Central Region | Archive | November, 2009

Girls basketball, 11/30/09: Preseason All-DS

Posted on 30 November 2009 by .

Preseason All-DigitalSports
Girls Basketball Team
12 of the best ballers in the Central Region.

Player of the year
** Becca Wann, Cosby, 5-11, Sr.: The LeBron James of the Central Region girls game – without the high-flying dunks. She can do it all. Headed to Richmond to play hoops and soccer. Defending DS player of the year.

Guards

Alyssa Frye, Thomas Dale, 5-9, Sr.: College of Charleston signee is an open-floor nightmare.
Britt Hill, Atlee, 5-6, Sr.: Silky smooth jump shooter, one of the most heady players you’ll ever see, boys or girls.
** Ka’lia Johnson, Thomas Dale, 5-10, Jr.: The Goods. Headed to Duke. Has lived up to all of the hype individually, now wants team success.
Taylor Huber, Patrick Henry, 5-6, Jr.: Threw in 17 points per game as a sophomore to lead the Colonial District.
Andrea Sisson, Mills Godwin, 5-6, Sr.: It’s her team since Michelle Foley is gone. Eagles won’t skip a beat with this sharpshooter.

Forwards
* Andrea Bertrand, Cosby, 5-10, Sr.: Overlooked? Not here. Bertrand’s mid-range game and hustle in the paint is phenomenal.
* Kyra Coleman, Highland Springs, 5-10, Sr.: Set to sign a Division I scholarship any day now. Put up 19 points and 10 boards a year ago.
Bria Robinson, Henrico, So, 5-8: Extremely talented. Can do it all.

Centers

Rachel Mathews, Midlothian, 6-1, Sr.: Every coach in the area will take 16 points and eight boards a game. Mathews did it as a junior.
** Jazmin Pitts, Cosby, 6-1, Sr.: Four-year starter headed to Virginia. The epitome of a low-block player.
Candice Silas, Monacan, 6-0, Sr.: Averaged a high double-double last year, almost 19 points and 15 rebounds.

* – Was an all-DigitalSports pick in ’08-’09.
** – Two-time all-DigitalSports selection.
Note: Private school players are not eligible.

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Boys basketball, 11/30/09: Preseason All-DS

Posted on 30 November 2009 by .

Preseason All-DigitalSports
Boys Basketball Team
13 of the best ballers in the Central Region.

Player of the year
** Travis McKie, John Marshall, 6-7, Sr.: I’ve written enough about him to fill a book. You know it all. He’s signed with Wake Forest, see his highlight video here.

Guards
Chris Cook, Lee-Davis, 5-10, Sr.: The best player you probably haven’t heard about. Put in 17 points per game last season.
Greg Lewis, Hanover, 6-0, Jr.: Smooth player who will be the focal point for defenses this season. Three-year varsity starter.
Tahir Little, John Marshall, 5-10, Jr.: The speedy point guard has a full year to run the show for the Justices.
Ken Pankey, L.C. Bird, 6-0, Sr.: One of the top shooters in the area, bar none.
Andrew Simmons, Meadowbrook, 6-0, Sr.: Four-year varsity starter looking for big year.
Kris Walden, Henrico, 6-0, Jr.: With Trey Davis and Justin Coleman departed, look for Walden to step up his offensive production.

Forwards
Sean Armstrong, Monacan, 6-5, Sr.: Athletic player is one of the best the Dominion District is returning.
Pedro Berrios, Hopewell, 6-4, Jr.: Steady, heady player with a lot of skills. Good shooter and passer.
Du’Vaughn Maxwell, Petersburg, 6-5, Sr.: With three terrific seniors gone, Maxwell is one of the main cogs back. Averaged 11 points and six boards as a junior.
* David Robinson, Cosby, 6-4, Sr.: Defending Dominion District player of the year lights up scoring columns; 22 points per game last season. Headed to Longwood.
Andrew White, Thomas Dale, 6-5, Jr.: White’s versatility and open floor ability is a problem for opponents. Look for a much more explosive finisher at the rim.


