Purcellville, Va. — For the Loudoun Valley High School girls basketball team, it’s all about defense. Led defensively by senior guard Olivia Badura and junior forward Megan Stevenson, the Vikings execute a highly-effective full court press but also pressure the ball well in the half court. That pressure paid off during rivalry week as Loudoun Valley forced Woodgrove to turn the ball over 30 times and held the Wolverines to just 33 points as the Vikings ran away with the 61-33 win on January 4 in Purcellville. “In-town rivalries are always intense,” Loudoun Valley head coach Kenyamo McFarlane said. “I’ve…
Author: Owen Gotimer
Leesburg, Va. — If you didn’t know already, you know now: Heritage is all about speed. When the Stone Bridge boys basketball team traveled to Heritage High School on December 20, the Pride hit them with a fast-paced, transition offense and a deep bench. The Bulldogs kept pace early, trailing the Pride by just three points after the first quarter, but Heritage exploded in the third quarter, outscoring Stone Bridge 39-20, to run away with the 90-69 win in Leesburg. “That’s our style. We get up and down. We’re going to make our 14 beat your 7,” Heritage head coach…
Ashburn, Va. — With less than four minutes to play in their Potomac District match up with Tuscarora High School on December 11, the Stone Bridge High School boys basketball team trailed 77-72. The offensive slugfest had changed hands multiple times throughout the game, but it was the Bulldogs’ late defense that helped them go on a 17-6 run to escape the Huskies, 89-83. “We’re not really a good pressing team, but we decided to turn it up a little bit to get steals,” Stone Bridge head coach Corey Stitzel said. “We’re really efficient offensively, and we got guys who…
Ashburn, Va. — It took less than two minutes for the Briar Woods High School girls basketball team to jump out to an 8-0 lead against rival Broad Run High School in their Potomac District opener on December 7. Even more impressive for the Falcons was that all eight of those points came from the hand of sophomore forward Grace Nathan. “It was a great start for Grace,” Briar Woods head coach Raven Short said. “We’ve been trying to find different looks for her on offense. Seeing a couple baskets go in was good for our team and good for…
Leesburg, Va. — During its first three seasons, the Riverside High School boys basketball team played in the shadows, compiling a 25-41 record. As their fourth season gets underway, however, the Rams are ready for the spotlight. Having started the season 3-0, and coming off an overtime loss to rival Rock Ridge, the Rams were in complete control from the first whistle to the last, as they defeated the Broad Run Spartans, 64-50, in front of a home crowd in Leesburg on November 5. “This is a tenacious group. They really just want to win for the team,” Riverside head…
Ashburn, Va. — For the third time in four years, the Stone Bridge High School football team is heading to the VHSL 5A State championship. After cruising past rival Broad Run in the VHSL Region 5C championship, the North Stafford Wolverines were all that stood between the Bulldogs and their eighth trip to a state championship game. And on a cold, damp December 1, Stone Bridge senior running back Nick Mell rushed for five touchdowns as the Bulldogs ran past the Wolverines, 49-26, in front of a home crowd in Ashburn. “We’re getting better every week, and we just have…