On the Sidelines with Dan Sousa - Big Game Buchanan Goes Out in a Big Way

On the Sidelines with Dan Sousa
Richmond (Mar. 15, 2010) - Kelsey Buchanan and the Freedom High School girls basketball team ended a brilliant four-year run Saturday night in a big way, naturally, bringing home a second straight Virginia High School League state title with a big 68-44 win over Spotswood in the Division 4 finals.

For Buchanan, at 6-foot-3 almost always the biggest player on the floor, she had her usual big night as the Delaware-bound senior always seems to play her best in big games and in the win Saturday at VCU's Siegel Center she came within one block of a triple-double, finishing with 25 points on 11 of 14 shooting, 16 rebonds and nine blocks.

Photo Gallery: Girls Basketball - Freedom Wins Back-to-Back State Titles!

Craig "Fly Like an Eagle" Sterbutzel was on hand for Saturday's big Freedom win at VCU for back-to-back state titles! Click on any photo to view the entire gallery

Girls Basketball: VHSL D4 State Title Box - Freedom 68, Spotswood 44

Girls Basketball: Three Keys to Freedom Winning Back-to-Back State Titles

Freedom vs. Spotswood
VHSL Division 4 Girls Basketball State Finals
VUC's Siegel Center in Richmond, 7 p.m. tipoff

Spotswood (20-6) defeated York in semifinals, 60-47
Freedom (20-5) defeated Turner Ashby, 44-27

3 Keys to Freedom Winning
1. Control Carter: Carter Williams makes the Spotswood offense go and she had nine points and eight assists in the semifinals including a behind-the-back pass that ignited the Trailblazers win
2. Double-Double Trouble: Freedom's Kelsey Buchanan averages a double-double each game and that is trouble for opponents as the 6-3 senior has had her way inside in last year's Division 3 state title run for Freedom and this year. If Buchanan owns the paint again tonight, expect an Eagle celebration
3. Turn the Tide on Turnovers: Spotswood has a balance attack that will want to pressure Freedom and the Eagles at times this year have struggled with turnovers. On the other hand, Freedom turned turnovers forced against Liberty, Courtland and Turner Ashby into easy points in the last three playoff wins.

Read More
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=12119585
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/sports/high_school_prep/high_school_basketball/article/spotswood_girls_eliminate_york_60-47_in_group_aa_tournament/329476/

Boys Basketball: Graves Has His Breakout Moment as Panthers are Poised to Make History

(Mar. 12, 2010) - The problem with scouting the Potomac Falls High School boys basketball team this season is that in any game you watch a different player has his breakout moment.

It could be Lukas Miahailovich pouring in 50 points and a halfcourt buzzer beater in a triple overtime win against Stone Bridge or Zack Curran hitting the game-winning buzzer beater early in the season against Broad Run or Mickey Wagenhoffer stepping up big in the Dulles District tournament finals or Brendon Chesson swooping past Liberty in the Region II title game and on Tuesday night in the VHSL Division 4 state semifinals it was Greg Graves turn as the 6-foot-6 sophomore center turned in a triple-double (15 points, 12 rebounds, 10 blocks) to help lead the Panthers to a 66-57 win.

All of those players -- Mihailovich, Curran, Wagenhoffer, Chesson and Graves -- are starters for the Panthers and none of them are seniors but the PF head coach Jeff Hawes has been following this group since they were in sixth grade and now they are poised to earn the school's first ever state title in basketball -- Loudoun's first every boys basketball state title -- when they play Broadway Saturday at VCU's Siegel Center at 9 p.m.

Photo Gallery: Boys Basketball - VHSL D4 State Semifinals - Potomac Falls vs. Spotswood

Click on any photo to view the gallery with 171 shots ...