game on March 10.

Coming into that game the Eagles were ranked No. 11 and Hampton wasn’t ranked.

In the Student Sports’ poll Edison followed Hampton at No. 10.
Next year the Crabbers will have a shot at moving up with all-state guard Tiffany Davis returning with Alyssa Bennett, Joycelyn Davis and Talaya Lynch.

Still, Six, who was named the girls Group AAA Coach of the Year, would rather put it into context.

“I hear all of these things that say who’s gonna do well next year,” he said. “There could be injuries and other things and the stars have to fall right for you. You have to be lucky to some degree. I’m happy about the ranking. It’s a testament to how hard they worked this season.”