DETROIT—Joe Dumars has turned to Cleveland Cavaliers assistant John Kuester, a Richmond native and former Benedictine High School standout, as the Pistons’ next head coach. The Detroit Free Press learned late yesterday afternoon that the Pistons were nearing a deal with Kuester, a 54-year-old coaching veteran who has never led an NBA team but was the head man at two mid-major colleges in the 1980s. He won a championship ring as a Pistons assistant in 2004 and has built a reputation in the NBA as a bright offensive mind and game-planner.

Usually, the arch of swords is a solemn thing, but Benedictine High School cadets and departing headmaster John McGinty put their own twist on the old military tradition yesterday. There were fist-bumps, hugs and—at the end of the 50-person line, down where a circle of parents and alumni stood applauding on the high school parking lot—a brand-new white Vespa motor scooter, paid for by students and their families.

First team Pitchers: Daniel King, Stafford; Jake Mayers, Hanover. Catcher: Blake Boyce, First Colonial. 1B: Eric Payne, McLean. 2B: Kyle Toulouse, Yorktown. 3B: Joey Cujas, Manchester. SS: Chris Taylor, Frank Cox. Outfielders: Erickson Keeton, Nansemond River; Vince Coles, Albemarle; Bryn Renner, West Springfield. Utility: R.C. Orlan, Deep Run; Johnny Bladel, Stone Bridge. DH: James Feldman, GW-Danville.

Benedictine High School’s headmaster has been forced out by senior monks who are reorganizing the administration and have dissolved the board of the 98-year-old Catholic school. The monastic order in charge of the boys’ military school says it is making the changes to save money and take a greater role in Benedictine’s day-to-day operations.

Benedictine High School’s headmaster has been forced out by senior monks who are reorganizing the administration of the 98-year-old school . The monastic order in charge of the school says it is undertaking the changes to save money and take a greater role in Benedictine’s operations. The decision, reached Sunday by unanimous of consent of 11 senior monks at Mary Mother of the Church of the Abbey in Goochland County, forces out current Headmaster John McGinty, who has led the school since 2003.

PETERSBURG - In only the program’s fifth year, Steward’s players got so close to winning the championship, they could almost touch it. But in the bottom of the seventh inning, a 3-2 single from catcher Ray Morton gave Greenbrier a 4-3 win and the VISAA Division II state title. “I love them like my own sons, so it’s just disappointing to lose,“ Steward coach Bruce Secrest said. “One thing’s for sure, I’m never disappointed in them because they’re such quality young men.“

Marc Rosen hit an RBI single and Mike Goldberg drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to tie the game in the seventh inning and keep Benedictine alive, giving the Cadets a 6-2 win over St. Anne’s-Belfield in the quarterfinals of the VIS Divison I tournament yesterday. The Cadets then came in full force in the eighth, with Rosen getting another RBI single, Will Swoope hitting 2-run triple and Teddy Kozak following with an RBI single. Pitcher Derek Bushey closed out the inning, holding the Saints to just one hit.

Denim & Diamonds was this year’s theme for Benedictine High School’s annual Blast fundraising event, held April 25 at Rolling Run Farm in Manakin-Sabot. About 275 alumni, friends and parents of students were treated to a casual western décor, with a silent auction arranged in horse stables, a live auction, dinner, a bull-riding contest, a chance to win a diamond pendant, and dancing to live music by Soulercoaster.

Darien Brothers of Benedictine and Jake McGee of Collegiate have been named to the Virginia Independent Schools Division I all-state basketball team. Brothers averaged 21 points a game. McGee averaged 20.5. Coron Williams, who began his high school career at Monacan but now plays for Christchurch, also was named to the team. Williams’ Seahorses’ teammate, Michael Gbinji, who led Evangel Christian to the 2008 Division III state championship, was honorable mention.

PETERSBURG - Outmanned in the paint and overwhelmed on the scoreboard, Benedictine could have opted to simply go through the motions in the second half of last night’s Virginia Independent Schools Division I state semifinal against Blue Ridge. After all, the Cadets already had achieved plenty this season by reaching the final four despite losing three standouts to graduation, including 2007-08 state player of the year and current University of North Carolina freshman Ed Davis.

Kevin Gill scored a game-high 16 points to go along with six assists as Benedictine cruised past Collegiate 67-45 in the quarterfinal round of the VIS Division 1 state tournament last night. Erik Moody had 13 points and five steals, and Robert Thurston (nine rebounds) and R.J. Price (four steals) added 11 points apiece for the Cadets. Jake McGee led the Cougars with 15 points, followed by Stephen Stites with 11.

Tristan Spurlock got the full Benedictine treatment last night at Memorial Gymnasium. The Cadets’ basketball team threw waves of players at him, and the Cadets’ student section heckled Spurlock whenever he was in shouting range. Through it all, the University of Virginia recruit never lost his sense of humor. “It was fun,“ Spurlock said of the chants directed at him. “I was laughing.“

Benedictine didn’t have to look far for its new football coach. Greg Lilly, the school’s director of admissions and a member of Dan Rolfe’s coaching staff, has been named to fill the vacancy left by Rolfe’s resignation. Rolfe is leaving to coach at Fort Defiance in Augusta County. “I am confident that his enthusiasm and hard work will be a positive experience for the Cadets who will play for him in the future,“ Benedictine Principal John McGinty said. “He has done an excellent job as an assistant coach while serving first as a social studies teacher and as director of admissions for the past three years.“

BENEDICTINE 57, Wilson 10, Holley 5, Boras 7, Turner 6, Williams 4, Smith 1, Battle 8. Totals 16 7-12 41.  BENEDICTINE (17-9)  Moody 7, Brothers 24, Gill 2, Connor 8, Lukish 0, Price 10, Thurston 6, Shaheen 0, Williams 0, Tiller 0, Pilot 0, Lemcke 0. Totals 19 14-21 57.  Blue Ridge————————————- 14 9 9 9—41

In a fast-paced game played in front of an ear-splitting Benedictine crowd, Highland Springs coach George Lancaster knew there was only one way to get his message across—stopping everything.