*** Follow 2021-22 VHSL Playoff Brackets Here
*** 2022 VHSL State Championship Schedule with NFHS Network Broadcast Links
We are set for State Championship Saturday in the 2022 VHSL Basketball Tournament. Before we get to our Predictions and Keys to Victory for the Class 1 and Class 2 matchups for the ladies and fellas, let's review how are prognostications are doing so far...
Hatfield's Friday State Finals Picks: 4-0 (100%)
Hatfield's State Tourney Picks: 7-1 (87.5%)
Hatfield's 2022 Boys State Tournament Total: 32-8 (80%), including 2-0 in Friday's State Finals
Hatfield's 2022 Girls State Tournament Total: 30-10 (75%), including 2-0 in Thursday's State Finals
Hatfield's 2022 Region Playoff Total: 156-45 (77.6%)
Hatfield's 2021 Region Playoff Record: 109-24 (82%)
Hatfield's 2020 Postseason Record: 207-60 (77.5%)
Hatfield's 2019 Region Playoff Record: 139-56 (71.3%)
Hatfield’s 2021 State Playoff Record: 12-6 (67%)
Hatfield’s 2021 State Finals Record: 3-3 (50%)
Hatfield’s 2021 State Semis Record: 9-3 (75%)
Saturday, March 12, 2022 at VCU:
Session 1:
11 a.m. - Group 2 Girls Finals - Central-Wise (25-5) vs. Luray (27-2)
Watch on NFHS Network Here
Central-Wise Keys:
#1 - Highlight McAmis: The 5-foot-6 freshman guard is averaging 21.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game for a reason. She's a major component to this squad already and they want her to orchestrate the attack early and often.
#2 - Stay in the Paint: Don't settle for ill-advised, low-percentage outside shots because that will play into Luray's hands. Keeping the Bulldogs out of the transition is important, and to do that, Wise has to be wise and play inside-out in a lower possession half-court game.
#3 - Key in on Weakley: It's no secret that Luray has gotten this far in large part because of the wonderous talents of senior guard Emilee Weakley, who poured in 33 of her team's 64 points in the 18-point triumph over John Marshall in the State Semis. To go with that, she also pumped in 36 points on Clarke County in the Region 2B Final. If one player can take Wise down, she's the one.
Luray Keys:
#1 - Fast Start: It was evident from the very jump in the State Semis against John Marshall what Luray wanted to do. A 21-4 opening quarter burst enabled them to not look back and cruise. Getting off to a similar scintillating start on Central-Wise will be a tall task. Nonetheless, for a program making its third consecutive trip to the State Final and having won it in 2021 as they ride a 19-game winning streak into this game, they will lean on their experience heavily.
#2 - Find Complementary Scoring: As great as Weakley is, she is only human. Furthermore, she probably is going to need some scoring help to take down a Central-Wise program that is no stranger in the big games under the bright lights. Legendary Coach Robin Dotson's Warriors have won five state titles since 2014 and are going for their sixth crown in nine years. Keep an eye on point guard Averie Alger and junior forward Jaidyn McClung
#3 - Run & Gun: To prevail, it's certainly a priority to win the fast-break points category for Luray. The faster the pace, the better they generally are. Yet, Central can keep up and plays a tougher brand of defense than some of the opponents that Luray has faced, evident by holding Alleghany to 41 in the quarterfinals and Gate City - a Class 2 State Champ as recent as 2020 before the pandemic shut the sports world down - to a mere 35. Wise also put up 69 on Marion in its regional semifinal and 70 vs. Graham in the regional quarters.
Hat's Pick: Central-Wise 58-57
1:00 p.m. - Group 2 Boys Final – Radford (20-4) vs. John Marshall (21-5)
Watch on NFHS Network Here
Radford Keys:
#1 - Weather the Storm: John Marshall forced Greensville into 27 turnovers in the previous round, including 18 in the first half. The game was basically over before you blinked with the Justices leading 43-18 by intermission. Four players scored in double-figures for John Marshall, led by Steven Stinson’s 20. In addition to Damon ‘Redd’ Thompson, Reginald Robertson and Dennis Parker Jr. hitting in double-digits, Kashawn Cordes chipped in nine.
