BLACKSBURG—Cadarian Raines, a former Petersburg High forward who will be a freshman on Virginia Tech’s basketball team this season, broke his left foot Tuesday and will miss about 10 weeks. Raines fractured the fifth metatarsal—the long bone on the outside of the foot that connects to the little toe—when he stepped on a teammate’s foot during a workout, said team trainer Chad Hyatt. The injury is common among athletes, so Hyatt is optimistic about Raines’ recovery. Raines will undergo surgery today and have a screw put into the bone to help push the broken pieces together.

The on-court chemistry between Erick Green and Tristan Spurlock was impossible to miss Thursday night at American University’s Bender Arena. Here was Spurlock feeding Green for a midrange jump shot. There was Green lobbing an alley-oop pass to Spurlock for a behind-the-head dunk. Ninety seconds later, there was Green stealing the ball and passing ahead to Spurlock for a breakaway slam.

With just over six minutes remaining in the Central Region semifinal, Petersburg senior Cadarian Raines soared to block his sixth and final Henrico shot. Seconds later, at the other end of the court, Raines went up again—this time to jam the ball home. The message was clear. There would be no Henrico rally, as No. 1 Petersburg pulled away to win 77-59 yesterday at the Siegel Center.

The tidal Wave continues. Petersburg, ranked No. 1 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10 and in The Associated Press state poll, finished a sweep of Central District foes with a 75-46 victory last night in the final of the district tournament. Playing before a packed house of 2,500 in William Lawson Jr. Gym, the Wave won its 25th consecutive game this season. Petersburg has been 25-0 at other times in its storied history. The 1973 and 1974 teams, led by Moses Malone, finished 25-0 and won state championships.

The players’ roles are clearly defined for the Petersburg boys basketball team. The short guys—Drejon Scott, Chris Moore and Tyre Desmore—play in-your-jersey defense all over the floor, break down the opposing defense with penetration and pass to the big guys. The big guys—Virginia Tech signee Cadarian Raines (6-9), Chris Evans (6-6) and Du’Vaughn Maxwell (6-6)—receive the passes on the inside.

The highest point in Virginia is Mt. Rogers in Grayson County, 5,729 feet above sea level. The tallest peak in Virginia high school basketball might be the Petersburg gym on Johnson Street. The Crimson Wave’s front line measures 6-9, 6-6, 6-6.