Chris Evans’ soaring dunk late in the first quarter brought the house down. Travis McKie’s thunder jam just before the first-half buzzer raised the roof. From the start of last night’s Central Region tournament final at the Siegel Center, Petersburg and John Marshall kept the overflow crowd estimated at 8,500 entertained and in the game.

Chris Evans’ soaring dunk late in the first quarter brought the house down. Travis McKie’s thunder jam just before the first-half buzzer raised the roof. From the start of Wednesday night’s Central Region tournament final at the Siegel Center, Petersburg and John Marshall kept the overflow crowd estimated at 8,500 entertained and in the game.

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.

Petersburg senior Drejon Scott Drejon Scott doesn’t wear a badge or read you your rights, but the Petersburg High School guard keeps people honest, nonetheless. With his faraway marksmanship, Scott makes it dicey for defenses to drape a collapsing blanket on the Crimson Wave’s bouncy skyline of 6-9 Cadarian Raines and 6-6 Chris Evans.

PETERSBURG - The Petersburg boys basketball team heard the talk that No. 5 Douglas Freeman was capable of eliminating the Wave from the ranks of the unbeaten and the Central Region tournament.

Watch scenes from the girls basketball game.

Cadarian Raines scored 20 points and Chris Evans 16 to lead the top-ranked Crimson Wave to a first-round victory over the visiting Rapids. Frank Mason contributed 12 points to the effort, all on 3-point shots. The Wave led 36-22 at halftime and built its lead to 23 points through three quarters. Grant Deichman paced the Rapids with 25 points.

BOYSW-LPrev.
1. Petersburg20-0No. 1
2. John Marshall18-3No. 5
3. Highland Springs18-2No. 3
4. Douglas Freeman17-3No. 2
5. Huguenot16-3No. 7
6. L.C. Bird17-2No. 4
7. Benedictine14-8No. 6
8. Meadowbrook13-6No. 10
9. Ches. Community14-4No. 9
10. Hopewell13-7No. 8
  GIRLSW-LPrev.
1. Cosby19-1No. 1

Coming through the regular-season and Central District tournament undefeated is a fine statistic for which the Petersburg Crimson Wave can be proud. The glowing 25-0 mark means nothing now. The Central Region boys basketball tournament starts tonight. “Everybody’s zero and zero,“ Petersburg coach Bill Lawson Jr. said. “If you lose now, you go home. We are working on the present and the future.“

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.

Cadarian Raines put up 21 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks as the top-ranked Crimson Wave slipped past Thomas Dale. Chris Evans had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Kevin Green scored 12 points for Petersburg. Malcolm King led the Knights with 20 points, followed by Myles Turner (13), Michael Simms (12) and Andrew White (10). THOMAS DALE (14-8)

Check out scenes from the girls basketbal game last night.

Jazmine Hatcher had 29 points and 12 rebounds and Chrystal Smith had 21 points and 11 assists as Meadowbrook defeated Petersburg in the Central District semifinal. Meadowbrook will play Thomas Dale in the final. Ashley Whitaker scored 31 points for Petersburg. NO. 2 MEADOWBROOK 81, NO. 3 PETERSBURG 59
PETERSBURG (13-8)

Ashley Whitaker recorded a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds in a Crimson Wave victory. Tiara France added 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 assists. COLONIAL HEIGHTS (5-16) Toombs 2, Akers 0, Wells 5, Sponsler 3, Tyler 2, Bauer 0, Thompson 9, Rowe 0. Totals 6 5-15 21.
PETERSBURG (13-7) A. Whitaker 19, Elder 8, Edmonds 5, Roscoe 3, France 15, Coleman 7, Harper 0, D. Whitaker 4. Totals 27 5-12 61.
Colonial Heights———————————— 3 8 5 5—21
Petersburg————————————- 22 8 20 11—61