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Sweet 17! VHSL basketball championships remain up for grabs for 9 area boys teams, 8 girls teams

marty o'brien, larry rubama, the virginian-pilot
·8 min read

State championship hopes are still within reach for 17 basketball teams from South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula as the Virginia High School League’s quarterfinals tip off today at sites throughout the state.

Semifinals are scheduled for Monday, and championship games are later next week at VCU’s Siegel Center in Richmond.

All VHSL quarterfinals will be today. Admission is $10 per game, plus a $1.50 service fee, and tickets are sold only at https://gofan.co/app/school/VHSL.

Here’s a look at today’s complete VHSL schedule, including the lowdown on each 757 team:

Boys

CLASS 6

Today’s quarterfinals: Landstown vs. Patriot, 7 p.m. at Gainesville HS; Forest Park vs. Oscar Smith, 6 p.m. at Greast Bridge HS; Edison vs. South Lakes, 7 p.m. at Westfield HS; James Madison vs. Hayfield, 7 p.m. at South County HS. NOTE: Oscar Smith’s game time and site has been updated to 6 p.m. at Great Bridge.

757 buzz: Coach LaVar Griffin has Oscar Smith (24-1) on a 12-game winning streak as the Tigers claimed their second region title with a win over Landstown. The Tigers, who finished as state runner-up in 2016, have done it with balanced scoring in the postseason from many players, including Trey Williams (10.7 points per game), Kareem Stagg (9 ppg, 7.7 rebounds per game) and Ulysses Young (7.3 ppg). ... Before the season, many wrote off Landstown after coach Dwight Robinson’s son, Donald Hand Jr., graduated. They were wrong as the Eagles (19-6) are back in the state tournament, led by 6-foot-7 senior center Ethan Ward (14 ppg, 8.7 rpg in postseason) and guard Demeir Pollard (13 ppg). The Eagles won the state title in 2019 and finished runner-up in 2005 and 2014.

CLASS 5

Today’s quarterfinals: Maury vs. Green Run, 8 p.m. at Norfolk State; Princess Anne vs. Woodside, 8 p.m. at Denbigh HS; Glen Allen vs. Patrick Henry of Roanoke, 7 p.m. at William Fleming HS; Stone Bridge vs. Highland Springs, 7 p.m. at J.R. Tucker HS.

757 buzz: Coach Kenneth Harris has led Green Run to its fourth state tournament in the past five seasons. The Stallions (12-13) won a share of a state title in 2020, when the final was canceled because of COVID, and finished as runner-up in 2021. Guard Kassidy Jackson is averaging 13.7 points in the postseason. ... Maury (19-5) and coach Brandon Plummer are back in the state tournament after losing in last year’s championship game and winning it all in 2019. The Commodores — who have split the all-time series with Green Run at 8-8 — have had balanced scoring, and guard Casey Jones is averaging 13 points in the playoffs. ... Woodside is back in the state tournament for the first time since current Wolverines coach Stefan Welsh led them to back-to-back state titles in 2004 and ‘05. This season, the Wolverines have had seven guys go for 25 points or more in a game, including senior guard Trevor Smith, who scored 30 to help the Wolverines (20-5) upset previously unbeaten Menchville in the region semifinals. He is averaging 18.7 points in the postseason. ... Princess Anne coach Corey Coffer has the Cavaliers back in the state tournament for the first time since 1999, when they won the title. The Cavaliers (19-6) have a 1-2 punch of senior guard Will Bland (17 ppg) and freshman Styles Clemmons, who leads Hampton Roads at 20.3 ppg in the postseason.

CLASS 4

Today’s quarterfinals: Heritage of Newport News vs. Varina, 7 p.m. at Highland Springs HS; Matoaca vs. King’s Fork, 8 p.m. at Nansemond River HS; Handley vs. E.C. Glass, 7 p.m. at Heritage HS in Lynchburg; Western Albemarle vs. Tuscarora, 7:30 p.m. at Riverside HS.

757 buzz: King’s Fork (21-3) has won 16 in a row and outscored opponents by an average of 29 points, including three region games by 31, 35 and 42. The Bulldogs shared a state title in 2020, when the final was canceled because of COVID, and won an outright title in 2009. Coach Rick Hite has a deep squad led by guard Samuel Brannen (17 ppg), the Class 4 Region A Player of the Year, his son, Ryan, a first-team all-region pick, and Adarius Boston (15.7 ppg). ... Heritage coach Dimitri Batten, a former Peninsula District Player of the Year who played for Old Dominion, has the Hurricanes in the state tournament in his first year. The Hurricanes (15-12) have been led by 6-2 senior forward Donovan Raikes, who averaged 19 points in the past two games.

CLASS 3

Today’s quarterfinals: Lake Taylor vs. Skyline, 7 p.m. at Warren County HS; William Monroe vs. Hopewell, 7 p.m. at Prince George HS; Staunton vs. Cave Spring, 7 p.m. at Hidden Valley HS; Northside vs. Spotswood, 7 p.m. at East Rockingham HS.

