Senior Jenkins, 'Forever' a Titan, Helps Engineer Another Victory

T.C. Williams junior Ryan Yates stood just feet from senior guard Edward Jenkins following the fourth-ranked Titans' 61-55 victory over visiting Hayfield last night.

"I remember the first time I saw him, I walked into the gym and saw how hard this guy was working, and I knew if I didn't work as hard, I wouldn't make the team," said Yates, who finished with 14 points last night. "He's a seasoned vet to the fullest."

Jenkins, a three-year starter who pulled off a rarity in making the T.C. Williams varsity squad as a freshman, has been a constant over a whirlwind period during which the Titans have become Northern Virginia's measuring stick.

"People always ask me when I'm going to graduate," said Jenkins, a passionate 5-foot-11 scorer, chest-pounder and admitted trash-talker who displayed all those traits en route to his game-high 17 points on senior night. "They feel like I've been here forever."

Jenkins, who is drawing heavy consideration by area coaches for Virginia AAA Northern Region player of the year, has been a constant for a Titans squad that in the 2006-07 season was pegged to win it all with a roster full of Division I talent but got upset early in the postseason.

He was also part of a squad expected to rebuild last year that instead went 29-3 on the way to a state championship -- the Northern Region's first title in 27 years.

Last night he showed off his regular swagger in leading T.C. Williams past its most challenging Patriot District opponent in the past two seasons. The Titans (20-2, 14-0) completed their fourth straight undefeated district schedule and extended their winning streak against district opponents to 67.

T.C. Williams has outscored district challengers by an average of more than 20 points per game during its streak.

The Titans, who will enter Tuesday's Patriot tournament as the top seed, beat Hayfield (17-5, 11-3) -- the No. 2 seed -- for the second time this season.

"Complacency is the worst thing that can happen to a man," Jenkins said. "As long as we don't get complacent, we can accomplish big things."

Hayfield built a 14-11 first-quarter lead, getting six points from 6-foot-6 senior Laurent Newsome (15 points), but Jenkins scored nine points as part of a 21-13 second-quarter run that put the Titans up for good.

"He's the heart and soul of this team," T.C. Williams Coach Julian King said.

No. 4 T.C. Williams 61, Hayfield 55 Off the Mark: Hayfield went 2 for 7 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. The One and Only TRP: Following her 40-point performance in last night's 86-49 victory over Hayfield in the girls' game, UNC-bound senior Tierra Ruffin-Pratt -- a senior who has scored more than 2,300 points in her career -- had her jersey retired.