Central Region | Archive | November, 2007

Springers Just Too Much

Posted on 30 November 2007 by .

by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond

To defeat a team with the skill and athleticism of a Highland Springs, the opposition must play a complete game with few mistakes.

On Friday night Douglas Freeman was up to the challenge for a half but could not finish the task as the No. 3 Springers defeated the Rebels 72-53 in the semifinals of the Rebel Invitational.

At halftime Douglas Freeman led 32-30 behind strong play from junior Jake Eastman (20 points), though in the second half Highland Springs and Dazmond Starke (16 points) regained the form that so many have come accustomed to.

“I don’t tirade as I used to,” Springers coach George Lancaster said. “I try to make adjustments at halftime now. That is what halftime is for.”

Those adjustments focused largely on Eastman who had 16 points in the first half but was held to only four in the second. Douglas Freeman as a whole only scored five points in the third quarter. The Springers switched to a triangle-and-two with senior Harry Lee Daniel on Eastman.

“We try to pick out whoever is hot and try to adjust,” Daniel said. “I am usually the one that guards that player and I have a lot of pride to try and not let them score.”

Daniel got Highland Springs going early with back-to-back 3-pointers to start the game and the Springers led 15-12 after the first quarter.

With the home crowd cheering them on the Rebels opened the second quarter on a 17-7 run to take a 29-22 advantage. Josh Brinkley (12 points) began to show some force inside and Eastman found his range scoring 12 points in the quarter including two long 3-pointers. Douglas Freeman headed to the locker room leading by two.

“We could be much better than this,” Lancaster said. “We are a good defensive team but we didn’t show it in the first half.”

The Springers sure showed it in the second half as their full-court pressure forced numerous Rebels’ turnovers leading to easy baskets. Highland Springs outscored Douglas Freeman 21-5 in the third quarter with Starke providing eight points and Harvey Mills contributing six.

Douglas Freeman was able to find some offense again in the fourth quarter but the mountain was just to high to climb with Highland Springs making sure Eastman would not hurt them from the perimeter.

“We picked up our intensity and played a lot harder,” Daniel said. “To beat Highland Springs you have to play to great halves.”

Though the final score may have been a little lopsided, the closeness of the game early in an upper-tier tournament should prove to help the Springers down the road.

“This will help us to build for the tight games and tight situations we may get into later,” Daniel said.

Daniel finished with 14 points and Devan Hill added nine for the Springers. Omari Vaughan-Nelson was also in double figures for the Rebels with 10 points.

Highland Springs  15 15 21 21 – 72
Douglas Freeman 12 20  5 16  – 53
Highland Springs (2-0): Daniel 14, Starke 16, Hill 9, Mills 6, Winfield 8, Hilliard 8, Henderson 2, Parham 9. Totals: 18 12-21 72. 3-point goals: Daniel 3, Hill 3, Mills, Parham.
Douglas Freeman (1-1): Eastman 20, Brinkley 12, Vaughan-Nelson 10, Mann 6, Vitello 2, Smalley, Giles, Jackson. Totals: 13 15-25 53. 3-point goals: Eastman  2, Mann 2.

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Daniel Chooses Richmond

Posted on 29 November 2007 by redwan123.

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

It’s been a great couple of days for Harry Lee Daniel.

The Highland Springs standout wide receiver committed to the University of Richmond Thursday.

That was after he led Highland Springs to an 81-51 victory over Meadowbrook Wednesday on the hardwood with some Spider coaches in the house, including head coach Dave Clawson.

“I probably knew since after the Huguenot game,” Daniel said before basketball practice Thursday. “I was just going to wait until after the season was over.”

And what a season and career it was for Daniel. He was the Springers’ leading receiver with 37 receptions for 588 yards and nine touchdowns.

The 6-2, 190-pounder could of had more if not for a ridiculous seven receptions for 189 yards and three TDs against Woodbridge that put everyone on notice; not to mention a strong fleet of receivers and lopsided margins.

