Alas, the basketball postseason has arrived! The 2023-24 regular season flew by, like it often does, and we are ready for the 24 regional tournaments, which will be followed by the six State Tournaments. A total of 12 State Champions will be crowned - six on the guys side and six for the ladies.
We will have daily posts with predictions, reactions and so much more for all you, our loyal readers and subscribers to VirginiaPreps.com - the Virginia High School site on the Rivals.com Network powered by Yahoo! Sports.
On this particular Friday in February, just a couple days after Valentine's Day, we have 10 of the 24 regions in action. How do you keep up to speed on what's happening? Well, we have you covered at the links below that you'll want to add to your favorites or bookmark.
Make Sure You Save This Link Here with our VHSL Playoff Brackets / Landing Page OR the direct link below...
VHSL 2024 Hoops Playoff Brackets Here
While yours truly is likely making a last-second decision to head over to the Booker Dome in Norfolk for a Region 3A opening round re-match from a year ago, the Game of the Night figures to be the battle in Region 3C with the #4 seed Staunton Storm (16-6) and #5 seed Heritage-Lynchburg Pioneers (17-5), who met twice earlier this season and both games were decided by just two possessions. Staunton, one of the highest scoring teams in the state, is riding an 11-game winning streak, but their last loss came against this Heritage squad, 54-51, on January 10th. They were also beaten by them, 56-51, on December 13th.
As for Heritage, the Pioneers have won 10 of its last 11 with the lone blemish in that span coming against E.C. Glass by a count of 65-62 on February 9th.
Now, there are some other intriguing matchups, especially in 6A and 5C, where a lower seed could be primed to pull off an upset. Highland Springs and Hermitage don't qualify as your ordinary No. 5 or No. 7 seeds out of the Richmond area. Furthermore, Patrick Henry-Roanoke is a No. 6 seed in 5C, and just last March they were a play away from edging Woodside in the VHSL Class 5 Finals. They make for some extra challenging games to call for this fearless forecaster.
You can take a look at my record on predictions when it comes to playoff action the past few years at the various levels below...
Hatfield's 2023 State Final Picks: 8-4 (67%) with 5-1 Boys and 3-3 Girls
Hatfield's 2023 Boys State Tournament Total: 38-4 (90.5%)
Hatfield's 2023 Region Playoff Total: 153-39 (79.7%)
Hatfield's 2022 State Final Picks: 11-1 (91.7%)
Hatfield's 2022 Boys State Tournament Total: 34-8 (81%)
Hatfield's 2022 Girls State Tournament Total: 32-10 (76.2%)
Hatfield's 2022 Region Playoff Total: 156-45 (77.6%)
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%)
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%)
Now on to the evening's games...
REGION PLAYOFF ACTION for FRIDAY 2/16/24:
Region 6A: Opening Round
#8 Grassfield (11-10) at #1 Oscar Smith (19-2)
Hat's Pick - Oscar Smith by 17
#5 Highland Springs (15-7) at #4 Cosby (16-6)
Hat's Pick - Highland Springs by 5
#6 Thomas Dale (14-8) at #3 Landstown (18-4)
Hat's Pick - Landstown by 18
#7 Western Branch (14-8) at #2 Manchester (19-3)
Hat's Pick - Manchester by 6 in OT
Region Tourney Final Pick: Landstown over Oscar Smith
Region 5C: Quarterfinals
#8 Matoaca (13-10) at #1 L.C. Bird (19-2)
