Basketball: Freedom Girls and Potomac Falls in D4 State Semifinals Tonight at VCU

Richmond (Mar.  9, 2010) - All the hard work for the Freedom High School girls and Potomac Falls boys this season has come down to this: each team is just two wins shy of a coveted VHSL Division 4 state title.

The Eagles and Panthers play back-to-back tonight at VCU's Siegel Center with defending 3 state champ Freedom (19-5) facing Turner Ashby (22-2) at 7 p.m. followed by Potomac Falls (23-2) against Spotswood (21-4) at 9 p.m. A win would advance each team to Saturday's finals, slated for 7 and 9 p.m. again.

3 Keys for Eagles to Win Tonight
1. Control Kirby: TA's Kirby Burkholder will play at JMU next year and the senior is the school's all-time leading scorer. She had 20 last year when Loudoun County defeated TA in the Division 4 state finals. She had a big game in the quarterfinals and averages a double-double so Freedom will have to prevent her from having a huge game

2. "D" It Up: TA did struggle in the quarterfinal game from the field and Freedom thus far has been turning a fullcourt pressure in the playoffs into easy transition baskets. Freedom's defense, however, will have to do it without creating foul problems which hurt the team in losses this season.

3. Own the Glass: Freedom's Kelsey Buchanan, like Burkholder, will graduate this year as the school's all-time leading scorer as well as rebounder and shot blocker. If Buchanan and Jasmin Merritt along with point guard Jessica Escorza, who has rebounded well in the playoffs, can prevent second shots for TA while giving the Eagles second chances of their own, then Freedom should be moving on to Saturday

3 Keys for Panthers to Win Tonight
1. Reel in the Marlon: Spotswood's Marlon Organ, his region's Player of the Year, is averaging nearly 25 points a game and had a big quarterfinal. The Panthers will have to reel in this high scorer in order to advance.

2. Own the Paint: The Panthers have owned the key this season with 6-foot-5 sophomore center Greg Graves and 6-5 junior Mickey Wagenhoffer blocking shots and preventing easy baskets for opponents and on offense, Lukas Mihailovich and Brendon Chesson have shown the ability to get to the rim from the wings. This must continue tonight.

3. Play Like Seniors: The danger of Potomac Falls starting no seniors and only have two on the roster is that in the very back of some young minds is the thought that whatever happens this week, they always have next year ... but the Panthers must play like they are seniors and facing elimination forever if they are to win a state title.