Center
Matt Gorski, Cosby, 6-11, Jr.: Put in 12 a game as a soph. Light years better than his freshman season. Brother Nick is a freshman, and already 6-6.

* – Was an all-DigitalSports pick in ’08-’09.
** – Two-time all-DigitalSports selection.
Note: Private school players are not eligible. Benedictine’s Michael Gbinije and Trey Davis, and Collegiate’s Jake McGee, all Division I recruits, would all be on this team.

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D-5 Region Final, 11/28/09: Hanover 42, P’Burg 8

Posted on 29 November 2009 by .

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

Two out of three ain’t bad.

The Hanover Hawks took advantage of Petersburg turnovers, and rode the legs of Deane Cheatham to the tune of 204 yards and three scores to take their second Central Region, Division 5 title in three seasons, 42-8 over Petersburg Saturday night.

Cheatham had 152 yards in the second half to wear down the Crimson Wave defense, and Hanover’s defense kept the dangerous Kevin Green and his band of receivers off balance with constant pressure.

Cheatham started the scoring on a 3-yard burst after a 14-yard fourth-down conversion from Sam Rogers to Danny Trsic.

A Petersburg penalty on Matt Palmen‘s extra-point let Palmen kick off from Petersburg’s 45.

Palmen popped it high in the air, and Thomas Davis couldn’t handle it. Hanover’s Chris Lee recovered.

Six plays later, Rogers found Marzae Brooks in the back of the end zone. 14-0 Hawks.

Petersburg went three-and-out, and Hanover went back to work.

On fourth-and-one from its own 39, Cheatham got the direct snap out of punt formation and romped 24 yards for a first down.

Next Rogers scored from 15 yards out on a tackle-busting option play, as the lead went to 21 points with 8:21 left in the first half.

“We turned the ball over,” Petersburg coach Mike Scott said. “Special teams, they just totally dismantled us. That hurts.”

Green hit Keith Johnson on a 40-yard pass as Petersburg tried to rally on its next possession.

But 343-pound lineman-turned-fullback Quinton Spain fumbled two plays later at his own 18-yard line.

Two possessions later, Rogers found Kenny Morris for a 41-yard scoring play as the Hawks led 28-0 at halftime.

In his second playoff start, but 12th of the season, Rogers, a freshman, finished 9 for 19 with 138 yards, two TDs and one interception that didn’t hurt since it was near the halftime buzzer.

“We don’t consider him a freshman,” coach Josh Just said, playoff beard in full force. “He’s a football player. He’s a leader. He’s a natural quarterback.”

Petersburg blocked a Hanover field goal in the third period, and got its only points of the contest once Green scrambled and found Damond McLaughlin for six points.

Spain bulled in for the two-point conversion as Just refocused his Hawks.

Cheatham and the offensive line got back to work in the fourth period, as the 6-1, 215-pound junior broke runs of 45 and 54 yards to show his speed that he thought his opponents believed he lacked.

“They were saying I was slow so I tried to prove them wrong tonight,” Cheatham said. “I don’t know what they think now, but I guess I’m faster then they thought.”

Petersburg is better than Scott thought.

The Crimson Wave went from 54 players, to 27 to 22 as the team went through adversity.

Scott only saw a 2-8 season ahead. But the Wave rallied and reached a title game no one thought they would be in, especially with such a young unit.

“We weren’t supposed to be here,” Scott said. “We’re a dangerous team to play against. They’ve been through a lot. It’s nice to see them come out and face a championship team.”

Hanover will face a defending championship team, Saturday, December 5 at 2 p.m. at Darling Stadium against Eastern Region champion Phoebus, who is 13-0 and the defending state Group AAA, Division 5 champs.

