George Mason (Falls Church) raced off to a big lead in the first half and went on to win its second consecutive Virginia High School League Group A, Division 2 basketball tournament crown with a 58-47 victory over Lancaster at the Siegel Center.

In a matchup of unbeaten teams, Millbrook (Winchester) defeated Greensville County 49-38 in the Virginia High School League Group AA Division 3 girls basketball tournament final at the Siegel Center.

TODAY’S OTHER GAMES
GROUP AA, DIVISION 3 GIRLS FINAL
Millbrook (21-0) vs. Greensville County (27-0), 11 a.m. Two unbeaten teams collide. Millbrook (Winchester), ranked first in the AP state poll, got 20 points from Courtni Green in a 61-35 semifinal win over Patrick County. Greensville County got 21 points and 13 rebounds from Region I player of the year Gabby Tyler in a 54-53 semifinal win over Robert E. Lee-Staunton.

The Cougars, playing in their first final, equaled the feat of the Surry boys team that won the 2005 Group A title for the late Joe Ellis. Surry took the lead on a layup by ReaChaun Edwards (31 points, eight rebounds, seven steals) with 1:19 remaining in the first quarter, but the Raiders, who lost for the first time, stayed close and drew even at 35. Britney Johnson (13 points) converted a steal into a bucket to put the Cougars up for good.

Two first-timers will play for the state championship in the Virginia High School League Group A, Division 1 girls basketball tournament. J.I. Burton of Norton remained undefeated with a 67-53 victory over Riverheads, and Surry eliminated Ervinton 68-58 in semifinal action yesterday at VCU’s Siegel Center. The Raiders and Cougars, each playing in the championship game for the first time, meet for the title today at 2 p.m.

Lancaster survived a fourth-quarter rally and two overtimes to defeat Lee High of Jonesville 62-53 in a Virginia High School League Group A Division 2 girls basketball tournament semifinal at the Siegel Center.

GROUP A, DIVISION 1 GIRLS: Two first-timers will play for the state championship in the Virginia High School League Group A, Division 1 girls basketball tournament.

Defending state champion George Mason of Falls Church will have a chance to repeat in the Virginia High School League Group A Division 2 girls basketball tournament after turning up the heat in the second half for a semifinal victory over Chilhowie at the Siegel Center.

While Oakton gave Elizabeth Williams and Samisha Powell the defensive attention, Princess Anne guard Courtney Braxton torched the Cougars for 22 points and led the Cavaliers to a 57-42 victory in the semifinals of the Virginia High School League Group AAA girls basketball tournament yesterday at the Siegel Center. Princess Anne defeated Oakton in last year’s final. The Cougars rallied from a 24-7 deficit and closed to three points behind with 5:45 left in the third quarter, but Braxton ran off eight straight points, including two 3-pointers to restore a cushion.

While Oakton gave Elizabeth Williams and Samisha Powell the defensive attention, Princess Anne guard Courtney Braxton torched the Cougars for 22 points and led the Cavaliers to a 57-42 victory in the semifinals of the Virginia High School League Group AAA girls basketball tournament today at the Siegel Center.

Spotswood opened a double-digit lead in the third quarter and went on to defeat York 60-47 in a Virginia High School League Group AA, Division 4 girls basketball tournament semifinal at VCU’s Siegel Center today.

Brunswick rallied in the fourth quarter to eliminate Northside of Roanoke and set up a VHSL Group AA, Division 3 boys basketball tournament championship rematch with Cave Spring of Roanoke. The Bulldogs’ 67-58 victory over Northside last night at the Siegel Center qualified Brunswick for its fourth consecutive state final appearance. The Bulldogs have been the runners-up each of the past three years, including last year’s overtime loss to Cave Spring, which advanced to the final with a victory over New Kent. The title game is at 1 p.m. Saturday.