“Harry’s meant so much to our school, not even really the athletic department,” Springers coach Scott Burton said. “He is what you think of when you say the word student-athlete. He carries a 3.1 grade-point average. He takes advanced classes. He’s the guy when we have community service events, he’s front and center. He doesn’t shy away from being the role model or the spokesperson.”

Daniel caught over 100 passes in his Springer career and looks to make an immediate impact at UR.

“I get to make an impact right at home,” Daniel said. “I’m close to my family so they can come and watch me play. I can be home and enjoy being a student at the University of Richmond.”

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Freeman Finishes Strong

Posted on 28 November 2007 by redwan123.

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

Douglas Freeman placed four players in double figures to defeat Fork Union 73-54 in the quarterfinals of the Rebel Invitational Wednesday night.

The Rebels pulled away early in the fourth quarter after a Waverly Washington jumper sliced Freeman’s lead to 51-45. Rebels coach Larry Parpart quickly called timeout to regroup his troops.

It worked.

Freeman responded with a 16-4 run, scoring on seven straight possessions to put away Fork Union in the first game of the season for both teams.

“I really just think that we’re not as conditioned as we need to be,” said Fork Union coach Matt Donohue, who added that the Blue Devils hadn’t practiced all week because of Thanksgiving break. “I think we just ran out of gas and ran out of energy.”

Up six, Evan Vitello hit a jumper, then Omari Vaughan-Nelson (10 points) scored off a nifty feed from Jake Eastman.

Then Eastman (21 points), an incredible 3-point marksman, buried his fourth trey of the game from Monty Smalley.

Vaughan-Nelson scored again, Josh Brinkley (12 points) followed a Vaughan-Nelson miss, and then Phillip Rohrer (14 points) hit five straight points to run away from Fork Union.

“We had two or three possessions that we couldn’t do anything,” Parpart said of the early fourth-quarter stretch. “For the first game, I was pleased with how we played. I thought we played pretty good defensively.”

The Rebels will try to duplicate that defensive performance Friday against No. 3 Highland Springs in one of Friday’s semifinals. Fork Union will face Meadowbrook Thursday, an 81-51 loser to the Springers.

Akeem Thomas led Fork Union with 18 points. Brandon and Isiah Davis scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Blue Devils.

Fork Union  10 13 20 11 – 54
D. Freeman 18 17 16 22 – 73
Fork Union (0-1): Hsieh 0, Wilson 4, Washington 4, Blue 0, Berscak 0, Abdul-Raheem 3, I. Davis 11, Thomas 18, Floyd 2, Domingue 0, B. Davis 12. Totals: 23 5-8 54. 3-point goals: Thomas 2, Abdul-Raheem.
Douglas Freeman (1-0): Eastman 21, Vaughan-Nelson 10, Brinkley 12, Vitello 5, Rohrer 14, Smalley 4, Dennis 4, Mann 3. Totals: 27 13-19 73. 3-point goals: Eastman 4, Rohrer 2.

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Springers Turn Over Monarchs

Posted on 28 November 2007 by redwan123.

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

Highland Springs coach George Lancaster said in preseason that this would be one of his best defensive teams.

He wasn’t lying.

The Springers forced 25 Meadowbrook turnovers, 22 in the first three quarters, to cruise to an 81-51 win over the Monarchs in the quarterfinals of the Rebel Invitational at Douglas Freeman Wednesday evening.

Highland Springs, ranked third in the DigitalSports Top 10, will face Freeman, a 73-54 win over Fork Union, Friday in the semifinals. No. 8 Meadowbrook will tangle with the Blue Devils Thursday.

The Springers got off to a patented start early, going ahead 10-2 as Harry Lee Daniel knocked in two 3-pointers. The football star wide receiver finished with a game-high 28 points.

HS (1-0) scored 25 in the first quarter as Meadowbrook (0-1) could get nothing going offensively.