Petersburg  0   0 8  0 –   8
Hanover    14 14 0 14 – 42
H – Cheatham 3 run (Palmen kick)
H – Brooks 10 pass from Rogers (Palmen kick)
H – Rogers 15 run (Palmen kick)
H – Morris 41 pass from Rogers (Palmen kick)
HALFTIME
P – McLaughlin 19 pass from Green (Spain run)
H – Cheatham 6 run (Palmen kick)
H – Cheatham 54 run (Palmen kick)

RUSHING
Petersburg – Gregory five carries, 33 yards, Green 11-31, Turner 3-20, Spain 2-(minus 1), McLaughlin 1-(minus 2); Hanover – Cheatham 22-204, Rogers 11-35, Morris 1-25

PASSING
Petersburg – Green 11 completions, 22 attempts, 144 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception; Hanover – Rogers 9-19-138-2-1

RECEIVING
Petersburg – McLaughlin 3-50, Johnson 3-45, Magruder 2-9, Gregory 1-5, Haskett 1-4; Hanover – Morris 2-45, Underdown 2-38, Trsic 2-23, Cheatham 1-17, Brooks 1-10, Facison 1-5

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Football scoreboard, 11/28/09

Posted on 28 November 2009 by .

Central Region, Division 6 Final
No. 4 Thomas Dale 7, No. 2 Hermitage 0
* Demetrick Jackson’s second quarter TD holds up.
Dale will host Eastern Region champion Oscar Smith Saturday, December 5 at 1:30 p.m.

Central Region, Division 5 Final
No. 2 Hanover 42, No. 4 Petersburg 8
* The Hawks take advantage of Crimson Wave turnovers to win their second region title in three years.
Hanover will face defending state Group AAA Division 5 champion Phoebus of the Eastern Region at 2 p.m. at Darling Stadium, Saturday, December 5.

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Field hockey, 11/24/09: Local team to nationals

Posted on 24 November 2009 by .

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

Fusion Field Hockey’s team and fans will spend Thanksgiving break away from home.

Way away from home. Over 2,000 miles away to be exact.

The local club field hockey squad won the ESPN Rise 19-and-under tournament in Florida in July to gain entry into the National Field Hockey Festival in California.

The team departs Wednesday, November 25, a day before Thanksgiving.

“We’ve been building up for it for so long that just getting there, finally, is going to be so exciting,” said keeper Caitlin Riblett, who played for Maggie Walker GS this past season.

Fusion boasts 16 of the top players in the Richmond-area, 13 of which participated in the Central Region tournament a few weeks back.

This will be Fusion’s third trip to the national tournament as an organization.

What an accomplishment for a club that was started six years ago by Brad Powell.

“I didn’t even know what field hockey was when we started it,” said Powell, coach and also the father of Cosby star and future VCU player Kelsey Powell, who leads the team from the midfield. “I was just looking for something else for my daughter to play.

“Fusion was born when more competitive tournaments were desired.”

Said fellow coach Warren Nuckols: “2007 was the last time we went. We haven’t done that well, but I feel with this team we’re going to make a lot of noise in that tournament.”

Current Roster (Alphabetical order)
Name, School, Grade
Carol Brinkley, Thomas Dale, Senior
Taylor Colbert, Cosby, Sophomore
Ashley Cureton, Deep Run, Junior
Mary Beth Danaher, Matoaca, Senior
Haley Matthews, Lee-Davis, Senior
Katie Nuckols, Thomas Dale, Senior
Kelsey Powell, Cosby, Senior
Caitlin Riblett, Maggie Walker GS, Senior
Courtney Richmon, Deep Run, Senior
Siobhan Rigby, Maggie Walker GS, Sophomore
Catherine Rogerson, Cosby, Sophomore
Taylor Rotsted, Matoaca, Senior
Lindsay Rourke, Powhatan, Senior
Hayley Stough, Mills Godwin, Senior
Amanda Stowers, Powhatan, Senior
Linnea Taylor, Lee-Davis, Senior

Players that were on roster for ESPN Rise tournament, who won’t make trip
Jessica Blanks, Eastern Mennonite (Manchester)
Katherine Brady, Shenandoah (Monacan)
Courtney Gold, Eastern Mennonite (Manchester)
Lindsey Marr, Mary Washington (Monacan)

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Football, 11/21/09: Hermitage 24, H. Springs 12

Posted on 22 November 2009 by .

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

Hermitage scored 24 unanswered points to dispatch of Highland Springs Saturday night in the Central Region, Division 6 semifinals.