Hat's Pick - L.C. Bird by 11
#5 William Fleming (16-6) at #4 Mills Godwin (17-5)
Hat's Pick - William Fleming by 3
#6 Patrick Henry-Roanoke (17-5) at #3 James River-Midlothian (17-5)
Hat's Pick - James River by 2
#7 Hermitage (16-6) at #2 Albemarle (21-3)
Hat's Pick - Albemarle by 4
Region Tourney Final Pick: Albemarle over L.C. Bird
Region 4A: Quarterfinals at Smithfield
#5 Jamestown (8-14) vs. #4 Denbigh (7-15)
Hat's Pick - Denbigh by 6
#6 Warhill (7-15) at #3 Smithfield (12-10)
Hat's Pick - Smithfield by 14
Region Tourney Final Pick: Hampton over Churchland
Region 4B: Opening Round
#9 Monacan (11-2) at #8 Patrick Henry-Ashland (13-9)
Hat's Pick - PH-Ashland by 3
#12 Caroline (10-12) at #5 Atlee (14-8)
Hat's Pick - Atlee by 15
#11 Powhatan (9-13) at #6 Chancellor (14-9)
Hat's Pick - Chancellor by 8
#10 Hanover (10-12) at #7 Dinwiddie (14-8)
Hat's Pick - Dinwiddie by 5
Region Tourney Final Pick: Varina over Henrico
Region 4D: Quarterfinals
North #4 Orange (14-10) at North #1 Charlottesville (20-4)
Hat's Pick - Charlottesville by 19
North #3 Sherando (15-7) at North #2 Handley (17-5)
Hat's Pick - Handley by 7
South #4 Salem (12-11) at South #1 Jefferson Forest (16-6)
Hat's Pick - Jefferson Forest by 6
South #3 Blacksburg (14-9) at South #2 E.C. Glass (14-8)
Hat's Pick - E.C. Glass by 8
Region Tourney Final Pick: Charlottesville over E.C. Glass
Region 3A: Opening Round
#9 Petersburg (9-13) at #8 Heritage-Newport News (12-10)
Hat's Pick - Heritage-NN by 6
#13 Tabb (4-18) at #4 Hopewell (14-6)
Hat's Pick - Hopewell by 22
#12 Lakeland (4-18) at #5 New Kent (15-7)
Hat's Pick - New Kent by 10
#10 York (11-9) at #7 Colonial Heights (12-9)
Hat's Pick - Colonial Heights by 7
#11 Norcom (10-12; 10-11) at #6 Booker T. Washington (14-10; 13-9)
Hat's Pick - Norcom by 1
Region Tourney Final Pick: Lake Taylor over Grafton
Region 3B: Quarterfinals
#8 Armstrong (7-15) at #1 Meridian (20-2)
Hat's Pick - Meridian by 9
#5 Fauquier (12-10) at #4 Kettle Run (13-9)
Hat's Pick - Kettle Run by 6
#6 William Monroe (14-8) at #3 Skyline (17-6)
Hat's Pick - William Monroe by 2 in OT
#7 Thomas Jefferson-Richmond (9-12) at #2 James Monroe (19-5)
Hat's Pick - James Monroe by 11
Region Tourney Final Pick: James Monroe over Meridian
Region 3C: Quarterfinals
#8 Wilson Memorial (15-8) at #1 Spotswood (24-0)
Hat's Pick - Spotswood by 15
#5 Heritage-Lynchburg (17-5) at #4 Staunton (16-6)
Hat's Pick - Staunton by 1 in OT
#6 Broadway (16-7) at #3 Rustburg (18-3)
Hat's Pick - Rustburg by 6
#7 Alleghany (18-5) at #2 Western Albemarle (18-5)
Hat's Pick - Western Albemarle by 4
Region Tourney Final Pick: Spotswood over Western Albemarle
Region 3D: Opening Round
#9 Pulaski County (6-16) at #8 Hidden Valley (8-14)
Hat's Pick - Hidden Valley by 5
#10 Magna Vista (7-16) at #7 William Byrd (12-12)
Hat's Pick - William Byrd by 9
Region Tourney Final Pick: Northside over Tunstall in 2OT
Region 2A: Opening Round
#9 Southampton (9-12) at #8 Nottoway (7-12)
Hat's Pick - Southampton by 8
#10 Randolph-Henry (7-12) at #7 King William (8-12)
Hat's Pick - King William by 8
Region Tourney Final Pick: John Marshall over Bruton
We will have daily posts with predictions, reactions and so much more for all you, our loyal readers and subscribers to VirginiaPreps.com - the Virginia High School site on the Rivals.com Network powered by Yahoo! Sports.
