Viva Loudoun

Friday, February 24, 2012

College Corner: Three Broad Run Grads All to Start on the Mound in NCAA D1 Games This Weekend

Shane Vlasic
Courtesy of UMBC

Taylor Clarke
Courtesy of Towson

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio

(Feb 24, 2012) - Three Broad Run High School grads are getting ready for an amazing weekend with all three former Spartans starting on the mound this weekend in NCAA Division I contests.

The three to keep an eye on:
**Cole Shain (BRHS 2008) of William and Mary: starts tonight at No. 1 University of Florida in Gainesville.

**Shane Vlasic (BRHS 2011) of UMBC: starts today in the Wake Forest Invitational against either Georgetown or Wake Forest

**Taylor Clarke (BRHS 2012) of Towson: will start this weekend at Louisiana-Lafayette.

Cole Shain
Courtesy of William & Mary

College Corner: Briar Woods Grad Matt Bukovac Has Hot Start in Goal for D1 Robert Morris

Courtesy of Robert Morris University

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio
(Feb 24, 2012) - Briar Woods High School grad Matt Bukovac, a freshman at DI Robert Morris University, was selected as both Defensive Player of the Week and Co-Rookie of the Week for the men's lacrosse team. Bukovac becomes the first Colonial ever to be honored in the NEC's Rookie of the Week category. He is also just the third Colonial ever to earn weekly honors for defensive prowess.

Bukovac tallied 16 saves in his first collegiate appearance between the pipes this past Saturday to help lead Robert Morris to a 10-8 victory at UMBC. His 16 saves came on 24 shots on goal, which gave him an impressive .667 save percentage for the game. While his saves mark finished just outside of the top 10 in single-game school history, his total is the most made by a NEC goalie thus far this season. The rookie, who notched two ground balls in the contest, also proved to have nerves of steel as he came through down the stretch. In the final 12 minutes of action, with a lead of no more than two goals, Bukovac stopped six of the final seven shots on goal by the Retrievers to help RMU claim victory. Bukovac managed to put up these numbers despite having to face UMBC's man-up unit on eight occasions. On six of their eight EMO chances, Bukovac and the Colonial defense helped keep the Retrievers off the board.

Read more

News: Viewing, Funeral Set for Pete Roberts, Long-time Supporter of Loudoun County Girls Basketball Program

(Feb. 24, 2012) - The Loudoun County High School girls program is mourning the passing this week of long-time supporter Pete Roberts, who was the grandfather of former Raider standout Kendra Holmes.

There will be a viewing tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. and again Saturday form 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a funeral at 11 a.m. All will be held at First Mount Olive Baptist Church in Leesburg (216 Loudoun St.).

Girls Basketball: Woodgrove Mauls Monticello to Earn First Ever State Tournament Trip

Another defensive effort has
Woodgrove in States

(Feb. 24, 2012) - The Woodgrove High School girls basketball team, in just its second season since the school opened, has earned its first trip to the VHSL state tournament as the Wolverines mauled Monticello Thursday, 66-31, in the Region II Division 3 semifinals.

Woodgrove (24-3) will now travel to face defending state champion Liberty on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the regional finals. Liberty captured the Division 4 state title last year and moved down to D3 this season. Both teams will advance to the state tournament.

Liberty advanced by beating another second-year school from Loudoun, Tuscarora, 52-24.

View more photos from this game by Richard Kirby

(Feb. 24, 2012) - The Loudoun County High School girls basketball team, the defending Division 4 state runner-up, is headed back to the state tournament for the third time in four seasons after the Raider beat Powhatan on the road Thursday night, 49-49, in the Region II semifinals.

Loudoun County (21-7) faces a tough task in the Region II Division 4 finals Saturday at 7 p.m. as they travel to face two-time defending state champion Millbrook (the Pioneers won the previous two years in Division 3 before moving up to D4 this season). The Pioneers have won 76 straight games including a 93-23 win over Sherando Thursday in the semifinals. The Pioneers last loss was to Freedom in the 2010 state semifinals.

In Thursday's win over Powhatan the Raiders had a balanced scoring attack with Alex Lapple (11), Katrina Kirby (10), Erica Linnemann (9) and Kelly Maxey (9) leading the way.