“In the first quarter, we dug ourselves a hole,” Monarchs coach John B. Gordon III said. “Not taking care of the ball, not rebounding, not transferring anything from practice to the game. Just a lack of execution, and I’ll take the blame for that.”

Sterling Martin hit two treys to start the second quarter as Meadowbrook played much better. The Springers’ hot shooting cooled off, but HS held a 10-point cushion going to the half.

That’s when the Springers put a straitjacket on the Monarchs. They went on a 12-4 run, forcing six turnovers in the run, four straight at one point.

“It’s the one thing that we’ve put the most time and effort and energy into,” Lancaster said. “We saw that tonight. We reaped the benefits tonight. That being said, there are some other areas which we weren’t as proficient.”

The offense was efficient to start the fourth quarter as the Springers scored 10 straight, six by Chris Hilliard, the other Springer in double digits with 14 points.

Dazmond Starke added eight points, and Natwan Young and Devan Hill added six as the Springer scoring was spread out, which is something that’s expected the entire season.

Paul Finn Jr. led Meadowbrook with 15 points, Martin had eight and Doug Brewer put in seven.

Meadowbrook 10 19  7 15 – 51
High. Springs  25 14 20 22 – 81
Meadowbrook (0-1): Doggett 5, Simmons 5, Martin 8, Bizzell 2, Aiken 4, Brewer 7, Williams 0, Coble 0, Finn 15, West 3, Sanders 2. Totals: 17 14-23 51. 3-point goals: Martin 2, Simmons.
Highland Springs (1-0): Daniel 28, Parham 3, Hill 6, DeBerry 0, Winfield 5, Mills 5, Hognett 0, Young 6, Starke 8, Henderson 2, Williams 4, Reynolds 0, Reed 0, Hilliard 14. Totals: 29 18-27 81. 3-point goals: Daniel 3, Hill 2.

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Eagles Survive Saints

Posted on 28 November 2007 by .

by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond

Mills Godwin had a hard time getting their offense going Wednesday night against St. Christopher’s.

So the Eagles’ Fletcher Lumpkin decided he would carry the load.

Lumpkin scored 23 points as Mills Godwin hung on to defeat the Saints 60-56 in the quarterfinals of the Rebel Invitational at Mills Godwin.

“He is our go-to guy,” Mills Godwin coach Hunter Thomas said. “[Kefentse] Budd wasn’t having a good game for us so he took over.”

St. Christopher’s Charlie McCann did everything he could do for the Saints, scoring 28 points including four 3-pointers.

Leading 54-45 midway through the fourth quarter it looked like the Eagles might win comfortably, but an 11-0 run by the Saints that ended with back-to-back layups by McCann put St. Christopher’s up 56-54 with 1:42 remaining.

After Mills Godwin was unable to score on their next possession Saints coach Chris Brown called a timeout to setup a play with one minute left. But on the inbounds play Patrick Oley stole the pass and found Ben Crouch for an open layup to tie the score.

The Saints, with a chance to take back the lead, then fouled Lumpkin as he went up for a rebound off a St. Christopher’s miss. He sunk both free throws and then iced the game with two more with 2.5 seconds left.

“We were up-and-down,” Thomas said. “We had moments when we looked really good. And then other times we couldn’t stop No. 11 [McCann].”

McCann and Lumpkin scored a majority of their points in the second quarter with 12 each. Mills Godwin led 31-27 at the half and then 42-40 going into the fourth. The Eagles scored half of their points from the free-throw line finishing 30-41. Matt Mattioli added 11 points for Mills Godwin while Oley had eight.

“We are really young,” Thomas said. “These guys haven’t played together much. They still have a lot to learn about our motion offense.”

Mills Godwin now faces Benedictine in the semifinals on Friday at 8:30 at Douglas Freeman. The Cadets beat Varina 84-36 in the first quarterfinal.

