The Madness really is starting to begin after Wednesday, particularly down in the always talent-rich Tidewater area. There were three results that really stuck out to us, two of which we predicted, but the way all three played out were a bit surprising to an extent.
Landstown took down Oscar Smith for the fourth time in the playoffs under Head Coach Dwight Robinson. The defending State Champs winning was no shock, but putting up 81 on the board - with 31 from sophomore Donald Hand Jr. and his seven makes from deep along with 13 assists from Kaleb Peterson - in a double-digit victory on the road certainly is a great win.
Maury, the defending Class 5 State Champ, could not advance to the Norfolk Scope for the Region 5A semifinals. That's because Princess Anne, the sixth-seed out of Virginia Beach, is now making noise on the boys side to go with the dynasty the girls have (they've won six state titles in a row in girls and 10 total). Coach Corey Coffer led the Cavs to their first region playoff win since 1999 to set up a Friday date with Green Run, who they split regular season meetings against.
Then there's the dramatic ending that happened at Smithfield High School in front of an overflow crowd. A matchup that pitted two squads that have basically been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state in Class 4 all season ended with a buzzer-beater from Bulldogs junior forward Quentin Livingston. The fact that it wasn't the Southeastern District Player of the Year Jayden Epps - who puts up more than 27 points a game and dished it to Livingston for a 3 - to break the Monarchs hearts has everyone talking all over the state. At 20-4, Menchville is done. The 21-3 Bulldogs move on to face Woodrow Wilson.
Oh by the way, Wilson is one of the teams this postseason along with Huguenot, Lakeland and John Marshall in the previous round to score more than 100 points in a playoff game. The Presidents are making their first State Tournament appearance in 55 years.
Let's review how we did on Wednesday with the Picks and get to Thursday's games...
6A = 3-1 (missed on Landstown/Oscar Smith)
5A = 2-0
4A = 2-0
4B = 4-0
3A = 1-3 (missed on winners Hopewell, Phoebus & Petersburg)
2A = 1-1 (missed on Brunswick/Greensville)
1A = 2-0
Wednesday's Record: 15-5 (.750)
Total Record thru Wed. Feb. 26, 2020: 114-24 (.826)
Region 6D: Semifinals
#4 Washington-Liberty (15-10) at #2 Wakefield (17-9)
Hat's Pick - Wakefield
#2 Madison (17-7) at #1 Centreville (18-6)
Hat's Pick - Centreville
Revised Region Tourney Final Pick: Centreville over Wakefield
Region 5C: Semifinals
#5 Stone Bridge (15-6) at #1 Potomac Falls (17-6)
Hat's Pick - Potomac Falls
#6 Riverside (14-9) at #2 Freedom-South Riding (15-8)
Hat's Pick - Freedom-South Riding
Region Tourney Final Pick: Freedom-South Riding over Potomac Falls
Region 4C: Championship
#2 Millbrook (20-6) at #1 Loudoun County (20-5)
Hat's Pick - Loudoun County
Region 3B: Semifinals
#4 Skyline at #1 Central-Woodstock
Hat's Pick - Central-Woodstock
#10 Manassas Park at #6 Armstrong
Hat's Pick - Armstrong
Region Tourney Final Pick: Armstrong over Central-Woodstock
Region 3D: Semifinals
#4 Lord Botetourt (14-11) vs. #1 Cave Spring (23-2) [at Hidden Valley]
Hat's Pick - Cave Spring
#6 Abingdon at #2 Northside (18-7)
Hat's Pick - Northside
Region Tourney Final Pick: Cave Spring over Northside
Region 2D: Semifinals at UVA-Wise
#1 Graham (17-6) vs. #2 Central-Wise (19-7)
Hat's Pick - Graham
#1 Gate City (20-5) vs. #3 Union (17-4)
Hat's Pick - Gate City
Region Tourney Final Pick: Gate City over Graham
Region 1B: Semifinals
#4 Carver Academy (11-14) at #1 Riverheads (12-8)
Hat's Pick - Riverheads
#3 Cumberland (9-10) at #2 Sussex Central (11-9)
Hat's Pick - Cumberland
Region Tourney Final Pick: Riverheads over Cumberland
Region 1D: Semifinals at Southwest Virginia Community College
Black Diamond #1 Grundy (21-2) vs. Cumberland #2 Twin Springs (17-9)
Hat's Pick - Grundy
Hogo #1 Northwood (19-7) vs. Cumberland #1 Eastside (16-9)
Hat's Pick - Eastside
Region Tourney Final Pick: Eastside over Grundy
Landstown took down Oscar Smith for the fourth time in the playoffs under Head Coach Dwight Robinson. The defending State Champs winning was no shock, but putting up 81 on the board - with 31 from sophomore Donald Hand Jr. and his seven makes from deep along with 13 assists from Kaleb Peterson - in a double-digit victory on the road certainly is a great win.