Loudoun County will "host" a state quarterfinal game at Robinson High School if Fairfax County if they win on Saturday. If they lose to Millbrook, then Loudoun County will hit the road again. The Region I runner-up (either Courtland or Grafton) will travel to Robinson and the Region I champion will host the Region II runner-up, either at VCU's Siegel Center (if Courtland wins) or at William and Mary (Grafton).

Boys Basketball: Potomac Falls Books a Third Straight Trip to State Tournament with Win at Sherando

Potomac Falls coach Jeff Hawes hugs SR Greg Graves after
Panthers wrapped up a 3rd straight trip to States!
(Photo courtesy of Carl Lukat/Loudoun Times-Mirror)

By Carl Lukat
Loudoun Times-Mirror Sports Editor

Stephens City (Feb. 24, 2012) - While many of the faces are different and the sailing has certainly not been as smooth, the Potomac Falls High School boys basketball team is headed back to the Virginia Division 4 tournament for a third straight season.

The two-time defending state champion Panthers earned the right to defend their crown with a gritty 77-72 victory against host Sherando in the Region II Division 4 semifinals Feb. 23 in Stephens City.

"It's very rewarding," Potomac Falls coach Jeff Hawes said of advancing to states. "To graduate the group we graduated and really return one guy with any varsity experience; all be it a pretty good guy to return in the Player of the Year in our league. I'm really proud of these kids the way they've grown."

John Yoxthimer led the Vikes Thursday with 23 points, 17 rebounds

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun Editor
Purcellville (Feb. 24, 2012) - There can be no doubt that the one play that defined Thursday's Region II Division 4 boys basketball semifinal game came with 4:24 left in the contest as Loudoun Valley High School senior John Yoxthimer rattled the rim with a dunk to put his Vikings up 50-25 on Millbrook.

While Yoxthimer was putting the finishing touch on a 23-point, 17-rebound performance, on the other end of the floor Millbrook's top player, Rze Culbreath, in street clothes, was attending to a teammate that had left a trail of blood across the floor to the bench after taking a stray shot to the face.

It was simply a painful night for No. 5 seed Millbrook as the top seeded Vikings (24-3) jumped out to a 10-1 lead and never trailed en route to a decisive 56-29 victory that returns Loudoun Valley to the state playoff for the first time since 2004. First Loudoun Valley will shoot for the school's first regional title since 1999 when they host Dulles District foe Potomac Falls (19-8) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Basketball: Thursday Night Playoff Scoreboard

VivaLoudoun Thursday Night Playoff Scoreboard
(Serving Loudoun since they put up the peach baskets ...)

Boys Region II Semifinals
Division 4
No. 1 Loudoun Valley 56, No. 5 Millbrook 29
No. 3 Potomac Falls 77, No. 2 Sherado 72

Division 3
No. 1 Fluvanna 47, No. 5 Charlottesville 46
No. 3 Handley 66, No. 7 Monticello 62

Girls Region II Semifinals
Division 4
No. 1 Millbrook 93, No. 4 Sherando 23
No. 3 Loudoun County 49, No. 2 Powhatan 40

Division 3
No. 1 Liberty 52, No. 5 Tuscarora 24
No. 2 Woodgrove 66, No. 3 Monticello 31

Thursday, February 23, 2012

News: VHSL Ad Hoc Playoff/Postseason Study Group Presents Ideas on How New Plan Would Work

(Feb. 23, 2012)- The Virginia High School League's proposed plan to move to six classifications and eliminate regions starting the 2013-15 two-year cycle has raised questions as to how postseason and state playoffs would work under such a plan. To that end, the VHSL AD Hoc Playoff/Postseason Study Group met Feb. 6-7 and put forth some ideas on how teams would qualify for the next level of competition after district play.

One of the big ideas to emerge is that regardless of how teams fare in regular season play, the VHSL could be adopting an "All In" solution which would advance all teams (except for football) to postseason at a new level (coined Conference level) followed then by Sectionals (in current system called Regionals) and then finally the VHSL state tournament with as many as six championships in each sport that has at least 50 percent of schools participating statewide.

Read the full minutes here, but here are some highlights:

News: Cameron Carter Service Set for Sat. Feb. 25

(Feb. 23, 2012) - A service for Cameron Carter, who passed away yesterday, will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday February 25, 2012 at Grace Covenant Church, 4600 Brookfield Corporate Dr. Chantilly, VA 20151. Repast will take place at the church following the service, concluding at 1:30 p.m. No services will be held on Friday.