St. Christopher’s  10 17 13 16 – 56
Mills Godwin       10 21 11 18 – 60

St. Christopher’s (0-1): Mitchell 9, McCann 28, Vozenilek 5, Priddy 5, Hart 7, Erickson  2. Totals: 15 11-14 56. 3-point goals: McCann 4, Vozenilek.
Mills Godwin (1-0): Budd 6, Mattioli 11, Oley 8, Parker 5, Caine 1, Crouch 2, Lumpkin 23, McColley 4. Totals: 12 30-41 60. 3-point goals: Lumpkin 2.

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Rebel Invitational Tournament

Posted on 28 November 2007 by redwan123.

Wednesday, Quarterfinals
Benedictine 84, Varina 36
Leaders: Ed Davis (B) 22 points; Bobby Smith (V) 13 points

Mills Godwin 60, St. Christopher’s 56
Leaders: Fletcher Lumpkin (MG) 23 points; Charlie McCann (SC) 28 points

Highland Springs 81, Meadowbrook 51
Leaders: Harry Lee Daniel (HS) 28 points; Paul Finn Jr. (M) 17 points

Douglas Freeman 73, Fork Union 54
Leaders: Jake Eastman (DF) 21; Akeem Thomas (FU) 18 points

(Games at Douglas Freeman)
Thursday, Consolation
Meadowbrook 65, Fork Union 59
St. Christopher’s 63, Varina 53

Friday
Seventh-place game: Varina vs. Fork Union, 5 p.m.
Semfinals: Highland Springs vs. Douglas Freeman, 6:45 p.m.; Benedictine vs. Mills Godwin, 8:30

Saturday
Fifth-place game: St. Christopher’s vs. Meadowbrook, 5 p.m.
Third-place game: HS-DF loser vs. Bene-MG loser, 6:45
Championship: HS-DF winner vs. Bene-MG winner, 8:30

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Benedictine Routs Varina

Posted on 28 November 2007 by .

by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond

Benedictine got off to a slow start but it was not long before the Cadets were playing like the reigning Virginia Independent Schools Division I champions.

Ed Davis scored a game-high 22 points as Benedictine easily defeated Varina 84-36 in the quarterfinals of the Rebel Invitational at Mills Godwin on Wednesday.

The Cadets trailed 4-2 halfway through the first quarter but then Davis hit two free throws and the rout was on. The 6-9 post player would go on to have three dunks in the first quarter and Brad Burgess added a couple of three-pointers to put Benedictine up 20-8 after the first.

“The kids were excited to go out and score a point on every shot,” Benedictine coach Sean McAloon said. “Once we got our first points we finally got into a little rhythm.”

Benedictine continued to pull away in the second behind Davis inside and Burgess, Darien Brothers and Kevin Gill from the outside. Their defense was also tenacious rarely giving Varina’s Bobby Smith (13 points) and Quvaughn Jones (12 points) open looks. At halftime the Cadets led 44-16.

“Offensively Davis is great,” McAloon said. “And on defense he allows us to push out our wings as far as we can. Defensively he totally changes the game and is our safety net.”

In the second half the Cadets continued to poor it on offensively and defensively, holding the Blue Devils to just five points in the third. Davis, who has already committed to play at North Carolina, did not even play in the fourth quarter as Benedictine was able to coast to the victory.

Burgess, headed to Virginia Commonwealth next year, finished with 16 points, Brothers with eight and Gill had seven. This was the fourth game the Cadets had already played this season since they took part in a tournament in Illinois that McAloon said helped the team.

“That was the basis of the trip,” McAloon said. “We spent four days together and that was the best thing that could have happened to us. We have been building off that.”

