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The State Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday saw three buzzer-beaters with Ethan Powers hitting a three-pointer to force overtime in Eastside's comeback win over Auburn, while Monte Pope of Surry had a circus shot as time expired to break a tie against Riverheads. Maybe the most improbable came in Cave Spring's win over Spotswood, where the Knights trailed by three, got fouled on a three-pointer, hit the first two free-throws, missed the last one, but got the offensive rebound and found junior guard Jalen Buster, whose final shot at the horn bounced around the rim and through for an unforgettable victory.
Of the 48 games played, just two went to overtime. Besides Eastside/Auburn, the other extra session game involved GW-Danville rallying to eliminate Riverside.
Five of the six defending State Champions on the boys side remain and likewise for the ladies as only last year's Class 1 Boys State Champ Lancaster and the 2018 Girls Class 4 State Champ in Millbrook are out of contention for a repeat.
Of the 24 State Tournament semifinal matchups across Virginia on Monday or Tuesday, a total of 14 - 7 each on the boys side and girls side - are re-matches from the regional title games. To me, that's another reason why it would be best if the VHSL moving forward - starting in 2020 - put those squads on opposite sides of the bracket, so they wouldn't meet again until the State Final if they are able to make it that far. It would make for more compelling matchups at all three rounds of the State Playoffs.
Nevertheless, we have what we have and let's forecast what will happen as 24 schools - 12 on each side - look to take that step to the State Championship game later this week at VCU's Siegel Center in Richmond...
Class 6 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Landstown (23-3) vs. Region A #2 Oscar Smith (24-2) - at Kellam
Hat's Pick - Landstown 60-57
Region C #1 Lake Braddock (25-3) vs. Region C #2 South County (20-7) - at Robinson
Hat's Pick - Lake Braddock 87-81
State Final Pick: Landstown over Lake Braddock
Class 5 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Maury (26-3) vs. Region B #1 Varina (24-1) - at Norview
Hat's Pick - Varina 58-56
Region C #1 Potomac Falls (27-1) vs. Region C #2 Freedom-South Riding (18-11) - at Rock Ridge
Hat's Pick - Potomac Falls 70-61
State Final Pick: Varina over Potomac Falls
Class 4 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Lake Taylor (12-15) vs. Region B #1 Louisa (25-4) - at Churchland
Hat's Pick - Louisa 76-69
Region D #2 GW-Danville (25-2) vs. Region D #1 Jefferson Forest (25-4) - at Univ. of Lynchburg
Hat's Pick - GW-Danville 65-64
State Final Pick: Louisa over GW-Danville
Class 3 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Phoebus (24-2) vs. Region B #1 John Marshall (21-4) - at Heritage
Hat's Pick - John Marshall 79-77 in 2OT's
Region D #2 Cave Spring (22-6) vs. Region D #1 Northside (26-1) - at Roanoke College
Hat's Pick - Northside 83-66
State Final Pick: Northside over John Marshall in OT
Class 2 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Goochland (23-3) vs. Region B #1 East Rockingham (25-3) - at Mills Godwin
Hat's Pick - East Rockingham 71-61
Region C #1 Radford (28-0) vs. Region D #1 Gate City (25-3) - at Pulaski County
Hat's Pick - Radford 69-64
State Final Pick: Radford over East Rockingham
Class 1 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Surry (27-2) vs. Region A #2 Rappahannock (21-6) - at Sussex Central
Hat's Pick - Surry 53-49
Region D #2 Eastside (25-4) vs. Region D #1 J.I. Burton (22-7) - at UVA-Wise
Hat's Pick - J.I. Burton 67-64 in OT
State Final Pick: Surry over J.I. Burton
