Sterling, Va. — Once you enter region playoff territory, most teams are pretty battle tested, and this winter, that might be most true about the Potomac Falls High School boys basketball team. Battling to the top of the grueling Potomac District, the Panthers won close game after close game—including a 1-point win over Stone Bridge in the district championship game—to prepare themselves for the region tournament. Despite entering the region tournament with an average margin of victory of just +1.75 against district opponents, the Panthers absolutely dominated the North Stafford Wolverines, 62-18, in a VHSL Region 5D quarterfinal on February…

Leesburg, Va. — After trailing for most of the night, the Loudoun Valley High School basketball team found themselves in a tie game with less than 90 seconds to play and the Dulles District championship on the line. Like they had done early in the game, the Vikings were completely content slowing down their offense—and without a shot clock—were ready to hold for the last shot. That was until, with about a minute left, Loudoun Valley sophomore shooting guard Jayden Johnson looked to the bench where his coach recognized an opportunity for an easy bucket. Johnson—who was being face guarded…

Purcellville, Va. — Heading into halftime of their Dulles District semifinal, the Loudoun Valley High School girls basketball team found themselves in a rather unfamiliar position: trailing the Tuscarora Huskies, 31-17. Despite the double-digit halftime deficit, the Vikings never wavered and brought a renewed energy into the second half as they meticulously carved into the Huskies’ lead before eventually taking a lead of their own early in the fourth quarter. Led by senior guards Jane Bodamer and Alison Pike and senior forward Ally Cassell, the No. 2 Vikings put together a brilliant second half effort to escape the No. 3…

Leesburg, Va. — Led by a versatile front court and athletic guards, the Riverside High School boys basketball team has placed an emphasis on rebounding and defense all season long. Starting forwards Jaden Frazier, Cameron Koscinski, and Jamie Ntiamoah combined for 17 rebounds—almost as many as the entire Briar Woods team—while the Rams forced 13 turnovers in their 71-62 win over the Falcons in a Potomac District quarterfinal on February 14 in Leesburg. “We get the ball, they get the ball, and we kind of alternate unless we create other opportunities. You can do that with the press or on…

Ashburn, Va. — As the reigning Class 5 State champs, you want to defend your house. And entering their regular season finale, the Stone Bridge High School boys basketball team had done a good job of that, dropping just one home game all season. But that task becomes much more challenging when you host a well-coached, disciplined basketball team that had already clinched the No. 1 seed in the district. Despite trailing after the third quarter, the Bulldogs were up for the challenge as they opened the fourth on a 19-5 run to knock off Potomac Falls, 68-62, on February…

Ashburn, Va. — Weathering one run can be hard enough and weathering two is daunting at best, but the Stone Bridge High School girls basketball team was up for the challenge. After opening the game up 6-0, the Bulldogs hit a rut offensively as rival Briar Woods went on a 14-2 run to close the first quarter and open the second. Stone Bridge battled through that run to take a 27-18 lead into the half. Then, heading into the fourth quarter with a 44-30 lead, the Bulldogs once again hit a brick wall offensively as the Falcons cut the lead…