Varina            8   8   5  15 – 36
Benedictine  20 24 20  20 – 84

Varina (0-1): Davenport 0, Anderson 0, Upshaw 2, Beasley 0, Philpott 3, B. Smith 13, Jones 12, T. Smith 2, Sellers 0, Green 2, Little 2. Totals: 12 6-11 36. 3-point goals: Philpott, B. Smith.
Benedictine (n/a): B. Burgess 16, Brothers 8, Gill 7, Conner 5, Conte 4, Harvey 0, Bagley 4, Vining 4, Whitting 2, Davis 22, Moody 5, J. Burgess 0, Albert 7. Totals: 29 11-18 84. 3-point goals: B. Burgess 2, Gill, Conner, Moody.

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No. 2 Monacan GB Preview

Posted on 27 November 2007 by .

by Seneca Contomanolis
DigitalSports Richmond

Losing your top two scorers who led you to the Central Region semifinals is never an easy thing for a team to rebound from.

But Monacan coach Larry Starr hopes he has the players to fill the void created by the graduation of his daughter Meredith Starr and Carrie Saunders.

“That is two big losses,” Starr said. “They were leaders and good outside shooters but we do have some kids that should be able to fill-in.”

A player who doesn’t need any fill-ins just yet is senior Rachel Robinson. The 6-0 forward, headed to George Mason to play basketball, is coming off of a season in which she averaged 11.1 ppg and 7 rpg for the Chiefs, ranked second in the DigitalSports Top 10 preseason poll.

“She is very athletic and has a great attitude,” Starr said. “She can post up but is more of a face to the basket player. She can jump out of the gym and because of that brings down a lot of rebounds.”

Point guard Emari Ready (4.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg) is a two-year starter who after the season will further her career playing at Lees-McRae College in North Carolina.

“We will be looking for her to make good decisions,” Starr said. “She has been my two-guard the past two seasons. She is a good ball handler and defender.”

Leadership will also come from junior Abbie Gray who has been the sixth-man for the Chiefs the past two seasons but will be asked to increase her offensive output this year. She is a very strong on-the-ball defender.

After those three the team gets very young as Starr plans to give five sophomores and one freshman substantial playing time in a system of subbing five players at a time. Because of this the Chiefs’ depth could be key to their success. Two sophomores that will have the most impact will be Candice Silas and Mackenzie Warren.

Silas, known as ‘Animal’ for her aggressive rebounding tactics, is a 6-0 forward who led the team in rebounds as a freshman with 8.3 rpg and also averaged 6.9 ppg. Warren (5-11, forward) is coming off knee surgery and is not at full strength yet.

Starr said one of the team’s weaknesses will be its overall youth but he also thinks it could be a positive as the season progresses.

“We have a mixture of youth and experience. The older players that have been around will help the younger ones,” Starr said. “We are still making mistakes but that will hopefully be fixed.”

Monacan has not won a district regular season title in three years but was the district tournament champ this past season. Starr knows doing that again will be not be an easy task.

“In the Dominion you have to come and play hard every night,” Starr said. “The district title is a big goal for us but we are taking it one step at a time.”

2006-07 record: 13-3 Dominion, 22-5

Coach: Larry Starr, third season with Monacan, 40-13

Key players:
Rachel Robinson, 6-0, Sr., F – very athletic, usually plays with face to the basket, good defender
Emari Ready, 5-6, Sr., G – good defender and ball handler
Abbie Gray, 5-5, Jr., G – great on the ball defender
Candice Silas, 6-0, Soph., F – tremendous rebounder
Mackenzie Warren, 5-11, Soph., F

To see Monacan coach Larry Starr talk about the upcoming season check out the video player on the homepage or visit the girls basketball page by clicking here.
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No. 1 Atlee GB Preview

Posted on 27 November 2007 by redwan123.

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

Anna Prillaman jumped on Atlee’s cruise ship, sailing without coach Curt Kassab for the first time in years.

She hopes she can keep the rough waters even less choppy in her first year at the helm of a perennial region power, who is ranked first in the DigitalSports preseason top 10.

“I think the first couple of days were an adjustment,” the 25-year-old said. “The last week has gone really smoothly.

