Purcellville, Va. — The offensive game plan was simple: pound the ball into freshman phenom Louis Volker, and let her do her thing. It was a scheme executed to perfection by the Loudoun Valley High School girls basketball team in the second half of the Dulles District championship game on February 21 in Purcellville. It was a game in which both teams battled early and consistent foul trouble. A game in which Volker dominated, dropping 28 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. A game in which the Vikings remained undefeated, claiming the Dulles District tournament title, 63-57, over the Huskies. “Louis…

Loudoun County, Va. — The district tournaments are settled and the VHSL region tournaments are underway. Eight Loudoun teams are still standing on the girls side, and a few of those teams have continued to stand out from the crowd, while several others are potential contenders. Each week, Varun Shankar and I will be alternating releasing our girls and boys basketball rankings. In a three-district county, we wanted a way to put things into perspective. Enter: the LoCo Top 5. Of course, if you’re into hard numbers, check out the full Cedar Run District, Potomac District, and Dulles District standings. [adrotate banner=”39″] [adrotate…

Sterling, Va. — Both teams circled this game on their calendars. For Park View, it was a night to honor their seniors. A game within their grasp against a first-year school. For Independence, it was a late season game in enemy territory. A game within their grasp against a Dulles District foe. After trailing by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, the first-year Tigers used a 12-2 run to open the fourth quarter to rally past the Patriots, 57-50, on February 11 in Sterling. “I thought this game on the road on their senior night was the…

Ashburn, Va. — Early in the fourth quarter, Rock Ridge High School junior guard Nico Martirossian drilled a three-pointer to give the Phoenix a 51-50 lead. From there, it was all Stone Bridge. Backed by double-digit scoring performances by four of their seniors, the Bulldogs went on a 13-1 run after surrendering the lead early in the fourth before eventually holding off the Phoenix, 69-56, on February 10 in Ashburn. “All our seniors have contributed either on or off the court. We have a lot of experience in Healy, Rhodes, and Jerome. They’re just unbelievable,” Stone Bridge head coach Kent…

Leesburg, Va. — You don’t see many 6-foot-3, 180-pound guards in Loudoun County. In fact, most teams in Loudoun would kill to have a big man at that size. That’s what the Heritage High School boys basketball team has in their chief playmaker, junior Max Jannes. And Jannes put his full scoring arsenal on display as the Pride defeated the Broad Run Spartans, 57-49, in a Dulles District matchup on February 6. “He’s been a floor general and a leader, and he steps up in big games,” Heritage head coach William Hatchett said. “He keeps the guys focused, and when…

Leesburg, Va. — Trailing by as many as 10, the Loudoun County High School boys basketball team never batted an eye. Just five days removed from a, 54-46, win over Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, the Raiders hosted the Vikings in a rematch of the top two teams in the Dulles District. After a slow offensive start, Loudoun County started to find its rhythm in the third quarter, going on a 23-9 run, before holding off Loudoun Valley, 54-45, on February 5 in Leesburg. “It’s a great rivalry. The atmosphere was good both times we played them, and I…