Petersburg, JM boys prepare for Group AAA quarterfinals

The Central Region basketball tournament championship games originally were scheduled to be played Monday. That meant Petersburg and John Marshall had either four or five days before play commenced in the Virginia High School League state tournament depending on which team won and lost.

Then it snowed.

The title games were played Wednesday night. Petersburg (29-0) won 68-58 and earned the right to play tonight against Northern Region runner-up Hayfield (21-7). Game time is 8:45 p.m. at the Siegel Center.

That meant one day of preparation instead of four.

Petersburg coach Bill Lawson III was OK with the situation.

"All season, most of our games were played on Wednesday and Friday," Lawson said. "So it fits in. I think the three days [off] was a much needed three days for us. We had a few guys who were bumped and sick, so it gave us a little time to rehab and get back on the right page."

John Marshall (25-4) has an extra day to correct the mistakes veteran coach Frank Threatts Jr. said the Justices made in the second half of the region loss. The Justices travel to Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax tomorrow for an 8 p.m. game against three-time Northern champion and reigning state champ T.C. Williams (27-2).

The Wave's perfect season has caught the fancy of the school, city and loyal fans.

"Like I've been telling the guys, they aren't just playing for themselves," Lawson said. "Anybody who has been in Petersburg or part of Petersburg wants us to win."

Petersburg got one of its best performances of the year from 6-9 center Cadarian Raines in the region final. The future Hokie scored 20 points, hauled in 16 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

One swat that everyone saw coming against JM guard Tahir Little drew an impish smile from Little. Raines isn't as vocal as some teammates.

"He leads by example," Lawson said. "When you see him putting in that effort, you want to reward him. He started the break three or four times. He just wanted to go out and play. He lets his game speak for itself."

Hayfield has been in the state tournament six times this decade. The Hawks were the state runner-up in 2000. The last time they were in the quarterfinals was 2005 when they lost to Central Region champion L.C. Bird and Tyrese Rice.

One of T.C. Williams' victims last year was Petersburg in the semifinals. The Titans went on to defeat Bethel, which knocked out JM in the semis, in the final.

Tickets for the JM-T.C. Williams matchup are on sale at the school today from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost $8. A charter bus will be leaving from John Marshall at 4 p.m. tomorrow and will return after the game. A game and bus ticket together is $20.

Contact Arthur Utley at (804) 649-6559 or .

Directions to Robinson Secondary in Fairfax: Take I-95 North to Occoquan North exit (Route 123). Travel several miles to Braddock Road. Turn right on Braddock. Go to the second light and turn right on Sideburn Road. The third left will be Robinson.