On this particular Friday in February, just a couple days after Valentine's Day, we have 10 of the 24 regions in action. How do you keep up to speed on what's happening? Well, we have you covered at the links below that you'll want to add to your favorites or bookmark.
Make Sure You Save This Link Here with our VHSL Playoff Brackets / Landing Page OR the direct link below...
VHSL 2024 Hoops Playoff Brackets Here
While yours truly is likely making a last-second decision to head over to the Booker Dome in Norfolk for a Region 3A opening round re-match from a year ago, the Game of the Night figures to be the battle in Region 3C with the #4 seed Staunton Storm (16-6) and #5 seed Heritage-Lynchburg Pioneers (17-5), who met twice earlier this season and both games were decided by just two possessions. Staunton, one of the highest scoring teams in the state, is riding an 11-game winning streak, but their last loss came against this Heritage squad, 54-51, on January 10th. They were also beaten by them, 56-51, on December 13th.
As for Heritage, the Pioneers have won 10 of its last 11 with the lone blemish in that span coming against E.C. Glass by a count of 65-62 on February 9th.
Now, there are some other intriguing matchups, especially in 6A and 5C, where a lower seed could be primed to pull off an upset. Highland Springs and Hermitage don't qualify as your ordinary No. 5 or No. 7 seeds out of the Richmond area. Furthermore, Patrick Henry-Roanoke is a No. 6 seed in 5C, and just last March they were a play away from edging Woodside in the VHSL Class 5 Finals. They make for some extra challenging games to call for this fearless forecaster.
You can take a look at my record on predictions when it comes to playoff action the past few years at the various levels below...
Hatfield's 2023 State Final Picks: 8-4 (67%) with 5-1 Boys and 3-3 Girls
Hatfield's 2023 Boys State Tournament Total: 38-4 (90.5%)
Hatfield's 2023 Region Playoff Total: 153-39 (79.7%)
Hatfield's 2022 State Final Picks: 11-1 (91.7%)
Hatfield's 2022 Boys State Tournament Total: 34-8 (81%)
Hatfield's 2022 Girls State Tournament Total: 32-10 (76.2%)
Hatfield's 2022 Region Playoff Total: 156-45 (77.6%)
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%)
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%)
Now on to the evening's games...
REGION PLAYOFF ACTION for FRIDAY 2/16/24:
Region 6A: Opening Round
#8 Grassfield (11-10) at #1 Oscar Smith (19-2)
Hat's Pick - Oscar Smith by 17
#5 Highland Springs (15-7) at #4 Cosby (16-6)
Hat's Pick - Highland Springs by 5
#6 Thomas Dale (14-8) at #3 Landstown (18-4)
Hat's Pick - Landstown by 18
#7 Western Branch (14-8) at #2 Manchester (19-3)
Hat's Pick - Manchester by 6 in OT
Region Tourney Final Pick: Landstown over Oscar Smith
Region 5C: Quarterfinals
#8 Matoaca (13-10) at #1 L.C. Bird (19-2)
Hat's Pick - L.C. Bird by 11
#5 William Fleming (16-6) at #4 Mills Godwin (17-5)
Hat's Pick - William Fleming by 3