“I think the talent was clear. I think people had the wrong idea about what type of kids were here. I’ve had no problems with any of the kids and hopefully that will continue.”

What should continue is Atlee’s kids giving problems to the opposition. The Raiders are loaded again with all five starters back, including Richelle Price, a 6-2 post player will all the moves and the touch around the iron.

Feeding her daily will be point guard Sydney Henderson, who knifes through defenses at will and finds open Raiders or scores herself.

Price and Henderson are juniors, but were nearly voted captains for the team.

“We almost had five captains,” Prillaman quipped. “The older ones are really patient with the younger ones. I’ve been very pleased with the leadership.”

The tri-captains are all seniors and all good shooters from outside in Lindsey Martin, Michelle Gordon and Kristin Lescalleet, who’ll usually come off the bench.

That leaves talented sophomore Britt Hill to fit snuggly in a powerful and experienced unit that is improving each day under Prillaman’s tutelage.

“It’s exciting to be over here at Atlee,” Prillaman said. “Smooth sailing right now.”

2006-07 record: 12-0 Capital, 24-2

Coach: Anna Prillaman, first season as head coach

Key players:
Richelle Price, 6-2, Jr., F – Strong rebounder, great finisher, good jumper in paint
Sydney Henderson, 5-5, Jr., PG – Good passer and penetrator, nice defender
Britt Hill, 5-7, So., G – Cerebral, fundamental, smart, a basketball player
Lindsey Martin, 5-9, Sr., G – Lethal shooter, scrappy
Michelle Gordon, 5-9, Sr., G – Good defender, nice shooter
Kristin Lescalleet, 5-9, Sr., G/F – Glue player, good all-around
Taylor Ashcraft, 5-9, Jr., G – Could be a starter for most programs

Others Not In Top 10
(in alphabetical order)

CLOVER HILL CAVALIERS
Coach: Jim Wahrman

2006-07 record: 9-7 Dominion, 12-8

Key players: Kristen Sims, 5-10, Jr., F; Ryen Henry, 5-10, Jr., F; Chenell York, 5-9, Sr., F
The Skinny: The Cavaliers played well in a tough district last season. They have enough returners to do it again.

COLONIAL HEIGHTS COLONIALS
Coach: Jim Crinkley
2006-07 record: 8-6 Central, 14-8 overall
Key players: Amanda Holt, 5-7, Sr., G ; Beth Anne Boyce, Sr., G
The Skinny: Colonials will try to repeat surprising 2006-07 season.

DEEP RUN WILDCATS
Coach: Shawna Duda
2006-07 record: 15-1 Colonial, 21-6 overall
Key players:
Amy Turner, 5-9, Jr., G; Lauren Kornacki, 6-0, Sr., F
The Skinny: The Wildcats will try to reload after losing a bunch of seniors.

DOUGLAS FREEMAN REBELS
Coach: Mandy Hester
2006-07 record: 6-10 Colonial, 8-14
The Skinny: DF looks to replace inside players Rachelle Rasley, Mary Jones and Nikki Winter.

DINWIDDIE GENERALS
Coach: Dan Ross, second season
2006-07 record: 3-11 Central, 4-15
The Skinny: Ross lost all of his key players from last season. He’s the first coach in five years to coach the Generals in consecutive seasons.

GEORGE WYTHE BULLDOGS
2006-07 record: 0-16 Colonial, 0-18 overall

The Skinny: District is not any easier for the Bulldogs.

HERMITAGE PANTHERS
Coach: Allyn Hawks
2006-07 record: 11-5 Colonial, 18-8 overall
Key player: Shelbie Hall, 5-5, Jr., G
The Skinny: Panthers have a lot to replace after losing about 40 points in scoring from Allison Sikes and Chanel Kinard.

HIGHLAND SPRINGS SPRINGERS
Coach: Damean Barfield, first season at Highland Springs
2006-07 record: 8-5 Capital, 13-10 overall
Key players: Kyra Coleman, 5-10, F; Dashon Ross, 6-3, Jr., C
The Skinny: The Springers are awfully talented and took a step last year, finishing third in the district. First-year coach Barfield will try to get even more out of his group.