757 buzz: Lake Taylor won a state title in 2018 and finished as runner-up in 2016. Titans coach Derek “Yogi” Edwards was an assistant on those teams and is now in the state tournament for the first time as a head coach. The Titans (17-7) have size inside with twin towers Elijah Washington and Rodney Baines and dynamic guards in Shahide Battle, Aaron Elliott, Triston Skipwith, Montonio Flowers and Tobias Meekins.

CLASS 2

Today’s quarterfinals: Brunswick vs. Madison County, 7 p.m. at Monticello HS; Strasburg vs. John Marshall, 7:30 p.m. at Huguenot HS; Floyd County vs. Virginia High of Bristol, 7:30 p.m. at UVA Wise; Graham vs. Radford, 7 p.m. at Radford University.

CLASS 1

Today’s quarterfinals: Middlesex vs. Altavista, 5:30 p.m. at Heritage HS in Lynchburg; Franklin vs. Lancaster, 7 p.m. at New Kent HS; George Wythe of Wytheville vs. Twin Springs, 7 p.m. at Gate City MS; Honaker vs. Auburn, 7 p.m. at Floyd County HS.

Girls

CLASS 6

Today’s quarterfinals: Manchester vs. Osbourn Park, 7 p.m. at Unity Reed HS; Gainesville vs. Thomas Dale, 7 p.m. at Monacan HS; West Potomac vs. James Madison, 7 p.m. at South Lakes HS; Oakton vs. Robinson, 7:45 p.m. at Fairfax HS.

CLASS 5

Today’s quarterfinals; Salem vs. Menchville, 5:30 p.m. at Denbigh HS; Norview vs. Princess Anne, 6 p.m. at Norfolk State; Glen Allen vs. Massaponax, 7 p.m. ; William Fleming vs. L.C. Bird, 7 p.m. at Meadowbrook HS.

757 buzz: Norview (21-4) won last year’s state quarterfinal meeting with Princess Anne 40-34, ending the Cavaliers’ string of eight consecutive state titles and 13 straight appearances in the final. Zakiya Stephenson (16.2 ppg) and Tinasia Spencer (14.8 ppg) are Princess Anne’s offensive standouts, while Norview’s Diamond Wiggins (18.7 ppg), Kiyah Fitchett (14.9 ppg) and company must find a way to crack the Cavaliers’ dominating defense. ... Reigning All-Tidewater Player of the Year Amari Smith (20.0 ppg) leads the way as Menchville (23-1) continues its Class 5 state title defense with a challenging matchup against Salem (19-5) and post standout Elyseia Brown (15.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg).

CLASS 4

Today’s quarterfinals: King’s Fork vs. Matoaca, 7 p.m. at L.C. Bird HS; Hanover vs. Hampton, 7 p.m. at Bethel HS; Sherando vs. Pulaski County, 7 p.m. at Christiansburg HS; Louisa County vs. Tuscarora, 5:30 p.m. at Riverside HS.

757 buzz: Kennedy Harris (31.4 ppg) of Hampton has been a star for years. Kaliyah Perry, a 6-foot sophomore, took her first big step toward stardom on Friday with 25 points in the Crabbers’ 75-43 win over King’s Fork for the Class 4 Region A championship. ... Defending Class 4 state champion King’s Fork (19-6) would very much like a rematch with the Crabbers on Monday in a state semifinal. With a pair of All-Tidewater selections in point guard Cyriah Griffin (18 ppg, 5 steals per game, 7 apg) and Niyah Gaston (16 ppg), along with a formidable post presence in Imani Clemmons (13 ppg, 11 rpg), it will be no surprise if the Bulldogs advance to the semifinals.

CLASS 3

Today’s quarterfinals: Lafayette vs. Meridian, 7 p.m. at McLean HS; Brentsville District vs. Lakeland, 6 p.m. at Nansemond River; Spotswood vs. Carroll County, 7 p.m. at Pulaski County HS; Lord Botetourt vs. Liberty Christian, 7 p.m. at Liberty University.

757 buzz: Class 3 Region A champion Lakeland (15-10) aims for a repeat of state quarterfinal victories from 2020 and ‘22. Kianna Gray (14 ppg), Nyeshia Savage (12 ppg), Jaelyn Brown (12 ppg) and Ja’Najah Artis (10 ppg) lead an experienced group of seniors key to those victories. ... Lafayette (19-8) will play in the first girls state tournament game in its almost 50-year history. The Rams possess an individual standout in Alexis Blake (16 ppg) and a group of capable contributors, including outside sharpshooter Sarah Lynch.

CLASS 2

Today’s quarterfinals: Brunswick vs. Clarke County, 7 p.m. at Strasburg HS; Strasburg vs. John Marshall, 6 p.m. at Huguenot HS; Glenvar vs. Gate City, 7 p.m. at Virginia HS in Bristol; Wise County Central vs. Floyd County, 7 p.m. at UVA Wise.

CLASS 1

Today’s quarterfinals: King & Queen Central vs. Rappahannock County, 6 p.m. at Highland School; Buffalo Gap vs. Rappahannock, 6 p.m. at Westmoreland HS; Eastern Montgomery vs. J.I. Burton, 5 p.m. at UVA Wise; Eastside at Fort Chiswell, 7 p.m. at Carroll County HS.