#2 - Stay Connected Defensively: There’s no denying that the reason Radford has won six state titles under Rick Cormany and 750 games (trailing only Hopewell’s Bill Littlepage at 755 wins and R.E. Lee-Staunton’s Paul Hatcher with 897 victories in VHSL history) is because they play really tough man-to-man defense. Five players - Gavin Cormany, Elijah Kelly, Joseph Mitchell, Nate Wesley and Landen Clark - have 19 or more steals on the year. Now, doing that against an outfit as athletic, tall and talented as John Marshall? That will be a different kind of challenge for the Bobcats, who give up 47.5 PPG and hold opponents below 11 points per game in the opening period.
#3 - Eliminate Highlight Reel Plays: That means dunks and 3’s that John Marshall thrives off of, especially Parker, one of the nation’s top recruits in the Class of 2023. If his motor gets going in the open court early in this one, it’ll be reminiscent to what Isaiah Todd and company did to Western Albemarle a few years back in the Class 3 Final that turned into a mismatch. Radford has to approach this the way that NC State did with that Phi Slamma Jama Houston team in the 1980’s - - take away the dunks and lobs.
John Marshall Keys:
#1 - Deliver the Early Knockout Punch: Their late-season loss to Class 6 unbeaten Hayfield aside, John Marshall has looked as good as pretty much any public school program in Virginia this season, particularly down the stretch. In their last eight wins, the Justices have prevailed by an average of 34.3 points per game.
#2 - Dominate the Boards: There's not only a distinct athleticism advantage, but size-wise, too, for the Justices out of Richmond. Use it frequently and pound the backboards to punish the smaller Bobcats and wear them down quickly. Roles are pretty defined with the athletic swing mismatch in Parker, Cordes can slash, Thompson is able to distribute as well as connect from the outside, and Robertson is the catch-and-shoot zone buster from the perimeter. In this game, Stinson can't be forgotten about as he can easily hit for 18 points and 12 boards.
#3 - Get Everyone Involved: As always is the case, John Marshall is at its best when the ball is hopping, everyone gets to touch it and get involved offensively. They have enough weapons to finish this game with five or six players scoring at least a dozen points. Parker is certainly the catalyst, but Stinson is having a strong postseason, and Thompson has settled in as the varsity point guard in his sophomore year. Stay unselfish and committed to playing with teamwork.
Hat's Pick: John Marshall 70-56
Session 2:
4:30 p.m. – Group 1 Girls Final – Honaker (26-3) vs. Buffalo Gap (16-11)
Watch on NFHS Network Here
Honaker Keys:
#1 - Steals = Buckets: On the year, Honaker averages 17.1 steals per contest.
#2 - Cash in on Free-Throws:
#3 - Ball Movement:
Buffalo Gap Keys:
#1 - Minimize Live Ball Turnovers:
#2 - Avoid Scoring Drought: In their Region 1B Championship loss to Rappahannock County by a count of 38-30, the Bison did not score in the third quarter. They cannot have a similar drought against this Honaker team because the margin will get out of hand quickly.
#3 - Go Through Bradley & Sherrill: With First Team All-Region performer Bailey Talley (14 PPG, 5 APG) because of an injury that she sustained against West Point in the State Tournament quarterfinals, that puts more on the shoulders of sophomore Avery Bradley and senior Leah Sherrill, a combo that produces 17 points per outing. Sure, Paige Fix and Ava Cline can do damage as seen in the 40-26 win over Rappahannock County in the State Semis. In this spot though, Bradley and Sherrill will be essential to keeping this competitive.