HOPEWELL BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Walter Broner
2006-07 record: 4-10 Central, 10-12
Key player: Ashley Whitaker, 5-7, Jr., G
The Skinny: A lot of the Blue Devils scoring has departed. Whitaker will have to step forward.

HUGUENOT FALCONS
Coach: Bo Jones, Sr.

2006-07 record: 6-10 Colonial, 9-14 overall

Key players: Dayna Cheek, 5-7, Sr., F; Brittany Johnson, 5-4, Sr., G
The Skinny: Loss of PG Crystal Smith to Meadowbrook hurts, but Jones has a few talented freshmen in the fold.

J.R. TUCKER TIGERS
Coach: Mollie Pawloski, 19th season at J.R. Tucker
2006-07 record: 9-7 Colonial, 12-10 overall
Key players: Kerry Johnson, 5-10, Jr., F; Deslie Crumpton, 5-0, Sr., G; Sarah Parsons, 5-2, Fr., G; Breana Spencer, 5-6, Fr., F; Sonnika Shelton, 6-0, Jr., C
The Skinny: Johnson is the leading returning scorer averaging 12 ppg last season. Crumpton (8 ppg) is also an offensive threat. Shelton is the tallest player starting so look for her to try an establish an inside game for the Tigers. The team is young with only two seniors so Pawloski will start two freshman.

JAMES RIVER RAPIDS
2006-07 record: 3-13 Dominion, 7-14
Key players: Hannah Schul, 5-10, Sr., F; Jordan Brown, 5-3, Jr., G; Melissa Meyers, 5-5, Sr., G; Lauren Haverty, 5-8, Jr., F
The Skinny: Many returnees for JR could mean a rise in the district standings.

JOHN MARSHALL JUSTICES
Coach: Cheryl Perkins

2006-07 record: 10-6 Colonial, 14-10 overall

Key player: Valentina Toogood, 5-8, Sr., F
The Skinny: Transfer of Deja Middleton to Meadowbrook hurt.

LEE-DAVIS CONFEDERATES
Coach: Russell Williams, first season at Lee-Davis
2006-07 record: 0-12 Capital, 1-19 overall
Key players: Kierra Gardner, 5-9, Sr., G; Dawnee Driscoll, 5-4, Sr., G; Autumn Ruiz, 5-9, Jr., F; Raven Sims, 5-7, So., F
The Skinny: First-year coach Williams will look to turn around a squad that finished with only finished one win last season and went winless in the Capital District. It won’t be easy as the district is quite strong. Look out for freshman Kiera Gaines.

MAGGIE WALKER GS GREEN DRAGONS
Coach: Carlton “Speedy” Baughman

2006-07 record: 1-15 Colonial, 3-20 overall

Key players: Caroline Vines, 5-8, Jr., G; April Price, 5-8, Sr., G
The Skinny: First-year coach Baughman loses 20 points per game in Brittany Jones’ graduation.

MANCHESTER LANCERS
Coach: Jerry Gibbs

2006-07 record: 12-4 Dominion, 15-10

Key players: Porche Bentley, 5-9, Jr., F; Abbey Hendricks, 5-4, Sr., G
The Skinny: Bentley is one of the best in the district. Hendricks is a deadly shooter.

PATRICK HENRY PATRIOTS
Coach: Matt Bobbitt

2006-07 record: 4-12 Colonial, 6-17 overall

Key players: Jontee Lindsey, 5-10, Sr., F; Emily Lahocki, 5-4, Sr., G; Heather Lewis, 5-9, Sr., F
The Skinny: The Patriots will lean on the athletic Lindsey to earn more victories.

