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| Virginia boys’ basketball: Sizing up the 6A North, 6A South and 5A North region semifinals | Virginia boys’ basketball: Sizing up the 6A North, 6A South and 5A North region semifinals |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The Virginia boys’ basketball region tournament is heating up with the semifinal rounds getting underway Thursday. The quarterfinals, however, served as their own pressure cooker, as spots in next week’s state tournament were up for grabs. With the Virginia High School League’s revival of the quarterfinal round this season, the top four teams in each region earned berths in their respective state brackets. | The Virginia boys’ basketball region tournament is heating up with the semifinal rounds getting underway Thursday. The quarterfinals, however, served as their own pressure cooker, as spots in next week’s state tournament were up for grabs. With the Virginia High School League’s revival of the quarterfinal round this season, the top four teams in each region earned berths in their respective state brackets. |
| Here’s a rundown of those local state-qualifying teams with a look at what lies ahead in the semifinals for the state’s two largest classifications: | Here’s a rundown of those local state-qualifying teams with a look at what lies ahead in the semifinals for the state’s two largest classifications: |
| 6A NORTH (Friday at Robinson) | 6A NORTH (Friday at Robinson) |
| No. 1 Battlefield (19-6) vs. No. 1 West Potomac (18-7), 6 p.m. | No. 1 Battlefield (19-6) vs. No. 1 West Potomac (18-7), 6 p.m. |
| West Potomac’s red-hot run through the latter part of the season continued Wednesday, as the Wolverines held off Robinson, 59-53, to clinch their first state tournament berth since 1998s. Meanwhile in Haymarket, Battlefield notched its seventh straight victory by a double-digit margin against Chantilly to secure its first state tournament appearance since 2013. | |
| Thursday’s semifinal features two teams that like to push the pace and feature inside-outside firepower. West Potomac has also shown a knack for grinding out games, using aggressive forward Jamie Sara and the guard play of Daryl Mackey Jr. and Khalil Williams Diggins to control the game. Battlefield also has balance in the playmaking trio of Blake Pagon, Brayden Gault and Shonari Street, all of whom have deep postseason experience. | Thursday’s semifinal features two teams that like to push the pace and feature inside-outside firepower. West Potomac has also shown a knack for grinding out games, using aggressive forward Jamie Sara and the guard play of Daryl Mackey Jr. and Khalil Williams Diggins to control the game. Battlefield also has balance in the playmaking trio of Blake Pagon, Brayden Gault and Shonari Street, all of whom have deep postseason experience. |
| [This D.C. family has endured murders and misery. Can basketball save it?] | [This D.C. family has endured murders and misery. Can basketball save it?] |
| No. 1 Westfield (22-2) vs. No. 2 West Springfield (22-4), 8 p.m. | No. 1 Westfield (22-2) vs. No. 2 West Springfield (22-4), 8 p.m. |
| Westfield’s run to last year’s region title was nearly derailed in the first round by a still-evolving West Springfield squad. The Spartans, after prevailing against a dangerous Herndon team on Wednesday, are relishing another shot at the Bulldogs now that their late regular-season struggles seem to be behind them. Lewis Djonkam is averaging 24 points and 10 rebounds through two regional games while Riley Welch is back healthy to team with Spencer Askew for an explosive backcourt. | Westfield’s run to last year’s region title was nearly derailed in the first round by a still-evolving West Springfield squad. The Spartans, after prevailing against a dangerous Herndon team on Wednesday, are relishing another shot at the Bulldogs now that their late regular-season struggles seem to be behind them. Lewis Djonkam is averaging 24 points and 10 rebounds through two regional games while Riley Welch is back healthy to team with Spencer Askew for an explosive backcourt. |
| Yet the question remains, can anyone slow down the Bulldogs’ explosive scoring duo of Tyler Scanlon and Blake Francis? Each player is averaging at least 20 points and, along with senior Hank Johnson, helps fuel the defending champ’s tenacious defense. Whichever team controls the glass and tempo will have the inside track to victory in Fairfax. | Yet the question remains, can anyone slow down the Bulldogs’ explosive scoring duo of Tyler Scanlon and Blake Francis? Each player is averaging at least 20 points and, along with senior Hank Johnson, helps fuel the defending champ’s tenacious defense. Whichever team controls the glass and tempo will have the inside track to victory in Fairfax. |