In lieu of flowers the Carter family asks you to donate to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: JDRF Capitol Chapter, 1400 K Street, NW Ste 725, Washington, DC 20005.

Boys Lacrosse: Loudoun County's A.J. Smith to Play at Christopher Newport

Leesburg (Feb. 23, 2012) - Loudoun County High School senior A.J. Smith verbally committed to play lacrosse for coach Todd Boward at NCAA Division III Christopher Newport University in the fall.

Smith has played with Fuze Lacrosse Club for the past five years and with Western Loudoun Lacrosse for the five prior years. In 2011, he was recognized as first team All-Dulles District, and 2nd Team All-Region II.

As Loudoun County's defensive captain and Defensive MVP, he helped lead the Raiders to their first regional playoff run in more than a decade.

Latest VivaLoudoun College Choice Chart ... if we don't have your favorite prep athlete listed, please give us a shout out (dan.sousa@vivaloudoun.com)

Wrestling: Freedom's Timbers Wins AAA State title, Young is Runner-up; Stone Bridge's Faul Third

(Feb. 23, 2012) - Loudoun had an amazing weekend at the Virginia High School League AAA state wrestling meet with two Freedom athletes making the finals with DaQuante Timbers becoming the school's first ever state champion at 285 pounds and Tyler Young taking runner-up at 182.

Stone Bridge senior Jonathan Faul finished his career with a school record 123 victories as he took third at 152.

Wrestling: Potomac Falls Zulkhuu Wins AA State Title; Loudoun County, Loudoun Valley Medal Two Each

(Feb. 23, 2012) - Potomac Falls High School senior Batchka Zulkhuu's state title at 152 pounds highlighted Loudoun's good showing at the Virginia High School League AA state wrestling meet in Salem with Loudoun County and Loudoun Valley each sending two wrestlers to the awards podium.

Loudoun Valley's David Garvis finished fourth at 182 and teammate Josh Cassada-Maple finished at 160. In that same weight class, Joe Cavallaro of Woodgrove took seventh.

For Loudoun County, Logan Smith was fifth at 132 and A.J. Pittas took sixth at 138.

Complete Brackets

Swim: Stone Bridge Freshman Andi Mack Takes 2nd in 100 Free, 4th in 200 Free at AAA State Meet; Leidy, Broad Run 200 Free Relay Medal

(Feb. 23, 2012) - Stone Bridge High School freshman made splash at her first Virginia High School League AAA state meet with a second place finish in the 200 free and a fourth in the 100 free.

Andi Mack

Mack swam a 1:52.45 in the 200 free finals to finish runner-up to senior Audrey Kula of Osbourn Park who touched in 1:52.31. In the 100 free Mack turned in a 52.38 in a race won by another freshman, Sofia Revilak of Battlefield in 51.44.

Broad Run senior Jacob Leidy finished 8th in the 100 fly with a 52.43. He turned in a season-best for Loudoun of 51.67 in the prelims. The race was won by Thomas Jefferson freshman Andrew Seliskar in 49.64.

Jacob Leidy

Leidy also helped the Spartan 200 free relay team to a seventh place finish with Leidy, Michael Kopecky, Jack Morrisroe and Alan Horback clocking at 1:29.66. Frank W. Cox High School won the race in a state record time of 1:24.85.

Oakton won the girls team title with 183 points with a close battle for second between Osbourn Park (166) and West Potomac (162). Cox won the boys title with 246 points with Oakton runner-up with 168 and TJ third at 146.

Complete results

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Gymnastics: Freedom as a Team, Robinson in All-Around Take Third at VHSL State Meet

Freedom: Third in the state!

(Feb. 22, 2012) - Freedom High School sophomore Arianna Robinson took third place in the All Around at the 2012 VHSL open state meet at Salem High School on Saturday. The day before, Freedom as a team had finished third behind state champion Cox and runner-up Washington-Lee.

The Eagles scored 144.475 with Cox at 148.075 and W-L with 146.200.

Arianna Robinson

Robinson scored 38.375 to finish behind winner Jamie Stone of Western Branch (38.875) and Mary Lynn Clark of Washington-Lee (38.650). Loudoun County's Victoria Miner finished 15th with 36.675, just ahead of teammate Jessica Drews with 36.000. Woodgrove's Amanda Huebner scored 35.775 and Loudoun County's Hannah Powell, 35.000.

