Leesburg, Va. — Well, for those who somehow don’t know, there aren’t any sports to cover in Loudoun County right now. Everything, save for marble racing, has been shut down due to the pandemic and need for social distancing. We at LoCoSports obviously can’t go out and cover games, so we decided to make sure our faithful readers still had something to pass the time.
We decided to put together a list of the best games we covered over the last year. Here’s what we believe makes up a great game: Was it a fun game to watch? What was the magnitude of the game? Did the teams have any rivalry or history? How was the atmosphere at the game?
Without further ado, enter my LoCo Top 5.
5. Girls Lacrosse: Freedom Outlasts Potomac Falls in VHSL Region 5C Championship
I’m not a huge lacrosse fan. Even three years as a student at Syracuse couldn’t convince me otherwise. However, the level of lacrosse talent we have in Northern Virginia is off the charts, and I was in for a real treat when Potomac Falls and Freedom duked it out for a region title in 2019. Although the Panthers looked to be in complete control with just a few minutes left, the Eagles found a way to overcome a major second-half momentum shift and bring a trophy back to South Riding.
4. Boys Basketball: Potomac Falls Trumps Riverside, Wins Back-to-Back VHSL Region 5C Titles
If you’ve ever seen a Potomac Falls boys basketball game in person, you’ve probably been captivated by the energy head coach Jeff Hawes brings to the court, and his demeanor was no different in the region championship game. After going down 4-0 to start the region title, Hawes had already seen enough. He called a timeout to settle his troops then leaned on his son Landon – and superstar Jalen Coker – to lead the Panthers to victory.
3. Boys Basketball: Loudoun County’s Historic Season Draws to a Close in VHSL 4A State Quarterfinal
Matt Anderson grew up bleeding navy and gold. He watched his brother Michael and sister Kelsey compete at the highest level at Loudoun County High School, and when it was his turn, he made the most of it. After breaking the school’s single game three-point record, he then turned around to break the career three-point mark, before again doing something know Raider boys basketball player had ever done before: brought home a region title.
2. Track & Field: Heritage Grad Weini Kelati Wins NCAA 10K National Championship
When she was just 17 years old, Weini Kelati made the decision to intentionally miss her team’s return flight from the world junior championships in Oregon to her home in Eritrea. She left behind her mother and two brothers, seeking a more promising future. Five years later, she was an NCAA National Champion.
1. Baseball: Briar Woods Walks Off with Potomac District Title Over Broad Run
This was a finish straight out of a movie. A walk-off win over a crosstown rival to win the district championship. It was an emotional week for senior outfielder Aidan Willard culminating in victory for his beloved Briar Woods Falcons. It’s really hard to put into words how this went down, so I feel for everyone who missed it.
What was your favorite game this year? Let us know on Twitter @LoCoSports.