#6 Patrick Henry-Roanoke (17-5) at #3 James River-Midlothian (17-5)
Hat's Pick - James River by 2
#7 Hermitage (16-6) at #2 Albemarle (21-3)
Hat's Pick - Albemarle by 4
Region Tourney Final Pick: Albemarle over L.C. Bird
Region 4A: Quarterfinals at Smithfield
#5 Jamestown (8-14) vs. #4 Denbigh (7-15)
Hat's Pick - Denbigh by 6
#6 Warhill (7-15) at #3 Smithfield (12-10)
Hat's Pick - Smithfield by 14
Region Tourney Final Pick: Hampton over Churchland
Region 4B: Opening Round
#9 Monacan (11-2) at #8 Patrick Henry-Ashland (13-9)
Hat's Pick - PH-Ashland by 3
#12 Caroline (10-12) at #5 Atlee (14-8)
Hat's Pick - Atlee by 15
#11 Powhatan (9-13) at #6 Chancellor (14-9)
Hat's Pick - Chancellor by 8
#10 Hanover (10-12) at #7 Dinwiddie (14-8)
Hat's Pick - Dinwiddie by 5
Region Tourney Final Pick: Varina over Henrico
Region 4D: Quarterfinals
North #4 Orange (14-10) at North #1 Charlottesville (20-4)
Hat's Pick - Charlottesville by 19
North #3 Sherando (15-7) at North #2 Handley (17-5)
Hat's Pick - Handley by 7
South #4 Salem (12-11) at South #1 Jefferson Forest (16-6)
Hat's Pick - Jefferson Forest by 6
South #3 Blacksburg (14-9) at South #2 E.C. Glass (14-8)
Hat's Pick - E.C. Glass by 8
Region Tourney Final Pick: Charlottesville over E.C. Glass
Region 3A: Opening Round
#9 Petersburg (9-13) at #8 Heritage-Newport News (12-10)
Hat's Pick - Heritage-NN by 6
#13 Tabb (4-18) at #4 Hopewell (14-6)
Hat's Pick - Hopewell by 22
#12 Lakeland (4-18) at #5 New Kent (15-7)
Hat's Pick - New Kent by 10
#10 York (11-9) at #7 Colonial Heights (12-9)
Hat's Pick - Colonial Heights by 7
#11 Norcom (10-12; 10-11) at #6 Booker T. Washington (14-10; 13-9)
Hat's Pick - Norcom by 1
Region Tourney Final Pick: Lake Taylor over Grafton
Region 3B: Quarterfinals
#8 Armstrong (7-15) at #1 Meridian (20-2)
Hat's Pick - Meridian by 9
#5 Fauquier (12-10) at #4 Kettle Run (13-9)
Hat's Pick - Kettle Run by 6
#6 William Monroe (14-8) at #3 Skyline (17-6)
Hat's Pick - William Monroe by 2 in OT
#7 Thomas Jefferson-Richmond (9-12) at #2 James Monroe (19-5)
Hat's Pick - James Monroe by 11
Region Tourney Final Pick: James Monroe over Meridian
Region 3C: Quarterfinals
#8 Wilson Memorial (15-8) at #1 Spotswood (24-0)
Hat's Pick - Spotswood by 15
#5 Heritage-Lynchburg (17-5) at #4 Staunton (16-6)
Hat's Pick - Staunton by 1 in OT
#6 Broadway (16-7) at #3 Rustburg (18-3)
Hat's Pick - Rustburg by 6
#7 Alleghany (18-5) at #2 Western Albemarle (18-5)
Hat's Pick - Western Albemarle by 4
Region Tourney Final Pick: Spotswood over Western Albemarle
Region 3D: Opening Round
#9 Pulaski County (6-16) at #8 Hidden Valley (8-14)
Hat's Pick - Hidden Valley by 5
#10 Magna Vista (7-16) at #7 William Byrd (12-12)
Hat's Pick - William Byrd by 9
Region Tourney Final Pick: Northside over Tunstall in 2OT
Region 2A: Opening Round
#9 Southampton (9-12) at #8 Nottoway (7-12)
Hat's Pick - Southampton by 8
#10 Randolph-Henry (7-12) at #7 King William (8-12)
Hat's Pick - King William by 8
Region Tourney Final Pick: John Marshall over Bruton