Hat’s Pick: Honaker 58-36
6:30 p.m. – Group 1 Boys Final – Auburn (21-8) vs. Washington & Lee (17-7)
Watch on NFHS Network Here
Auburn Keys:
#1 - Keep W&L Off the Offensive Glass:
#2 - Dial it Up From 3: As a group, Auburn has connected on 172 three-pointers this season. That’s certainly more than their opponent from the Northern Neck, and that ability to stretch the defense out with the three-point shot, led by brothers Ethan and Nick Millirons, could be the difference in a tight ballgame. Even on a big college floor, it’s no time to shy away from what got Auburn here in the first place.
#3 - Finish Strong: Ethan Millirons has been dreaming for this opportunity, as have plenty of his teammates, since the State Championship game of 2020 with Mathews was canceled while they were in the arena because of the Governor declaring a State of Emergency because of COVID-19. Ethan has 1777 points and 411 assists in his career, entering the State Tournament, for a reason. He’s one of the best playmakers in the state, and closing out with that purpose of getting a ring, undisputed or unshared, has to remain in the forefront of their minds.
Washington & Lee Keys:
#1 - Hammer the Boards: The main guy who will key this effort is Brandon Washington (21 PPG, 12 RPG), a First Team All-Region 1A selection alongside Vaughn Harris (15.5 PPG in State Playoffs).
#2 - Disrupt Ethan: There’s no debating who Auburn’s go-to guy is and that’s Ethan Millirons, who comes in averaging 21.5 points per game with 69 made 3’s. If W&L makes someone else beat them by getting him out of his comfort zone early, that’ll do wonders for their hopes of knocking off this Auburn team. In many ways, he’s the head of the snake they have to cut off, or at the very least, contain and force him to make difficult shots, which he’s capable of doing.
#3 - Stay Loose: Washington & Lee’s last two foes, Lancaster and Altavista, shot free-throws poorly. Part of it could’ve been they got tight down the stretch, whereas the Eagles were loosey-goosey or relaxed. That’s the only way to explain how they went from losing by 32 to Lancaster in the Region 1A Finals to beating the Red Devils on their home floor.
Hat’s Pick: Auburn 64-49
*** 2022 VHSL State Championship Schedule with NFHS Network Broadcast Links
We are set for State Championship Saturday in the 2022 VHSL Basketball Tournament. Before we get to our Predictions and Keys to Victory for the Class 1 and Class 2 matchups for the ladies and fellas, let's review how are prognostications are doing so far...
Hatfield's Friday State Finals Picks: 4-0 (100%)
Hatfield's State Tourney Picks: 7-1 (87.5%)
Hatfield's 2022 Boys State Tournament Total: 32-8 (80%), including 2-0 in Friday's State Finals
Hatfield's 2022 Girls State Tournament Total: 30-10 (75%), including 2-0 in Thursday's State Finals
Hatfield's 2022 Region Playoff Total: 156-45 (77.6%)
Hatfield's 2021 Region Playoff Record: 109-24 (82%)
Hatfield's 2020 Postseason Record: 207-60 (77.5%)
Hatfield's 2019 Region Playoff Record: 139-56 (71.3%)
Hatfield’s 2021 State Playoff Record: 12-6 (67%)
Hatfield’s 2021 State Finals Record: 3-3 (50%)
Hatfield’s 2021 State Semis Record: 9-3 (75%)
Saturday, March 12, 2022 at VCU:
Session 1:
11 a.m. - Group 2 Girls Finals - Central-Wise (25-5) vs. Luray (27-2)
Watch on NFHS Network Here
Central-Wise Keys:
#1 - Highlight McAmis: The 5-foot-6 freshman guard is averaging 21.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals per game for a reason. She's a major component to this squad already and they want her to orchestrate the attack early and often.
#2 - Stay in the Paint: Don't settle for ill-advised, low-percentage outside shots because that will play into Luray's hands. Keeping the Bulldogs out of the transition is important, and to do that, Wise has to be wise and play inside-out in a lower possession half-court game.
