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| Potomac Falls SR D'Shawn Shorts helped Panthers win a 4th straight Region II title on Saturday (photo by Steven Holland/Viva Loudoun) |
Special to Viva Loudoun via Loudoun Times-Mirror
Sterling (Feb. 25, 2013) - A 13-2 run in the second quarter got the Potomac Falls High School back into it, and an 11-2 run in the fourth quarter sealed it in the Panthers 63-53 victory Feb. 23 over Millbrook in the Region II Division 4 boys basketball championship game in Sterling.
The win nets the Panthers their fourth consecutive regional crown, a fact that fills Panther coach Jeff Hawes -- the only head boys' basketball coach in school history -- with pride.
"It was my dream 16 years ago to build something the community could be proud of. It hasn't just been me -- it's been a ton of great people, players and parents and coaches," said Hawes, glancing up at the gym's banner proclaiming his program's many championships, another of which now has to be added.
The outcome of the region title match was in doubt until the midpoint of the last quarter, when senior guard D'shawn Shorts' deep 3-pointer followed by six straight points from sophomore forward Wanya Allen gave the Panthers a lead they would not relinquish. Potomac Falls' characteristic man defense stepped up its intensity and limited the Pioneers' quality looks in the final frame.
"We knew they were going to come in here and give us all that we wanted," said Hawes of Millbrook, who earlier in the tournament upended Briar Woods in Brambleton. "Through the first three quarters we weren't playing particularly well and they had a lot to do with that."
Next up for Potomac Falls is a state quarterfinal date with Chancellor on March 2, 2:45 p.m. at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax.
Potomac Falls 63, Millbrook 53
PF: Thomas 19, Allen 18, Shorts 7, Fischetti 4, Janowski 4, Mologne 4, Orbe 4, Barton 3
MB: Culbreath 16, Deneal 10, Brooks 6, Bruce 6, Harrell 5, Baylor 4, Trexler 4, Russell 2
Halftime: Potomac Falls 32, Millbrook 31
3-pointers: PF 1 (Shorts); MB 5 (Culbreath 2, Deneal 2, Harrell)
Free throws: PF (14 of 19); MB (16 of 18)
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Handley 58, Loudoun Valley 47
By Dan Sousa
Viva Loudoun Editor
Purcellvile (Feb. 25, 2013) - The Loudoun Valley High School gym was packed so full Saturday night that officials stopped letting fans in and there was a line at the door as people waited to get in all the way until the final quarter as soon as somebody exited.
Unfortunately for those who got in late, it was already Handley ballgame and the Judges wouldn't allow the host Vikings back into the contest as they won their first regional title since 2009. For the Vikes it was second straight Region II title game loss at home -- in 2012 they lost the D4 finals to Potomac Falls and Saturday's game was the D3 finals -- and another road trip for the state quarterfinals.
Loudoun Valley will face D3 powerhouse Brunswick Saturday, March 2 at VCU's Siegel Center in Richmond. Brunswick has won the last two D3 state titles and they have been to six consecutive state finals having lost in the championship game from 2007 to 2010.
The 47 points was a season-low for the Vikings who came in averaging 67.7 points per game on the season and 60.2 points per game in the playoffs.
Junior Paul Rowley led the Vikings with 23 points and senior Jovon Miller added 11. Senior Josh Grimard hit a milestone late in the game when he scored his career 1,000 point for Valley.
Region II, Division 3 Final
Judges 58, Vikings 47
Handley (21-4)
Brown 2 0-0 5, Rudolph 4 3-5 14, D. Robinson 5 3-3 13, Finley 5 0-0 10, Wigley 0 0-0 0, Coyne 0 0-0 0, Gloster 0 0-0 0, Banks 0 0-0 0, K. Robinson 0 0-0 0, Dearing 0 0-0 0, Gibson 0 0-0 0, Jenkins 0 0-0 0, Jackson 7 2-3 16. Totals: 23 8-11 58.
Loudoun Valley (25-4)
Smolens 0 0-0 0, Watts 0 0-0 0, Rowley 8 6-8 23, Kiani 1 0-0 2, Grimard 3 0-0 7, Miller 4 3-4 11, McDyre 1 2-3 4. Totals: 17 11-15 47.
Handley 19 8 15 16 — 58
Loudoun Valley 6 13 14 14 — 47
3-pointers: H: Rudolph 3, Brown 1; PF: Rowley 1, Grimard 1.
Box courtesy of Winchester Star
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