Maury, the defending Class 5 State Champ, could not advance to the Norfolk Scope for the Region 5A semifinals. That's because Princess Anne, the sixth-seed out of Virginia Beach, is now making noise on the boys side to go with the dynasty the girls have (they've won six state titles in a row in girls and 10 total). Coach Corey Coffer led the Cavs to their first region playoff win since 1999 to set up a Friday date with Green Run, who they split regular season meetings against.
Then there's the dramatic ending that happened at Smithfield High School in front of an overflow crowd. A matchup that pitted two squads that have basically been ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state in Class 4 all season ended with a buzzer-beater from Bulldogs junior forward Quentin Livingston. The fact that it wasn't the Southeastern District Player of the Year Jayden Epps - who puts up more than 27 points a game and dished it to Livingston for a 3 - to break the Monarchs hearts has everyone talking all over the state. At 20-4, Menchville is done. The 21-3 Bulldogs move on to face Woodrow Wilson.
Oh by the way, Wilson is one of the teams this postseason along with Huguenot, Lakeland and John Marshall in the previous round to score more than 100 points in a playoff game. The Presidents are making their first State Tournament appearance in 55 years.
Let's review how we did on Wednesday with the Picks and get to Thursday's games...
6A = 3-1 (missed on Landstown/Oscar Smith)
5A = 2-0
4A = 2-0
4B = 4-0
3A = 1-3 (missed on winners Hopewell, Phoebus & Petersburg)
2A = 1-1 (missed on Brunswick/Greensville)
1A = 2-0
Wednesday's Record: 15-5 (.750)
Total Record thru Wed. Feb. 26, 2020: 114-24 (.826)
Region 6D: Semifinals
#4 Washington-Liberty (15-10) at #2 Wakefield (17-9)
Hat's Pick - Wakefield
#2 Madison (17-7) at #1 Centreville (18-6)
Hat's Pick - Centreville
Revised Region Tourney Final Pick: Centreville over Wakefield
Region 5C: Semifinals
#5 Stone Bridge (15-6) at #1 Potomac Falls (17-6)
Hat's Pick - Potomac Falls
#6 Riverside (14-9) at #2 Freedom-South Riding (15-8)
Hat's Pick - Freedom-South Riding
Region Tourney Final Pick: Freedom-South Riding over Potomac Falls
Region 4C: Championship
#2 Millbrook (20-6) at #1 Loudoun County (20-5)
Hat's Pick - Loudoun County
Region 3B: Semifinals
#4 Skyline at #1 Central-Woodstock
Hat's Pick - Central-Woodstock
#10 Manassas Park at #6 Armstrong
Hat's Pick - Armstrong
Region Tourney Final Pick: Armstrong over Central-Woodstock
Region 3D: Semifinals
#4 Lord Botetourt (14-11) vs. #1 Cave Spring (23-2) [at Hidden Valley]
Hat's Pick - Cave Spring
#6 Abingdon at #2 Northside (18-7)
Hat's Pick - Northside
Region Tourney Final Pick: Cave Spring over Northside
Region 2D: Semifinals at UVA-Wise
#1 Graham (17-6) vs. #2 Central-Wise (19-7)
Hat's Pick - Graham
#1 Gate City (20-5) vs. #3 Union (17-4)
Hat's Pick - Gate City
Region Tourney Final Pick: Gate City over Graham
Region 1B: Semifinals
#4 Carver Academy (11-14) at #1 Riverheads (12-8)
Hat's Pick - Riverheads
#3 Cumberland (9-10) at #2 Sussex Central (11-9)
Hat's Pick - Cumberland
Region Tourney Final Pick: Riverheads over Cumberland
Region 1D: Semifinals at Southwest Virginia Community College
Black Diamond #1 Grundy (21-2) vs. Cumberland #2 Twin Springs (17-9)
Hat's Pick - Grundy
Hogo #1 Northwood (19-7) vs. Cumberland #1 Eastside (16-9)
Hat's Pick - Eastside
Region Tourney Final Pick: Eastside over Grundy