#3 - Key in on Weakley: It's no secret that Luray has gotten this far in large part because of the wonderous talents of senior guard Emilee Weakley, who poured in 33 of her team's 64 points in the 18-point triumph over John Marshall in the State Semis. To go with that, she also pumped in 36 points on Clarke County in the Region 2B Final. If one player can take Wise down, she's the one.
Luray Keys:
#1 - Fast Start: It was evident from the very jump in the State Semis against John Marshall what Luray wanted to do. A 21-4 opening quarter burst enabled them to not look back and cruise. Getting off to a similar scintillating start on Central-Wise will be a tall task. Nonetheless, for a program making its third consecutive trip to the State Final and having won it in 2021 as they ride a 19-game winning streak into this game, they will lean on their experience heavily.
#2 - Find Complementary Scoring: As great as Weakley is, she is only human. Furthermore, she probably is going to need some scoring help to take down a Central-Wise program that is no stranger in the big games under the bright lights. Legendary Coach Robin Dotson's Warriors have won five state titles since 2014 and are going for their sixth crown in nine years. Keep an eye on point guard Averie Alger and junior forward Jaidyn McClung
#3 - Run & Gun: To prevail, it's certainly a priority to win the fast-break points category for Luray. The faster the pace, the better they generally are. Yet, Central can keep up and plays a tougher brand of defense than some of the opponents that Luray has faced, evident by holding Alleghany to 41 in the quarterfinals and Gate City - a Class 2 State Champ as recent as 2020 before the pandemic shut the sports world down - to a mere 35. Wise also put up 69 on Marion in its regional semifinal and 70 vs. Graham in the regional quarters.
Hat's Pick: Central-Wise 58-57
1:00 p.m. - Group 2 Boys Final – Radford (20-4) vs. John Marshall (21-5)
Watch on NFHS Network Here
Radford Keys:
#1 - Weather the Storm: John Marshall forced Greensville into 27 turnovers in the previous round, including 18 in the first half. The game was basically over before you blinked with the Justices leading 43-18 by intermission. Four players scored in double-figures for John Marshall, led by Steven Stinson’s 20. In addition to Damon ‘Redd’ Thompson, Reginald Robertson and Dennis Parker Jr. hitting in double-digits, Kashawn Cordes chipped in nine.
#2 - Stay Connected Defensively: There’s no denying that the reason Radford has won six state titles under Rick Cormany and 750 games (trailing only Hopewell’s Bill Littlepage at 755 wins and R.E. Lee-Staunton’s Paul Hatcher with 897 victories in VHSL history) is because they play really tough man-to-man defense. Five players - Gavin Cormany, Elijah Kelly, Joseph Mitchell, Nate Wesley and Landen Clark - have 19 or more steals on the year. Now, doing that against an outfit as athletic, tall and talented as John Marshall? That will be a different kind of challenge for the Bobcats, who give up 47.5 PPG and hold opponents below 11 points per game in the opening period.
#3 - Eliminate Highlight Reel Plays: That means dunks and 3’s that John Marshall thrives off of, especially Parker, one of the nation’s top recruits in the Class of 2023. If his motor gets going in the open court early in this one, it’ll be reminiscent to what Isaiah Todd and company did to Western Albemarle a few years back in the Class 3 Final that turned into a mismatch. Radford has to approach this the way that NC State did with that Phi Slamma Jama Houston team in the 1980’s - - take away the dunks and lobs.
John Marshall Keys:
#1 - Deliver the Early Knockout Punch: Their late-season loss to Class 6 unbeaten Hayfield aside, John Marshall has looked as good as pretty much any public school program in Virginia this season, particularly down the stretch. In their last eight wins, the Justices have prevailed by an average of 34.3 points per game.
#2 - Dominate the Boards: There's not only a distinct athleticism advantage, but size-wise, too, for the Justices out of Richmond. Use it frequently and pound the backboards to punish the smaller Bobcats and wear them down quickly. Roles are pretty defined with the athletic swing mismatch in Parker, Cordes can slash, Thompson is able to distribute as well as connect from the outside, and Robertson is the catch-and-shoot zone buster from the perimeter. In this game, Stinson can't be forgotten about as he can easily hit for 18 points and 12 boards.