TODAY’S GAMES
GROUP AAA GIRLS
Princess Anne (28-1) vs. Oakton (24-1), 2 p.m. The Princess Anne (Virginia Beach) Cavaliers are the Eastern Region champions. The Cavaliers are the defending state champions. They also won championships in 2002 and 2005. PA is ranked in two national polls and features junior center Elizabeth Williams (17.6 ppg, 10.6 rbg), one of the nation’s top recruits for 2011. Coach Darnell Dozier is in his 15th season. The Oakton Cougars are the Northern Region champions. Coach Fred Priester is in his 10th season at Oakton. He recently passed 500 victories in his 26-year career. The Cougars have been in the semifinals three of the past four years. They were the state runner-up in 2001. West Springfield (25-2) vs. Lake Taylor (28-1), 7 p.m. The West Springfield Spartans are the Northern Region runner-up. Coach Bill Gibson has accumulated more than 560 victories in a 25-year career. The Spartans were undefeated and won state championships in 1997 and 1999. West Springfield last reached the semifinals in 2004. The Lake Taylor Titans are the Eastern Region runners-up. They are in the semifinals for the second year in a row. The Titans eliminated Central Region champion Cosby in the quarterfinals. Coach Saundra Sawyer is in her ninth season. Lake Taylor is ranked No. 21 nationally by USA Today. GROUP AAA BOYS
Chantilly (20-7) vs. I.C. Norcom (23-4), 3:45 p.m. The Chantilly Chargers are the Northern Region champions. Coach Jim Smith is in his 22nd year at the helm. The Chargers are making their first appearance in the state tournament since 1992, and it’s their first time in the semifinals. Chantilly defeated three district champions en route to the Northern Region crown. The I.C. Norcom (Portsmouth) Greyhounds are the Eastern Region champions. The Greyhounds, in their first state tournament since 1993, squeaked by Central Region runner-up Thomas Dale in the quarterfinals. Norcom is in the semis for the third time. Leon Goolsby is in his fourth season as head coach. Patrick Henry-Roanoke (21-4) vs. Petersburg (28-0), 9 p.m. GROUP AA, DIVISION 4 GIRLS
York (24-3) vs. Spotswood (19-6), 10:30 a.m. The Spotswood (Penn Laird) Trailblazers are the Region III champions. Chris Dodson is the Trailblazers head coach. Spotswood is in the semifinals for the second time. The first time was 2005 when they won the state championship. The York (Yorktown) Falcons are the Region I champions. Coach Tim Knapp is in his sixth season as head coach. The Falcons last appeared in the state tournament in 1995. They have a long history though with 13 semifinal appearances and two state titles (1986, 1987). York defeated Spotswood in the 1987 final. GROUP AA, DIVISION 4 BOYS
Courtland (25-0) vs. Broadway (20-6), 12:15 p.m. The Courtland Cougars are the Region I champions. J.T. Nino is in his sixth season as head coach. The Cougars are the reigning Division 4 state champions. Leading scorer and region player of the year Avery Green averages 19 points a game. This is Courtland’s second appearance in the semifinals. The Cougars have a 35-game winning streak. The Broadway Gobblers are the Region III champions. Coach Dwight Walton is in his fourth season. Broadway owns a state title. It came in 1926.

Greensville County built a 10-point lead in the third quarter then withstood a rally in the fourth to edge Robert E. Lee of Staunton in a Group AA, Division 3 girls semifinal. The Eagles (27-0) advanced to their first title game appearance where they will play undefeated Millbrook Saturday at the Siegel Center at 11 a.m.

Millbrook, the Region II champion, will play for its first state championship after rolling to a 61-35 victory over Patrick County today in the semifinals of the Group AA, Division 3 girls basketball tournament at the Siegel Center.Unbeaten and top-ranked Millbrook (Winchester) meets the winner of the Lee-Staunton-Greensville game Saturday at 11 a.m. The Pioneers lost in last year’s semifinals to eventual champion Freedom-South Riding. Millbrook built a 26-6 lead after one quarter and coasted from there.Courtni Green paced the Pioneers with 20 points and eight rebounds. Sara Mead contributed 15 points. Kylene Culler produced 14 points for Patrick County.