For a couple of local teams, it’s simply win and you head to Richmond.
For even more, it’s win and you get a chance to come back.
James Madison’s Convocation Center and Virginia Commonwealth’s Siegel Center will become the epicenters of Central Virginia public school hoops as six teams square off in the state quarterfinals on a loaded Saturday basketball slate.
In Richmond:
– Fluvanna’s girls get the slate started at VCU started early with an 11 a.m. tip off against Greensville. They’ll face the Region I, Division 3 player of the year Gabby Taylor. The Flucos looked good in stretches against powerful Millbrook in the region II final with K-anna and Mia Loyd carrying the load. With every game possibly the sisters’ final one on the same squad, expect the tandem to play passionately.
– Charlottesville takes the floor next at VCU at 12:30 p.m., and the Black Knights, perhaps, have the toughest draw of anyone. Brunswick is seasoned and tested, having been through a number of battles under head coach Bryant Stith, a UVA legend. Charlottesville’s Maurice Jackson earned a second team All-Region II nod this week, and he’ll need to earn it this afternoon against Brunswick. Jackson struggled in the region final against Western, and Stith and company were there to see it play out. If Jackson can shake out of that brief funk, his supporting cast will almost surely be locked and loaded, with Daquan Jones and Rickquan Jones coming on particularly strong down the stretch.
– Buckingham’s girls, led by Shanice Miles, get the next opportunity to advance, facing Lancaster at 2 p.m. The Knights need to bounce back from a sizeable loss in the Region B final, but expect that they do.
– Buckingham’s boys, the Region B champs, will almost surely rely on the same formula they usually do—a double double from Taylor Boyers, steady play from point guard B.J. Jones, rebounding from Kevin Bolden and some X-factor. Some nights Tarian Ayers carries the scoring load, other nights Harry Eldridge comes up with a series of critical steals. The Knights take on Middlesex at 3:45 p.m.
In Harrisonburg:
– Madison is just three games away from the single goal they’ve been obsessed with since last year’s loss in the state semifinals — winning a state title. Expect that JMU will be dominated by white—apparently, continuing a trend among area schools, it’s white out time for the Mountaineers’ fan base (see, Surry County, the opponent, has royal blue in its color scheme too). The Mountaineers need big-time play from, as usual, Jerel Carter, Logan Terrell and David Falk, but this is also the kind of time when unlikely heroes are made. Don’t be shocked if one of Madison’s lesser known comes up with a monster night to send Madison east to Richmond.
– Western Albemarle caps the public school bonanza with a nightcap against New Kent and Steven Allen, head coach Eddie Allen’s son. Steven Allen is a steady senior with deadly aim from beyond the 3-point arc. He earned Region I, Division 3 player of the year honors and averages 20.3 points, 5.8 steals and 4.6 assists per contest. Of course he’ll have to contend with Western’s own region player of the year, Christian Pierce, as well as Dante Crawford, a second team all-region honoree. Word has it that a large contingent of fans are headed to Harrisonburg to support the Warriors. It’s a much longer trip for New Kent, and maybe that strong backing could swing things Western’s way, but it’ll certainly be a battle.
Oh, and, by the way, two private school squads face off with state titles on the line, with Blue Ridge facing Bishop O’Connell at Virginia State University and Miller’s girls looking to win a title over at Benedictine.
Who’ll survive Saturday? Keep an eye on our Twitter feed and the home page for all the updates.
