River Ridge is a consistent playoff contender not because it hangs on to the coattails of some talented superstar who can bail the team out in key situations, but because the Royal Knights have a collection of hardworking players who check their ego at the door and do not mind sharing the load.

This is the formula River Ridge coach Joeyn Dearsman has used to shake the team out of its doldrums. When Dearsman took over in 2008, she inherited a program that went a combined 4-56 the previous three seasons. 

Since then, the Royal Knights have had only one losing season during Dearsman’s tenure – and that came in her second year as coach. 

Last year, River Ridge reached the region final for the first time. 

The prospects for returning were uncertain at the beginning of the season considering the Royal Knights graduated two of their top three leading scorers. 

No matter. 

River Ridge is back in the region final because Dearsman knows the whole of this team – like so many of her other squads – is greater than the sum of its parts.

In the region quarterfinals, the Royal Knights scored 60 points despite not having one player reach double figures in scoring. In the semifinals, two of River Ridge’s three players who scored in double figures came off the bench. 

“This team right here truly has bought into not caring who the leading scorer is as long as our team outscores our opponent,” Dearsman said. “Any given night, I can have a different person step up and be a leading scorer. Any given quarter honestly.”

That all-for-one approach also has helped the Royal Knights develop defensively. 

River Ridge lives to make life miserable for opposing defenses. During their current six-game win streak, the Royal Knights have held each of their foes to 33 points or less. 

In some games, opponents were able to handle the heat – for a half. But by the fourth quarter, the physical and mental strain of looking over their shoulder for the quick-handed JP Ferguson or dealing with the mad windmilling of the 6-foot-2 Lauren Lee can be too much.

“They’ve realized the last couple of years that defense leads to offense,” Dearsman said. “When we bring that high energy defense and get deflections and steals, the game moves a little faster. We get some easy buckets, and it really gets the flow going. These girls really take pride and have fun playing defense.

“My senior point guard (JP Ferguson) has always been the most annoying defender I’ve ever met. She’s all over the place and just sacrifices her body. It’s impossible not to get excited and want to play defense alongside her. Her energy is contagious. It also helps to have (6-2) Lauren Lee with her wingspan getting deflections all over the place. They really just have a lot of fun playing defense.”

Their pressure – and teamwork – have the Royal Knights on the verge of reaching the state semifinals. The last step is tonight with a matchup against Leesburg in the region final. 

“It’s been a work in progress, but we’re starting to get there,” Dearsman said.