Photo Galleries: Basketball - Heritage vs. Sherando Region II Boys, Girls Quarterfinals by Gary Sousa

(Feb. 22, 2012) - Loudoun teams were out in Gary Sousa's neck of the woods (yes there are still woods after you leave the Loudoun County line headed west!) and he shot bot the boys and girls Heritage vs. Sherando Region II quarterfinals contests. As always, great photos from the talented Mr. Sousa (and what a great name!) ...

Boys gallery: 69 shots
Girls gallery: 75 shots

Boys Basketball: Loudoun Valley and Potomac Falls Left Standing After Region II Quarterfinals

(Feb. 22, 2012) - Hopes were high with seven Loudoun boys basketball teams in the Region II playoffs, including six of the eight teams in the Division 4 tournament, but after Tuesday's quarterfinals only Loudoun Valley and Potomac Falls were left standing.

Loudoun Valley (23-3), the top seed in D4, took take of Dulles District foe Park View, 77-53. Potomac Falls (18-8), the No. 3 seed in D4 after falling to Valley in the Dulles tournament title game, fought off a challenge from Loudoun County, 56-47, in another all-local contest.

The Vikings remain at home, hosting No. 5 Millbrook, a somewhat surprise 60-49 winner over No. 4 Briar Woods, on Thursday in the semifinals. Briar Woods (18-7) started the season out 15-2 and was at the top of the Dulles standings until the final week of the regular season but the Falcons are done after finishing 3-5 down the stretch.

Potomac Falls travels Thursday to No. 2 seed Sherando, a 75-67 winner over Heritage Tuesday. Both games are 7 p.m. starts.

Girls Basketball: Trio of Loudoun Teams a Game Away from States

(Feb. 22, 2012) - All season girls basketball in Loudoun has taken a backseat to the individual high-scoring antics on the boys side of a bevy of 4-year stars, but on the first night of Region II action Tuesday the girls took the wheel and they are now trying the playoff bus with a trio of teams just a game away from qualifying for the state tournament.

Dulles District's top three seeds advanced with Woodgrove (23-3) running by Charlottesville, 58-25; Loudoun County (20-7) doubling up on district foe Dominion, 61-30; and Tuscarora (17-8) becoming the only Loudoun team to win on the road Tuesday with a 55-38 win at Warren County.

Woodgrove, the No. 2 seed in Division 3, will host No. 3 Monticello, which edged Handley, 49-46, on Thursday in the semifinals. On the others side the girls D3 bracket, No. 5 seed Tuscarora will play at top seed Liberty, a 54-20 winner over Brentsville. Loudoun County, the No. 3 seed in Division 4, will make the long trip semifinal trip south to face No. 3 Powhatan, a 57-38 winner over Briar Woods. All games are at 7 p.m.

With two teams advancing from each bracket to the VHSL state tournament, a win on Thursday guarantees a spot in the Big Dance and a loss will end the season.

Senior captain Lizzie Wilford collected Foxccroft's first

double-double Tuesday with 18 points and 12 rebounds

in Foxcroft's (44) 51-9 triumph over Emmanuel Christian

in the first round of the DAC Div II playoffs.

Special to VivaLoudoun via Foxcroft School
Middleburg (Feb. 22, 2012) - These games are known in sports circles as “laughers", though no one was really laughing, or even smiling, after Foxcroft's 51-9 humbling over Emmanuel Christian School Tuesday in the first round of the Delaney Athletic Conference Division II basketball playoffs.

Though the lopsided result was expected ... and not much fun ... nonetheless, the win was Foxcroft’s seventh of the season – the most the squad has amassed since the 2005-2006 season. It also advanced Foxcroft to a Thursday afternoon showdown with Wakefield Country Day School in Flint Hill. The DAC girls basketball championships are scheduled for Saturday at Highland School in Warrenton.

