February 28, 2009
Justices pull away from Springers, look forward to a ‘classic’ rematch
The rematch is upon us. Reigning Central Region champion John Marshall and last year’s runner-up, Petersburg, tangle Monday night at 7:45 at the Siegel Center. After undefeated and nationally ranked Petersburg defeated Henrico in the first semifinal last night, John Marshall, No. 2 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10, earned the opportunity to defend its title with a 74-68 victory over third-ranked Highland Springs before a capacity (7,500) crowd at the Siegel Center.
February 27, 2009
High school sports notebook
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.“
February 24, 2009
No. 3 Highland Springs 59, Meadowbrook 48
No. 3 Highland Springs advanced to the region semifinals for the seventh consecutive season as the Springers defeated Meadowbrook. Derrick Hopkins came off the bench to score 11 points, with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Natwan Young led the scoring effort with 17 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Xavier Parham scored 11 points, with three rebounds, five assists and four steals.
No. 1 Cosby 69, No. 7 Highland Springs 48
Andrea Bertrand scored 24 points (six rebounds, five steals) as No. 1 Cosby defeated No. 7 Highland Springs. Becca Wann added 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Jazmin Pitts added 13 rebounds and five steals. Kyra Coleman had 17 points for the Springers. COSBY 69, HIGHLAND SPRINGS 48
HIGHLAND SPRINGS (17-10)
February 23, 2009
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.
February 21, 2009
Atlee’s girls hang on to capture Capital title
Richelle Price’s confident play served as the bulwark that helped Atlee withstand a furious fourth-quarter comeback by Highland Springs and claim a 53-47 victory in the Capital District girls basketball championship at Hanover High School last night. The senior forward overcame a two-point third quarter, scoring seven points in the final eight minutes to give the Raiders the winning margin in a quarter in which they were outscored 17-9.
Spurts power Springers
Henrico, ignited by the sparkling play of Justin Coleman, put up a good fight against No. 1-seed Highland Springs in the Capital District championship game last night at Hanover High School. In the end, however, Highland Springs’ inside-outside combo of Jeri Mask and Xavier Parham delivered the heaviest blows as the Springers KO’d the Warriors 67-48 to secure their fifth consecutive tournament title.
February 19, 2009
Girls: Highland Springs 60, Hanover 47
Highland Springs’ Kyra Coleman had 11 points, 11 rebounds and eight steals and Jazzmine Dabney had 12 points and six rebounds as the Springers defeated Hanover in the Capital District semifinals. Dashawn Ross had seven rebounds and four blocks, as Highland Springs had 21 steals on the night. Highland Springs will play Atlee in the Capital District finals.
Highland Springs’ Reed never gave up
Highland Springs’ Sage Reed can elevate above the rim. If Sage Reed had quit basketball, nobody could have blamed him and hardly anyone would have noticed or cared. Consider his career assessment, grades 6-11:
February 18, 2009
Boys: Highland Springs 76, Armstrong 29
Jerry Mask scored 15 points, Natwan Young had 14, and top-seeded Highland Springs advanced to the district finals with a win over No. 5 Armstrong. Sage Reed kicked things off for the Springers, registering six rebounds, four blocks and four steals in the first quarter. Mask added six rebounds and four steals, and Xavier Parham recorded five assists and five steals. Quentin Christian led the Wildcats with 12 points.
February 17, 2009
Girls: No. 9 Highland Springs 76, Lee-Davis 26
Qunisha Cannon scored 16 points to go along with nine rebounds as the No. 9 Springers easily defeated Lee-Davis. Kyra Coleman contributed 13 points, 10 rebounds and four steals for Highland Springs. Trina Gardner led all scorers with 17 points for Lee-Davis.LEE-DAVIS (2-20) Barrier 0, Thomas 0, Bryan 4, Puller 0, Sims 0, T. Gardner 17, K. Gardner 4, Pac 1. Totals 8 8-22 26.
HIGHLAND SPRINGS (15-8)
February 13, 2009
Boys: No. 3 Highland Springs 74, Lee-Davis 39
Natwan Young scored 13 points and Xavier Parham notched 11 in Highland Springs’ Capital District victory over Lee-Davis. Jeri Mask registered seven of his 10 points in the second quarter for the Springers. Chris Cook led all scorers with 18 points to go along with three assists and three steals for Lee-Davis. HIGHLAND SPRINGS (12-0 Capital, 20-2)
Kyra Coleman
What she did: Coleman is the Capital District’s leading scorer, and the Springers needed every one of her points last week. After the Springers’ starters sat out a victory over Armstrong, she scored 21 points and had 11 rebounds and nine steals in a 78-77 nondistrict win over Meadowbrook. She produced 29 points (25 in the second half and overtime), 10 rebounds and seven steals in a victory over Hanover. Age: 16 Three words your friends would use to describe you: “Piece of work.“ Strengths: “Intensity, defense, scoring.“ Toughest opponent other than yourself: “My dad. We go at it.“ I’m working to improve: “Ballhandling; consistency on free throws.“ Favorite food: Captain Crunch cereal. Favorite candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Best sports memory: “Winning the state championship [AAU Xplosion] as a 10 year old. We were down eight points and won with less than 10 seconds remaining.“ Also on that team were Jazmin Pitts of Cosby and Alyssa Frye and Andrea Hobbs of Thomas Dale. Biggest challenge: “Staying in control of everything I do.“ If she had one wish: “To be four years older.“ Possession you can’t do without: “The NV2 [cell phone].“ What’s on your iPod: “Jay Z, Li’l Wayne, Beyonce.“ Facebook or MySpace: MySpace. One thing about you most people don’t know: “I sing in the shower.“ Top priority: “Becoming the best I can be for myself and my team.“
February 12, 2009
Springers take their time in victory
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.
February 11, 2009
Girls Feb. 6: Highland Springs 74, No. 9 Hanover 66
Kyra Coleman registered 29 points, and Highland Springs went 4 for 4 from the free throw line with 35 seconds remaining to seal a 74-66 overtime victory over Capital District rival Hanover last night. The Springers, down by 11 points with 4 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, received 25 points from Coleman in the second half and overtime. She also contributed 10 rebounds and seven steals.