| 6A SOUTH | 6A SOUTH |
| No. 1 Hylton (21-3) at No. 1 Woodside (17-5), 6 p.m. Thursday | No. 1 Hylton (21-3) at No. 1 Woodside (17-5), 6 p.m. Thursday |
| Following an opening-round win against Clover Hill, the Bulldogs will put their 13-game win streak on the line when they travel to Woodside for a rematch of a Dec. 22 contest. Hylton prevailed 75-59 in that first meeting, with Conference 4 player of the year Jerry Carter draining seven three-pointers during a 29-point performance. | Following an opening-round win against Clover Hill, the Bulldogs will put their 13-game win streak on the line when they travel to Woodside for a rematch of a Dec. 22 contest. Hylton prevailed 75-59 in that first meeting, with Conference 4 player of the year Jerry Carter draining seven three-pointers during a 29-point performance. |
| Woodside features former Capitol Christian standout Chris Orlina, whose speed and slashing ability have helped the Wolverines clinch their first state tournament berth since winning the second of back-to-back titles in 2005. | Woodside features former Capitol Christian standout Chris Orlina, whose speed and slashing ability have helped the Wolverines clinch their first state tournament berth since winning the second of back-to-back titles in 2005. |
| Cosby hosts Oscar Smith in the other semifinal. | Cosby hosts Oscar Smith in the other semifinal. |
| 5A NORTH | 5A NORTH |
| No. 1 Potomac Falls (17-8) at No. 1 Wakefield (23-1), 7 p.m. Thursday | No. 1 Potomac Falls (17-8) at No. 1 Wakefield (23-1), 7 p.m. Thursday |
| Two months after their football teams met in the region playoffs, the basketball squads will vie for a spot in Saturday’s championship. Wakefield, which was upset in the region quarterfinals last February, secured its third state berth in four years by defeating Halifax County. The Warriors have been dominant to date, and they’re at their best when the game is uptempo and players like Deng Nhial and Alan Treakle are able to press the issue on both ends of the floor. | Two months after their football teams met in the region playoffs, the basketball squads will vie for a spot in Saturday’s championship. Wakefield, which was upset in the region quarterfinals last February, secured its third state berth in four years by defeating Halifax County. The Warriors have been dominant to date, and they’re at their best when the game is uptempo and players like Deng Nhial and Alan Treakle are able to press the issue on both ends of the floor. |
| Potomac Falls, on the other hand, plays at a bit slower pace but still has its share of offensive firepower led by forward Dondrea Tillman and a postseason pedigree of its own. The Panthers won consecutive Virginia AA Divison 4 state titles in 2010 and 2011 but have not reached the state tournament since 2013. | Potomac Falls, on the other hand, plays at a bit slower pace but still has its share of offensive firepower led by forward Dondrea Tillman and a postseason pedigree of its own. The Panthers won consecutive Virginia AA Divison 4 state titles in 2010 and 2011 but have not reached the state tournament since 2013. |
| No. 1 Albemarle (24-5) at No. 1 Potomac (22-2), 7 p.m. Thursday | No. 1 Albemarle (24-5) at No. 1 Potomac (22-2), 7 p.m. Thursday |
| While Albemarle is fresh off securing its first state tournament berth in school history, defending region champ Potomac is no stranger to deep playoff runs. The Panthers — who won the 2014 Virginia 5A title — appear poised for another after routing Stone Bridge to move one step closer to reaching their third straight region final, this time with a fresh set of faces led by Jamal Washington. | While Albemarle is fresh off securing its first state tournament berth in school history, defending region champ Potomac is no stranger to deep playoff runs. The Panthers — who won the 2014 Virginia 5A title — appear poised for another after routing Stone Bridge to move one step closer to reaching their third straight region final, this time with a fresh set of faces led by Jamal Washington. |
| More from AllMetSports.com | More from AllMetSports.com |
| DCIAA: No. 1 H.D. Woodson boys, Wilson girls win tournament titles | DCIAA: No. 1 H.D. Woodson boys, Wilson girls win tournament titles |
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| Video highlights: DCIAA championships | Prince George’s title games | Video highlights: DCIAA championships | Prince George’s title games |
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