Basketball: Live! Scoring Updates from Region II

Live Scoreboard

Region II Boys Quarterfinals
Division 3
No. 1 Fluvanna 83, No. 8 Warren County 56 FINAL
No. 5 Charlottesville 62, No. 4 Fauquier 52 FINAL
No. 3 Handley 65, No. 6 Woodgrove 51 FINAL
No. 7 Monticello 67, No. 2 Liberty 63 FINAL

Thursday Semifinals
No. 5 Charlottesville at No. 1 Fluvanna
No. 7 Monticello at No. 3 Handley

Division 4
No. 1 Loudoun Valley 77, No. 8 Park View 53 FINAL
No. 5 Millbrook 60, No. 4 Briar Woods 49 FINAL
No. 3 Potomac Falls 56, No. 6 Loudoun County 47 FINAL
No. 2 Sherando 75, No. 7 Heritage 67 FINAL

Thursday's Semifinals
No. 5 Millbrook at No. 1 Loudoun Valley
No. 3 Potomac Falls at No. 2 Sherando

Region II Girls Quarterfinals
Division 3
No. 1 Liberty 54, No. 8 Brentsville 20
No. 5 Tuscarora 55, No. 4 Warren County 38 FINAL
No. 3 Monticello 49, No. 6 Handley 46 FINAL
No. 2 Woodgrove 58, No. 7 Charlottesville 25 FINAL

Thursday's Semifinals
No. 5 Tuscarora at No. 1 Liberty
No. 3 Monticello at No. 2 Woodgrove

Division 4
No. 1 Millbrook 88, No. 8 Potomac Falls 23 FINAL
No. 4 Sherando 66, No. 5 Heritage 52 FINAL
No. 3 Loudoun County 61, No. 6 Dominion 30 FINAL
No. 2 Powhatan 57, No. 7 Briar Woods 38 FINAL

Thursday's Semifinals
No. 4 Sherando at No. 1 Millbrook
No. 3 Loudoun County at No. 2 Powhatan

Basketball: Region II Playoffs Start Tonight with 14 (Yes 14!) in Action

(Feb. 21, 2012) - The Region II boys and girls basketball tournaments starts tonight and 14 of Loudoun's 18 teams will play in quarterfinal action.

Three of the games feature all-Loudoun match-ups with boys Division 4 No. 1 seed Loudoun Valley hosting No. 8 Park View and No. 3 Potomac Falls taking on No. 6 Loudoun County. In girls action, No. 6 Loudoun County hosts No. 6 Dominion.

D4 boys No. 3 Briar Woods and D3 girls No. 2 Woodgrove are also at home tonight giving fans a choice of five venues from Sterling to Purcellville to choose from. Start times are 7 p.m.

Region II Boys Quarterfinals
Division 3
No. 8 Warren County at No. 1 Fluvanna
No. 5 Charlottesville at No. 4 Fauquier
No. 6 Woodgrove at No. 3 Handley
No. 7 Monticello at No. 2 Liberty

Division 4
No. 8 Park View at No. 1 Loudoun Valley
No. 5 Millbrook at No. 4 Briar Woods
No. 6 Loudoun County at No. 3 Potomac Falls
No. 7 Heritage at No. 2 Sherando

Region II Girls Quarterfinals
Division 3
No. 8 Brentsville at No. 1 Liberty
No. 5 Tuscarora at No. 4 Warren County
No. 6 Handley at No. 3 Monticello
No. 7 Charlottesville at No. 2 Woodgrove

Division 4
No. 8 Potomac Falls at No. 1 Millbrook
No. 5 Heritage at No. 4 Sherando
No. 6 Dominion at No. 3 Loudoun County
No. 7 Briar Woods at No. 2 Powhatan

News: Vigil to be Held Tonight at 5:30 at Briar Woods for Cameron Carter

(Feb. 21, 2012)- The Briar Woods High School community is holding a vigil tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the Falcons football field for Cameron Carter, young teen daughter of Tom and Renee Carter, who passed away this morning. Her friends are asking people to wear purple.

Cameron Carter is the 14-year-old younger sister of Briar Woods senior Alex Carter, high school football All-American and Virginia state player of the year headed to Stanford next year. Her father Tom is a former Washington Redskin.

Read this article from Ashburn Patch with insight into Cameron's life.

Editor's note: Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Carter family and the Briar Woods community.

Cheers Sports and VivaLoudoun Athletes of the Month for January 2012

More photos from shoot

(Feb. 21, 2012) - Cheers Sports and VivaLoudoun announced today their Athletes of the Month for January 2012.

Each month, VivaLoudoun.com editor Dan Sousa selects the top high school athletes from across Loudoun and they are invited to a photo shoot. The January 2012 honorees met at Lifetime Fitness in Ashburn on Sunday, Feb. 5.