The Panthers, the No. 2 seed, will host Thomas Dale Friday at 7 p.m. The Knights took care of top-seeded L.C. Bird 28-14.

After Wyatt Johnson caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from JaQuan Burchette, it was all Hermitage as the Panthers won the game of field position.

Hermitage struck in the second period, off a nice play from quarterback Brendon Riddick.

The junior juked two Springers, stiff-armed another, directed Desmond Williams and hit the 6-5 junior from 14 yards out.

As the Springers drove near halftime, Brandon Rogers swiped a Burchette pass and had a fabulous return. It set up a 27-yard field goal from freshman John Stiebel for a 10-6 lead at half.

Hermitage got great field position at Highland Springs’ 35-yard line late in the third period. Six plays later, Riddick cashed in on a two-yard run seven seconds into the fourth period.

From there Hermitage kept the ball on the ground on a mushy turf that cut down on big plays.

But Daryl Howell made one. A snap slipped through Burchette’s hands into the end zone that Howell leaped on for a TD.

“It’s playoffs. Go hard or go home,” Howell said. “I’m a senior. I don’t have anything to lose.”

Highland Springs ended the season at 9-2 with coach Loren Johnson‘s first Capital District championship in his two seasons as coach.

“They won the field-position battle and that’s what the game came down to,” Johnson said. “When you’ve got the ball on the 25-, 30-yard line, you can do some things.”

Highland Springs  6  0 0   6 – 12
Hermitage            0 10 0 14 – 24
HS – Johnson 18 pass from Burchette (kick failed)
H – Williams 14 pass from Riddick (Stiebel kick)
H – FG Stiebel 27
H – Howell fumble recovery in end zone
HS – Saunders 3 run (run failed)

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Football scoreboard, 11/21/09

Posted on 21 November 2009 by .

Central Region Playoffs
Division 6
No. 4 Thomas Dale 28, No. 1 L.C. Bird 14
No. 2 Hermitage 24, No. 3 Highland Springs 12 – CHECK BACK FOR HIGHLIGHTS!
Division 5
No. 4 Petersburg 22, No. 1 Clover Hill 21 (OT)
* Kevin Green’s two-point conversion run knocks off top-ranked Cavs.
No. 2 Hanover 35, No. 3 Dinwiddie 33

VIS, Division I Championship
Collegiate 48, Liberty Christian Academy 28 – HIGHLIGHTS HERE!

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Football, 11/21/09: Collegiate 48, LCA 28

Posted on 21 November 2009 by .

Collegiate topped Liberty Christian Academy 48-28 Saturday afternoon to win its sixth VIS, Division I title in seven years.

LCA pulled within five points at 26-21 late in the third quarter.

But Collegiate got three straight touchdowns from Jake McGee, two rushing, to calm the threat.

“It’s amazing. We won it once, and we won it again. It’s still unbelievable,” McGee said. “Great team. I love these guys.”

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State final, 11/20/09: Clover Hill 3, Cosby 0

Posted on 20 November 2009 by .

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

Mark Smith was so amped up after school Friday, he had to call his Deep Run friends who won the state boys volleyball title in 2008.

“They all said take it one point at a time.”

Ironically, that had been the message Clover Hill coach Georjean Lampley had been sending since the playoffs began.

It was all conformation, as Clover Hill confirmed a 3-0 victory over nemesis Cosby at VCU’s Siegel Center for the state Group AAA boys volleyball crown Friday night.

It is the Cavaliers’ third state title, the most in the 13-year history of the state tournament – Varina (1999, 2000) and Frank Cox (2003, ’06) have two.

A bushel of Cavalier greats were in the stands to witness Cavalier history.

Coach Steve Eliasek and Craig Cruse to name two great individuals, plus members of the previous state title winners from 2001 and 2005.

Add 2009 to the list, and Tony Song still can’t fathom he’s part of it.

“It’s unbelievable,” Song said. “I see [the trophy] but I can’t really grasp it. It’ll hit me. It’ll definitely hit me.”

Clover Hill hit Cosby with a 25-23 win in the first game that could have gone either way. That spelled doom for Cosby’s terrific hitter, Stephen Cunningham.