Class 6 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region B #2 James River (18-6) vs. Region B #1 Cosby (22-4) - at Manchester
Hat's Pick - Cosby
Region C #1 Woodbridge (27-1) vs. Region C #2 T.C. Williams (20-5) - at Robinson
Hat's Pick - Woodbridge
State Final Pick: Woodbridge over Cosby
Class 5 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Princess Anne (23-1) vs. Region B #1 Highland Springs (23-3) - at Landstown
Hat's Pick - Princess Anne
Region C #1 Thomas Edison (25-1) vs. Region C #2 Freedom-South Riding (27-1) - at Hayfield
Hat's Pick - Thomas Edison
State Final Pick: Princess Anne over Thomas Edison
Class 4 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Lake Taylor (28-1) vs. Region A #2 Deep Creek (24-2) - at Churchland
Hat's Pick - Lake Taylor
Region D #2 Pulaski County (20-8) vs. Region D #1 Carroll County (20-6) - at Galax
Hat's Pick - Carroll County
Revised State Final Pick: Lake Taylor over Carroll County
Previous State Final Pick was Lake Taylor over Loudoun Valley
Class 3 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Hopewell (23-2) vs. Region B #1 William Monroe (26-2) - at Petersburg
Hat's Pick - Hopewell
Region C #1 Spotswood (26-1) vs. Region D #1 Lord Botetourt (27-1) - at Eastern Mennonite U
Hat's Pick - Spotswood in 2OT's
State Final Pick: Spotswood over Hopewell
Class 2 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Greensville (23-5) vs. Region A #2 Maggie Walker (18-5) - at Southampton
Hat's Pick - Greensville
Region D #2 Ridgeview (21-8) vs. Region D #1 Central-Wise (24-4) - at UVA-Wise
Hat's Pick - Central-Wise
Revised State Final Pick : Central-Wise over Greensville
Previous State Final Pick was Central-Wise over Page County
Class 1 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Surry (25-4) vs. Region B #1 Riverheads (20-8) - at Sussex Central
Hat's Pick - Surry
Region C #1 Parry McCluer (24-4) vs. Region D #1 Honaker (26-2) - at Roanoke College
Hat's Pick - Parry McCluer
State Final Pick: Surry over Parry McCluer in OT
The State Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday saw three buzzer-beaters with Ethan Powers hitting a three-pointer to force overtime in Eastside's comeback win over Auburn, while Monte Pope of Surry had a circus shot as time expired to break a tie against Riverheads. Maybe the most improbable came in Cave Spring's win over Spotswood, where the Knights trailed by three, got fouled on a three-pointer, hit the first two free-throws, missed the last one, but got the offensive rebound and found junior guard Jalen Buster, whose final shot at the horn bounced around the rim and through for an unforgettable victory.
Of the 48 games played, just two went to overtime. Besides Eastside/Auburn, the other extra session game involved GW-Danville rallying to eliminate Riverside.
Five of the six defending State Champions on the boys side remain and likewise for the ladies as only last year's Class 1 Boys State Champ Lancaster and the 2018 Girls Class 4 State Champ in Millbrook are out of contention for a repeat.
Of the 24 State Tournament semifinal matchups across Virginia on Monday or Tuesday, a total of 14 - 7 each on the boys side and girls side - are re-matches from the regional title games. To me, that's another reason why it would be best if the VHSL moving forward - starting in 2020 - put those squads on opposite sides of the bracket, so they wouldn't meet again until the State Final if they are able to make it that far. It would make for more compelling matchups at all three rounds of the State Playoffs.
Nevertheless, we have what we have and let's forecast what will happen as 24 schools - 12 on each side - look to take that step to the State Championship game later this week at VCU's Siegel Center in Richmond...
