Woodside looking to repeat in Class 5
Contenders abound in high-stakes games
Here’s a capsule look at the area’s VHSL boys basketball region tournaments.
Class 6 Region A
Friday’s quarterfinals: Oscar Smith 57, Grassfield 41; Landstown 78, Thomas Dale 39; Manchester 82, Western Branch 72; Highland Springs 49, Cosby 47.
Tuesday’s semifinals: No. 5 Highland Springs (16-7) at No. 1 Oscar Smith (20-2), 6 p.m.; No. 3 Landstown (19-4) at No. 2 Manchester (20-3), TBA.
Up next: Championship — Thursday, TBA.
The buzz: Oscar Smith lost two All-Tidewater players from last season’s state tournament team when 6-foot-8 junior forward Kareem Stagg transferred to IMG Academy in Florida and Trey Williams transferred to Norcom. But coach LaVar Griffin worked wonders as the Tigers not only won the Southeastern District regular-season title, but earned the region’s top seed. They are led by Ulysses Young (12.2 points per game, 6.0 assists per game, 3.5 steals per game), Jacobi Harper (15 ppg, 5.0 rpg), and Travis Johnson (11 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2 blocks per game, 2 spg). Landstown, which won a state title in 2019, comes in riding a 15-game winning streak, the longest in the region. Landstown coach Dwight Robinson, who gained his 400th career victory earlier this month, has the Eagles ready for a state title run. They are led by Deshawn Spellman (14.1 ppg 6.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg), Zaevion Cleveland (11.6 ppg 7.8 rpg), Demeir Pollard (9.3 ppg 5.5 rpg, 4.1 apg), Darell Stephens (7.4 ppg) and defensive specialist Kjhon Fletcher. Pollard, a senior, is trying to help the Eagles make their third state appearance in four years.
Class 5 Region A Tuesday’s quarterfinals at Kempsville:
No. 1 Kempsville (18-4) vs. No. 8 Deep Creek (8-14), 5:30 p.m.; No. 4 Kellam (14-7) vs. No. 5 Cox (14-7), 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday’s quarterfinals at Green Run:
No. 2 Green Run (15-7) vs. No. 7 Princess Anne (11-11), 5:30 p.m.; No. 3 Salem (15-7) vs. No. 6 Indian River (11-10), 7:30 p.m.
Up next: Semifinals — Thursday, TBA; Championship game — Friday at Ocean Lakes, 7:30 p.m.
The buzz: Kempsville coach Darren Sanderlin has guided the Chiefs to five consecutive region tournaments. They are led by seniors Emmanuel Angila, Savon Sandiford and Jayon Griffin, and junior Jeremiah White. They face Deep Creek, which is led by senior Jabari Brackett (17.9 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg) and junior Omari WilliamsScott (14.3 ppg, 11 rpg). After the Chiefs, it’s wide open. One player to watch is Cox 6-foot-9 center Ben Nacey, who scored his 1,000th career point this season and is averaging 21 points a game.
Class 5 Region B
Saturday’s quarterfinals: King’s Fork 53, Bethel 47; Norview 52, Nansemond River 49; Maury 56, Menchville 46; Woodside 75, Kecoughtan 49
Wednesday’s semifinals at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall:
No. 5 Norview (12-7) vs. No. 1 Woodside (22-1), 6 p.m.; No. 3 Maury (19-4) vs. No. 2 King’s Fork (19-4), 8 p.m.
Up next: Championship game — Friday at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall, 8 p.m.
The buzz: By far the toughest region. It features four coaches who have won a state title. Woodside coach Stefan Welsh led the Wolverines to a state title last season to join Kempsville’s Darren Sanderlin and Maury’s Brandon Plummer as the only other former
Hampton Roads boys basketball players to win state titles as a player and coach. Plummer led the Commodores to a state title in 2019. King’s Fork coach Rick Hite and Norview’s Ricardo Foster won a share of a state title in 2020 during the COVID season. The Wolverines are led by guards Masiah Stevens and Jermaine Detrick, along with plenty of size in 6-6 forward Mykel Jenkins, 6-9 center Silas Barksdale and 6-8 forward Jordyn Houston. The Commodores are led by senior CJ Parker, junior guard Adrean Newton and 6-7 center Tyler Bell. The Bulldogs have five starters averaging at least almost 10 points a game, led by Adarius Boston (17 ppg) and Dashawn Lucas (14 ppg). The Pilots are led by guard Keon Mitchell.