“I feel like if they take the first game, it’s hard to beat them,” Cunningham said.

It was definitely impossible Friday night.

Clover Hill was hitting on all cylinders of a V-12 power automobile, while the defense made Cosby scratch and claw for every point.

The Cavs held a 15-13 advantage in game two, but ended on a 10-3 run to win 25-16, sending shock waves through a plentiful Clover Hill crowd.

“I can’t stress enough how much respect we have for this team,” Zane Pinkleton said about up-the-street rival Cosby. “It was just our game, our season. The chemistry on the court, the tight-knit group.

“It’s amazing.”

Game three looked like it was Cosby’s.

Ben Morrison (11 kills) and Cunningham (seven kills) started to find room on the outside, joining Cameron Vaile (eight kills), who was already having a sensational match in the middle.

But in the blink of an eye, Clover Hill went on a 6-1 bolt capped by Alden Negaard, who had eight kills on the night.

It was all Song (10 kills, five digs), Matt White (11 kills, five digs), Bret Brooks (10 digs), Smith, Andy Hite (31 assists) and the senior-laden Cavaliers would need, scoring the final four points of the match to claim the hardware and bragging rights.

It was the seventh meeting of the season between the two talented teams, and Clover Hill won four of the matches.

“It’s like playing family,” Lampley said. “Keeping it all within Chesterfield. It’s kind of ironic that we’re just a couple of miles down the road from each other and end up at the state championship here.”

Clover Hill 25 25 25
Cosby      23 16 18
Records: Clover Hill (23-6); Cosby (21-6)

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Girls volleyball, 11/19: Loudoun Valley 3, Godwin 1

Posted on 20 November 2009 by .

by Stephen M. Lewis
DigitalSports Richmond
slewis@digitalsports.com
(804) 240-2191

Loudoun Valley pulled a Mills Godwin on Mills Godwin.

The Vikings used terrific play at the end of games three and four, usually Godwin’s strength, to advance to the state Group AAA final with a 3-1 win Thursday night at VCU’s Siegel Center.

LV will face South County, who registered a tight 3-2 victory over Frank Cox, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. back at VCU for the ultimate hardware in high-school girls volleyball.

“Unfortunately tonight, we had the lead in game three and game four and we just couldn’t figure out a way to close it out,” Godwin coach Jason Garrett said. “Very impressed with a strong Loudoun Valley team. Especially their two big hitters, [Morgan Clark] and [Lindsay Phipps]. We tried to slow them down. Unfortunately, there at the end they were able to score huge points against us.”

Clark and Phipps, two hard-hitting six-footers, chewed up 37 kills combined.

Down 20-17 in the third game, with both teams with a set in their tights, everyone other than Clark and Phipps did damage, leading the Vikings on an 8-1 run to close out a momentum-building game three 25-21 on setter Nicole Bennett’s push. Her main game is assists, and she had 51 of those.

The Eagles responded behind their usual senior corps, as Maggie Murphy (19 kills, 15 digs) continued to score over bigger defenders, Meghan Meleski (32 assists, two aces) kept the offense humming and Jill Sedlar (10 kills) was her consistent self.

It all earned another advantage for Godwin, this time 21-17 as Eagle fans were getting prepared for a fifth game.

But Vikings libero Kristen Martin (18 digs) put in an ace and **** in an 8-3 run as Valley won 26-24.

“We made some changes in the middle of the game,” LV coach Laird Johnson said. “When we were able to get on the right page, our back line was able to get to some of those balls.”

Murphy agreed.

“Their defense is top-notch,” Murphy said. “They’re really good.”

So are the Eagles, who went further than anyone could have expected, beating taller opponents on heart, execution and stifling, frustrating defense.

It won the Eagles Colonial District and Central Region tournament titles, but couldn’t yield the biggest trophy of them all.

“We definitely had a great run this year,” Meleski said. “We knew coming in only good teams were left. We just came up short.”

Mills Godwin     20 25 21 24
Loudoun Valley 25 23 25 26
Records: Mills Godwin (21-6); Loudoun Valley (22-5)

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