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Despite having just led her team to a 59-47 victory against Calvert with 18 points, she calmly walked toward the opposing bench to shake hands. Explaining her stone-faced reaction, Washington offered a simple reason: "I was thinking I could have played better and done more for the team."

The freshman will look to carry that unsatisfied attitude forward into next week's state semifinals after Gwynn Park won its first region title since 2006. The Yellow Jackets will face 2A West Region champion Liberty High of Eldersburg at 3 p.m. Friday at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County in Catonsville. Fallston takes on Digital Harbor in the other 2A state semifinal at 5 p.m. Friday.

"Caira is our rock in the middle – she's been there all season," said Gwynn Park coach Michael Strother. "We're going to ride her all the way to the state championship."

Calvert guard Alexis Smith scored 20 points as she and Washington exchanged blows in a battle of freshman stars on the neutral court at Henry A. Wise High School in Upper Marlboro. Gwynn Park guard Channell Mackey, meanwhile, complemented Washington with 15 points during the win.

Both squads came out firing as Gwynn Park guard Bianca Miller and Smith traded 3-point shots in the opening minute. Trailing 20-16 at the end of the first quarter, the Yellow Jackets took advantage of a cold spell from Smith to hold Calvert scoreless for nearly four minutes and build a 28-24 lead.

At halftime, the Gwynn Park advantage was 35-30.

"We started real tight," Strother said. "Then we started hitting a couple shots and our post players started scoring inside. Once we were able to get a lead, all we had to do was control it."

Following a six-point first half, Washington found a rhythm scoring on offensive rebounds in the third quarter. She converted three consecutive baskets for the Yellow Jackets during an 8-2 run that saw Gwynn Park take the game's first double-digit lead at 47-36.

With 2:30 remaining, a Rachel Loube-Pearson 3-pointer quickly followed by a Joniece Butler layup cut the Calvert deficit to 55-47. But Butler missed two free throws moments later, Washington came up with a rebound and Calvert did not score again.

As a team, Calvert managed just 1 of 7 from the foul line. Strother said the state semifinal berth is particularly meaningful to a young team featuring five freshman because it will make his players want to return to the big stage every year. Their coach has been there before: Strother guided Potomac to 2A state titles in 2004 and 2005.

"It means everything," Washington added. "We work hard every day. Practice is crazy – [Strother] talked about it every day. I think we deserved it."