Class 4 Region A Last week’s quarterfinals:
Smithfield 55, Warhill 40; Denbigh 55, Jamestown 41.
Today’s semifinals: No. 4 Denbigh (8-16) at No. 1 Hampton (20-2), 6 p.m.; No. 3 Smithfield (13-10) at No. 2 Churchland (16-6), 6:30 p.m.
Up next: Championship game — Wednesday at higher seed, 6 p.m.
The buzz: Hampton finished the season as the top team in Hampton Roads during the regular season. The Crabbers, who have won 11 in a row, are led by seniors Malik Johnson (14.3 ppg, 2.4 apg, 2.3 spg) and Daron Baugh (11.1 ppg, 3.7 apg). They also have 6-4 forward Abraham Taft (10.6 ppg, 8 rpg, 1.7 bpg) and 6-7 forward Gavin Kay (7.8 rpg, 1.2 bpg). Churchland enters the postseason having won seven of its last nine games. The Truckers, who are making their seventh consecutive region appearance, are led by Sincere Jones (18 pgp, 11 rpg, 4 bpg), Quimar Crittenden (9 ppg, 5 apg) and guard Aveyon Jordan (12 ppg, 5 apg).
Class 3 Region A
Friday’s first round: Booker T. Washington 53, Norcom 48; Heritage 66, Petersburg 60; Lakeland 59, New Kent 55; Hopewell 68, Tabb 39; Colonial Heights 61, York 43.
Tuesday’s quarterfinals: No. 8 Heritage (13-10) at No. 1 Lake Taylor (20-1); No. 12 Lakeland (5-18) at No. 4 Hopewell (15-6); No. 7 Colonial Heights (13-9) at No. 2 Grafton (18-3); No. 6 Booker T. Washington (14-7) at No. 3 Lafayette (18-3).
Up next: Semifinals — Thursday at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall, 6 and 8 p.m.; Championship — Saturday at Echols Hall, 3 p.m.
The buzz: Lake Taylor is the favorite. The Titans reeled off 16 consecutive wins before losing to Maury, their only loss this season. They are focused on winning a state title, which happened one other time in 2018. They are led by 6-8 senior forward Elijah Washington, 6-8 senior forward Rodney Baines, Triston Skipwith, Aaron Elliott and Shahide Battle. Other teams that could surprise are Grafton, Lafayette and Booker T. Washington, led by Zymareon Mitchell (19.86 ppg, 5.1 apg, 3.5 spg), Antonio Williams (13.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.9 spg) and Carmello Browne (10.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2 bpg). The Bookers’ total of 13 regular-season wins ties their best record since 2015. Another player to watch is Heritage’s DJ Lassiter, who is averaging 22.2 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Class 2 Region A
Saturday’s first round: Nottoway 62, Southampton 49; King William 72, Randolph-Henry 49.
Tuesday’s quarterfinals: No. 8 Nottoway (8-12) at No. 1 John Marshall (19-3), 7:30 p.m.; No. 5 Arcadia (12-10) at No. 4 Amelia (15-7), 6 p.m.; No. 6 Nandua (12-9) at No. 3 Greensville County (19-5), 6 p.m.; No. 7 King William (9-12) at No. 2 Bruton (16-6), 6 p.m.
Up next: Semifinals — TBD; Championship — TBD.
The buzz: John Marshall is the two-time defending state champions. Locally, watch for Bruton, which had its most regular-season wins since 2015 and first winning record since 2016. The Panthers are led by Brandon Freeman (16 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg, 3 spg), Kareem Davis (7 ppg, 5 rpg) and Khamani Phillips (13 ppg, 2 spg).