DOMINION DISTRICT TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS Tonight’s quarterfinals, at higher seeds (tickets $7)

CENTRAL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS Tonight’s quarterfinals, at higher seeds (tickets $6)

Scores from Saturday’s games.

As the first quarter ended last night at Meadowbrook, Reggie Simon, Hopewell’s basketball coach, was wracking his brain for answers.

Led by MVP Natwan Young, the No. 5 Springers easily defended their crown in The Times-Dispatch Invitational Tournament championship game last night.

Atlee High School’s girls basketball team captured third place in the TDIT by beating Deep Run 61-32 at the Siegel Center. The boys’ third-place game between John Marshall and Cosby will tip off at 5 p.m. The girls’ championship game featuring L.C. Bird and Cosby begins at 6:30 p.m. and the boys’ championship, with Collegiate facing Highland Springs, set for 8:30 p.m.

Chesterfield Community won fifth place in the TDIT boys tournament, beating Hopewell 74-67 at the Siegel Center. The girls’ third-place game featuring Atlee and Deep Run is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.

Deep Run’s boys basketball team captured seventh place in the TDIT today, beating Hanover 59-46 at the Siegel Center. The boys fifth-place game featuring Hopewell and Chesterfield Community has started and will be followed by the girls’ third-place game at 3:30 p.m.

Thomas Dale’s girls basketball team knocked off Clover Hill 63-46 to claim fifth place in the TDIt at the Siegel Center. The boys’ seventh-place game between Hanover and Deep Run is under way.

Highland Springs won the Times-Dispatch Invitational Tournament girls’ seventh-place game this morning, beating Meadowbrook 57-46 at VCU’s Siegel Center. Clover Hill and Thomas Dale are currently playing for fifth place, and Atlee will take on Deep Run for third at 3:30 p.m. The girls final pits L.C. Bird against Cosby at 6:30 p.m. The boys’ bracket starts at noon with Hanover playing Deep Run. Hopewell takes on Chesterfield Community at 1:30 p.m. for fifth place and John Marshall plays Cosby at 5 p.m. for third. Highland Springs and Collegiate will play for the championship at 8:30 p.m.

Hopewell knocked off Deep Run 67-62 today and will play Chesterfield Community for fifth place on Monday at 1:30 p.m. Deep Run will take on Hanover on Monday at noon for seventh place.

The Times-Dispatch Invitational Tournament semifinals will start at 3:30 p.m. at VCU’s Siegel Center when L.C. Bird’s girls take on Atlee. Deep Run and Cosby play at 5 p.m. The boys semifinals will begin at 6:30 p.m. with John Marshall taking on Collegiate. Highland Springs plays Cosby at 8 p.m. in the final game of the day. In today’s girls consolation action, Clover Hill beat Meadowbrook 44-43 and Thomas Dale topped Highland Springs 64-56. In a boys consolation game, Chesterfield Community topped Hanover 50-46. Deep Run leads Hopewell 34-32 at halftime.

ESSEX 58, MATHEWS 28
MATHEWS (n/r) T. Dixon 3, Roye 8, Hudgins 0, White 0, Kelly 10, Moore 4, Cunningham 0, Williamson 0, Carter 0, Vroomen 0, Cole 1, K. Dixon 2, Brooks 0. Totals 12 4-19 28.
ESSEX (3-0) Garner 0, J.R. Gaines 1, Sayles 14, Samuel 2, A. Gaines 6, Baker 16, Braxton 2, Dille 11, Douglas 2, Thorne 2, Lee 2. Totals 20 13-16 58.
Mathews 6 9 9 4—28
Essex 17 16 10 15—58

CAPITAL DISTRICT
Last season: 12-0, 25-2 Key players: C Natwan Young, 6-5, Sr.; G Xavier Parham, 5-10, Sr.; F Trey Williams, 6-3, Sr.; G Aaron Hodnett, 5-11, Sr.
  Outlook: Last year’s reserves move into starting roles, but the lack of inexperience is evident. Young showed flashes of brilliance, but as the leading returning scorer and rebounder, he averaged 4.4 ppg and 3.0 rpg. Lack of height could be an issue. The tallest players (Young and Scottie Williams) are 6-5. The Springers, at least at the beginning, could be vulnerable.