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The 2022-23 season did not end the way the Windsor High School varsity girls basketball team wanted it to, but an overall successful campaign concluded with the Lady Dukes giving maximum effort in the Region 2A Tournament quarterfinals Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Facing No. 4 Nandua High School, the No. 5 Lady Dukes fell 61-53.

Windsor Head Coach Wilhelm Johns indicated that some key missed free throws and foul trouble were deciding factors in the game, but he was pleased with the effort his players put forth.

“I am proud of the girls — they left it all on the floor,” he said.

Junior center Shamyah Stephenson finished with 21 points for the Lady Dukes, freshman guard/forward Mariah Stephenson contributed 18 points, and senior guard/forward Melissa Carr registered 10.

Windsor reached the quarterfinals after routing No. 12 Thomas Jefferson High School 59-16 in the regional tourney’s first round on Feb. 17.

In that game, Mariah Stephenson led Windsor with 16 points, and Shamyah Stephenson and junior guard Keaera Kea-Towns generated 13 points apiece.

The Lady Dukes finished the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 17-7, including a 10-4 mark in the Tri-Rivers District.

Johns said he will remember this Windsor team for its hard work and dedication.

“This whole season the girls represented well,” he said. “They came to practice every day to work, and they knew what was expected of them.”

In addition to continued standout play from Shamyah Stephenson, Kea-Towns and Carr, this season featured the emergence of Mariah Stephenson at the varsity level. Johns said he was expecting her to become a key contributor this season.

“I watched her play last year on the (junior varsity) team and knew she was going to be a special talent,” he said.

The varsity Lady Dukes will soon be saying goodbye to three players due to graduation — Carr, center/forward Nadia Smith and forward Trinity Williams.

“All these young ladies are tremendous people,” Johns said. “They all came with great attitudes and work ethic.”

He noted that Smith played for him for four years, and Williams played for him for two.

“As for Melissa Carr, I can’t express how proud I am of her,” he said. “She played all four years and all four years was a captain. She is a born leader. She was there in the bad years and the good years. I know she will do great things as she goes to (the University of Virginia) to play softball.”

A multi-sport standout, Carr signed to play softball for the NCAA Division I U.Va. Cavaliers back in December.

Though it is losing these seniors, Windsor’s varsity girls basketball team will maintain most of its roster for the 2023-24 season, returning six of its nine players, including four starters.

Johns said he expects Shamyah Stephenson and Kea-Towns, who will be seniors, to lead the way for the Lady Dukes.