Dafne Lee-Blakney (right) pumps up her Southside team team during the 1A state championship in 2006. (David Hobby/The Baltimore Sun)

Dafne Lee-Blakney, a Walbrook graduate who played at Maryland and coached Southside to three state finals, has been named girls basketball coach at Western, principal Alisha Trusty announced Tuesday.

Lee-Blakney, who most recently coached at Coppin Academy, led Southside to the state Class 1A championship game each year from 2004 to 2006. They claimed the 2005 championship when New Town -- which won the title game 62-53 -- forfeited the title for using an ineligible player.

At Maryland, Lee-Blakney played on the 1992 Terrapins team that was ranked No. 1 for four weeks and reached the regional final, just one step away from the Final Four. She also played professionally in Switzerland, Belgium, Israel and Greece.

Lee-Blakney takes over a Doves team that reached the state Class 4A title game three of the last five years and won five of the last six Baltimore City championships. The Doves have won 14 regional titles and two state titles, 1994 and 1995.