Basketball: The Skinny of Thursday's Regional Semifinals

Region II Basketball
Division 4 Boys Semifinals
Potomac Falls 62, Broad Run 51
The Skinny: Lukas Mihailovich scores 24 to lead the Panthers to the school's first ever state basketball playoff appearance since the school opened in 1997. Broad Run, which fell behind 7-0 to start and never led in the contest, has been waiting 41 years for a trip to States -- since the school opened in 1969! Kevin McGaughey scored a game-high 26 for the Spartans with a valant second-half effort but BR could not overcome trailing by 15 at the half, 35-20. Brendon Chesson and Greg Graves combined for 21 for the Panthers including several key baskets. PF improves to 19-2 on the year and BR ends at 20-4.

Liberty 53, Sherando 36
The Skinny: The Evergreen District champion Eagles avenged a Jan. 15, 72-68 loss to Sherando, with this defensive win. Liberty started the year 0-4 against tough competition but is currently 11-7 including four straight wins.

Feb. 27 - Finals at Monticello High School: Liberty vs. Potomac Falls, 7:45 p.m.

Division 4 Girls Semifinals
Freedom 49, Loudoun County 40
The Skinny: Loudoun County was a hot shooting team when it beat Freedom in South Riding just five days ago but the Raiders shot just 19 percent (13 of 68) from the field Thursday as the Eagles kept alive their hopes of a second straight state title and defending Division 4 state champion LC had its year end at 19-4. Kesley Buchanan had her usual double-double to lead Freedom with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Jessica Escorza added 15 for the Eagles in the defensive struggle. Kendra Holmes, after sitting out with a sore knee in the quarterfinals, played and finished with a team-high 14 points and nine rebounds. Brittany Batts scored 13 for LC. The game was close with LC up at the half, 20-18, and Freedom up by one heading into the final quarter, 30-29. Freedom, despite 22 turnovers, improves to 17-5 on the year.

Liberty 58, Potomac Falls 50
The Skinny: For the second straight playoff game the Panthers opened cold, falling behind 10-0 in the first four minutes, but unlike at Brentsville in the quarterfinals, the Panthers were not able to come all the way back, despite tying things up heading into the final quarter. Raven Short and Symone Berry combined for 36 points for PF. Liberty, which fell at Freedom earlier this year, 61-53, improves to 15-3 on the season while PF finishes its best year ever at 13-7.

Feb. 27 - Finals at Monticello High School: Liberty vs. Freedom, 6 p.m.