#3 - Get Everyone Involved: As always is the case, John Marshall is at its best when the ball is hopping, everyone gets to touch it and get involved offensively. They have enough weapons to finish this game with five or six players scoring at least a dozen points. Parker is certainly the catalyst, but Stinson is having a strong postseason, and Thompson has settled in as the varsity point guard in his sophomore year. Stay unselfish and committed to playing with teamwork.
Hat's Pick: John Marshall 70-56
Session 2:
4:30 p.m. – Group 1 Girls Final – Honaker (26-3) vs. Buffalo Gap (16-11)
Watch on NFHS Network Here
Honaker Keys:
#1 - Steals = Buckets: On the year, Honaker averages 17.1 steals per contest.
#2 - Cash in on Free-Throws:
#3 - Ball Movement:
Buffalo Gap Keys:
#1 - Minimize Live Ball Turnovers:
#2 - Avoid Scoring Drought: In their Region 1B Championship loss to Rappahannock County by a count of 38-30, the Bison did not score in the third quarter. They cannot have a similar drought against this Honaker team because the margin will get out of hand quickly.
#3 - Go Through Bradley & Sherrill: With First Team All-Region performer Bailey Talley (14 PPG, 5 APG) because of an injury that she sustained against West Point in the State Tournament quarterfinals, that puts more on the shoulders of sophomore Avery Bradley and senior Leah Sherrill, a combo that produces 17 points per outing. Sure, Paige Fix and Ava Cline can do damage as seen in the 40-26 win over Rappahannock County in the State Semis. In this spot though, Bradley and Sherrill will be essential to keeping this competitive.
Hat’s Pick: Honaker 58-36
6:30 p.m. – Group 1 Boys Final – Auburn (21-8) vs. Washington & Lee (17-7)
Watch on NFHS Network Here
Auburn Keys:
#1 - Keep W&L Off the Offensive Glass:
#2 - Dial it Up From 3: As a group, Auburn has connected on 172 three-pointers this season. That’s certainly more than their opponent from the Northern Neck, and that ability to stretch the defense out with the three-point shot, led by brothers Ethan and Nick Millirons, could be the difference in a tight ballgame. Even on a big college floor, it’s no time to shy away from what got Auburn here in the first place.
#3 - Finish Strong: Ethan Millirons has been dreaming for this opportunity, as have plenty of his teammates, since the State Championship game of 2020 with Mathews was canceled while they were in the arena because of the Governor declaring a State of Emergency because of COVID-19. Ethan has 1777 points and 411 assists in his career, entering the State Tournament, for a reason. He’s one of the best playmakers in the state, and closing out with that purpose of getting a ring, undisputed or unshared, has to remain in the forefront of their minds.
Washington & Lee Keys:
#1 - Hammer the Boards: The main guy who will key this effort is Brandon Washington (21 PPG, 12 RPG), a First Team All-Region 1A selection alongside Vaughn Harris (15.5 PPG in State Playoffs).
#2 - Disrupt Ethan: There’s no debating who Auburn’s go-to guy is and that’s Ethan Millirons, who comes in averaging 21.5 points per game with 69 made 3’s. If W&L makes someone else beat them by getting him out of his comfort zone early, that’ll do wonders for their hopes of knocking off this Auburn team. In many ways, he’s the head of the snake they have to cut off, or at the very least, contain and force him to make difficult shots, which he’s capable of doing.
#3 - Stay Loose: Washington & Lee’s last two foes, Lancaster and Altavista, shot free-throws poorly. Part of it could’ve been they got tight down the stretch, whereas the Eagles were loosey-goosey or relaxed. That’s the only way to explain how they went from losing by 32 to Lancaster in the Region 1A Finals to beating the Red Devils on their home floor.
Hat’s Pick: Auburn 64-49