Class 6 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Landstown (23-3) vs. Region A #2 Oscar Smith (24-2) - at Kellam
Hat's Pick - Landstown 60-57
Region C #1 Lake Braddock (25-3) vs. Region C #2 South County (20-7) - at Robinson
Hat's Pick - Lake Braddock 87-81
State Final Pick: Landstown over Lake Braddock
Class 5 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Maury (26-3) vs. Region B #1 Varina (24-1) - at Norview
Hat's Pick - Varina 58-56
Region C #1 Potomac Falls (27-1) vs. Region C #2 Freedom-South Riding (18-11) - at Rock Ridge
Hat's Pick - Potomac Falls 70-61
State Final Pick: Varina over Potomac Falls
Class 4 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Lake Taylor (12-15) vs. Region B #1 Louisa (25-4) - at Churchland
Hat's Pick - Louisa 76-69
Region D #2 GW-Danville (25-2) vs. Region D #1 Jefferson Forest (25-4) - at Univ. of Lynchburg
Hat's Pick - GW-Danville 65-64
State Final Pick: Louisa over GW-Danville
Class 3 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Phoebus (24-2) vs. Region B #1 John Marshall (21-4) - at Heritage
Hat's Pick - John Marshall 79-77 in 2OT's
Region D #2 Cave Spring (22-6) vs. Region D #1 Northside (26-1) - at Roanoke College
Hat's Pick - Northside 83-66
State Final Pick: Northside over John Marshall in OT
Class 2 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Goochland (23-3) vs. Region B #1 East Rockingham (25-3) - at Mills Godwin
Hat's Pick - East Rockingham 71-61
Region C #1 Radford (28-0) vs. Region D #1 Gate City (25-3) - at Pulaski County
Hat's Pick - Radford 69-64
State Final Pick: Radford over East Rockingham
Class 1 State Semifinal BOYS:
Region A #1 Surry (27-2) vs. Region A #2 Rappahannock (21-6) - at Sussex Central
Hat's Pick - Surry 53-49
Region D #2 Eastside (25-4) vs. Region D #1 J.I. Burton (22-7) - at UVA-Wise
Hat's Pick - J.I. Burton 67-64 in OT
State Final Pick: Surry over J.I. Burton
Class 6 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region B #2 James River (18-6) vs. Region B #1 Cosby (22-4) - at Manchester
Hat's Pick - Cosby
Region C #1 Woodbridge (27-1) vs. Region C #2 T.C. Williams (20-5) - at Robinson
Hat's Pick - Woodbridge
State Final Pick: Woodbridge over Cosby
Class 5 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Princess Anne (23-1) vs. Region B #1 Highland Springs (23-3) - at Landstown
Hat's Pick - Princess Anne
Region C #1 Thomas Edison (25-1) vs. Region C #2 Freedom-South Riding (27-1) - at Hayfield
Hat's Pick - Thomas Edison
State Final Pick: Princess Anne over Thomas Edison
Class 4 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Lake Taylor (28-1) vs. Region A #2 Deep Creek (24-2) - at Churchland
Hat's Pick - Lake Taylor
Region D #2 Pulaski County (20-8) vs. Region D #1 Carroll County (20-6) - at Galax
Hat's Pick - Carroll County
Revised State Final Pick: Lake Taylor over Carroll County
Previous State Final Pick was Lake Taylor over Loudoun Valley
Class 3 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Hopewell (23-2) vs. Region B #1 William Monroe (26-2) - at Petersburg
Hat's Pick - Hopewell
Region C #1 Spotswood (26-1) vs. Region D #1 Lord Botetourt (27-1) - at Eastern Mennonite U
Hat's Pick - Spotswood in 2OT's
State Final Pick: Spotswood over Hopewell
Class 2 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Greensville (23-5) vs. Region A #2 Maggie Walker (18-5) - at Southampton
Hat's Pick - Greensville
Region D #2 Ridgeview (21-8) vs. Region D #1 Central-Wise (24-4) - at UVA-Wise
Hat's Pick - Central-Wise
Revised State Final Pick : Central-Wise over Greensville
Previous State Final Pick was Central-Wise over Page County
Class 1 State Semifinal GIRLS:
Region A #1 Surry (25-4) vs. Region B #1 Riverheads (20-8) - at Sussex Central
Hat's Pick - Surry
Region C #1 Parry McCluer (24-4) vs. Region D #1 Honaker (26-2) - at Roanoke College
Hat's Pick - Parry McCluer
State Final Pick: Surry over Parry McCluer in OT
