Boys: No. 3 Highland Springs 71, Deep Run 57

Defense carried Highland Springs to the 2003 state Group AAA championship. The current Springers showed their defensive prowess in last night's Central Region tournament victory over Deep Run.

Four Springers combined for 16 steals. Xavier Parham had six, Jeri Mask five, Natwan Young three and Sage Reed two.

Mask paced the Springers' scoring with 23 points and contributed five rebounds. Young added 15 points and seven rebounds. Reed supplied 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists, and Parham chipped in with 13 points.

Deep Run, forced to shoot from the perimeter, nailed nine 3-pointers. Antone Exum led the Wildcats with 19 points. Tommy Folliard and Michael Dosh (all on treys) had 12 points each.

Highland Springs defeated Deep Run for the second time this season. Tonight's meeting with Meadowbrook also is a rematch.

NO. 3 HIGHLAND SPRINGS 71, DEEP RUN 57
DEEP RUN (13-12)

Simmons 2, Jackson 6, Pericle 0, Dosh 12, Johnson 6, Folliard 12, Exum 19. Totals 19 10-15 57.
HIGHLAND SPRINGS (23-2)

Parham 13, Hodnett 0, Young 15, Mask 23, Judon 0, T. Williams 5, Hopkins 0, Reed 15. Totals 28 13-22 71.
Deep Run ------------------------ 9 19 16 13 -- 57
Highland Springs ------------------------- 18 14 15 24 -- 71

3-point goals: DR -- Dosh 4, Johnson 2, Folliard 2, Exum. HS -- Parham 2, Mask 2.