PETERSBURG CRIMSON WAVE
Coach: Robert Claiborne

2006-07 record: 9-3 Central, 14-6
Key player: Chelsea Harris, 5-10, Sr., F

The Skinny: Claiborne always finds some players. He’ll have to after losing his three top scorers, including Montiya Harrison.

PRINCE GEORGE ROYALS
Coach: Billy Gray, second season

2006-07 record: 12-2 Central, 22-4
The Skinny: Top scorers Janelle McDowell (Va. State) and Tyrae Washington are gone, but Gray, a Bill Littlepage disciple, has some youth from last season that look to step forward.

THOMAS JEFFERSON VIKINGS
Coach: Bo Hobbs
2006-07 record: 1-15 Colonial, 4-18 overall
Key players: Sierra Stewart, 5-4, Sr., G; Victoria Wilson, 5-9, Jr., F/C; Sierra Kenney, 5-8, Sr., F
The Skinny: Last year’s Vikings are a year older. Count on more wins after playing last season with no seniors. All starters are back.

VARINA BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Katie Benjamin, second season, 10-12
2006-07 record: 5-7 Capital, 10-12 overall
Key players:
Rischelle Carter, 5-7, Sr., G; Ashley Vieira, 5-10, So., F; Rikita
Allen, 5-3, Jr., G; Vameisha Harris, 5-6, Sr., G; LaTonya Willis, 5-6,
Sr., G
The Skinny: Carter can fill it up, averaging 14 per game
last season. Look out for Vieira, a solid player inside. The Capital
may prove to be a tough district with No. 1 Atlee, ninth-ranked Hanover
and No. 10 Henrico. And Highland Springs is talented as well. The Blue
Devils should be in the mix.

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No. 2 Huguenot BB Preview

Posted on 27 November 2007 by redwan123.

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond

When you have success like Huguenot’s boys basketball team did last season, expectations rise for everyone; coaches, players, fans, alumni.

That’s true for coach Antone Exum, too. But he doesn’t want to get too giddy about his Falcons, ranked second in the DigitalSports Top 10 preseason poll.

“I like to say I’m cautiously optimistic,” Exum said. “I’m really not sure how things will turn out.”

The Falcons reached the Central Region semifinals last year before losing to eventual region and state champion Highland Springs.

Three starters return from that unit in guards David Brown and Erick Scipio, and forward Mikyel Nero.

The Falcons lost a good post player in Greg Grant to graduation, but gained the 6-7 Jarius King in last season’s second semester.

He returns along with 6-6 football player Jonathan Crawley, who was out for the Falcons last season.

“This is the first time we’ve had Jonathan Crawley from the start,” Exum said. “That’s a positive. That was unexpected.”

Those five give Exum a solid nucleus that should give anyone a problem in the region and a tough district that includes a talented L.C. Bird team and an up-and-coming Cosby squad.

Not to mention a 6-3 wing in junior Corey Sheppard that’s coming into his own. Then Malcolm Berkley we’ll be ready for the second semester.

But Exum is still sitting at the yellow light in his green Falcon mobile until this year’s Falcons prove they belong with the elite.

“I attack it from the standpoint of last year was last year,” Exum said. “For the new year, we haven’t accomplished anything yet. I just want them to attack every game as if it was a championship game.”

2006-07 record: 14-2 Dominion, 21-4

Coach: Antone Exum, third season, 25-22

Key players:
Mikyel Nero, 6-3, Sr., F – Good midrange game, tough slasher and finisher
Erick Scipio, 5-11, Sr., G – Good shooter, explosive
David Brown, 5-10, Jr., PG – Improving decision-making, nice 3-point shot
Jarius King, 6-7, Jr., F/C – “He really solidified our middle,” Exum said. “Big presence, big body.”
Jonathan Crawley, 6-6, Jr., C – A dancing bear. “He’s done some things that you don’t expect from a 300-pound kid.”
Corey Sheppard, 6-3, Jr., F – 3-point sniper. “I’m actually expecting Corey to have a pretty good year.”

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