Lee High, Greensville County a trip down memory lane
Patrick Hite, phite@newsleader.comPublished 12:54 p.m. ET March 1, 2018 | Updated 1:07 p.m. ET March 1, 2018
When Robert E. Lee and Greensville County step on the court at Wilson Memorial High School Friday night, it will take many area basketball fans back in time about a dozen years.
The history doesn't matter to the players on both teams this season. All they care about is getting a win and advancing to the Class 2 state semifinals. What happened years ago is not relevant to Friday's game.
But for area basketball fans, Friday is still a fun trip down memory lane.
Robert E. Lee's Daryl Taylor struggles with Greensville County's Rustin Jeesee during the 2003 State championship game Saturday.(Photo: Mark Miller, Copyright Leader Publishing Company)
The last time Lee High and Greensville met in boys state basketball was 2006 in Richmond. Lee High was the two-time defending state champion and was just two wins away from a third title in a row. Lee and Greensville met on March 10, 2006, in one of the Group AA state semifinal games.
The two programs had developed a bit of a rivalry over the past three seasons. They played for the state championship in both 2004 and 2005 with Lee winning both times.
In the 2004 title game, Lee easily won 96-57. Greensville County shot just 33 percent The Eagles spent a lot of time shooting 3s in the game, and when they missed Lee was off and running, either scoring inside or going to the foul line. Lee made 40-of-49 free throws in the win. It was Greensville's first loss of the season.
Robert E. Lee's Travis Stuart celebrates their win over Greensville County during the 2004 State championship game Saturday.(Photo: Mark Miller, Copyright Leader Publishing Company)
Tyler Crawford scored 14 points in his final game as a Leemen before heading off to play at Georgetown. His cousin, Eli Crawford, finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds.
The next season, the two programs met again in the state championship.
Years later, in a quote for "The Staunton Streak," a book about Lee's High's amazing 85-game winning streak, Keary Bonner, a senior on the 2005 team, said his favorite part of that game against Greensville, his favorite part about any game with Lee, was just before it started, standing with his teammates in the tunnel before running to the court.
"To just stand there and go like the Lakers better be out there," Bonner said, "because we are going to smoke some people unless these dudes know what they're doing.
Greensville was not the Lakers, and no match for Lee, in losing for a second straight year 74-55. Lee finished with a 31-0 record and improved its winning streak to 55 games.
The next season, Lee and Greensville actually met twice. In the regular season, the two played in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Classic at James Madison University.
Greensville was 13-1 and ranked No. 2 in the state, just behind Lee High, coming into the game in Harrisonburg. Lee coach Paul Hatcher warned his team before the game that upsets happen every day and they better be prepared to play their best if they were going to beat Greensville for a third straight time.
Tyler Crawford works against Greensville County's Marcell Powell during the 2004 VHSL State Basketball Championships at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond Saturday. (Photo: Vincent Lerz, Copyright Leader Publishing Company)
The players listened, winning 78-58. It was closer than the previous two meetings, with Greensville leading by a point late in the third quarter, but the fourth quarter belonged to Lee.
"Those cats are good," Greensville coach Randy Jessee said after the loss. "No doubt about it."
When the two met again, it was on the state stage. The game was on a Friday afternoon and Staunton City Schools closed early that day so students and teachers could make the trip to Richmond to watch the Leemen.
Lee didn't disappoint their fans. Coming into the game, Lee had won 84 games in a row over three seasons. No. 85 came against Greensville in the Group AA state semifinals.
Robert E. Lee's Ryan Crawford takes the ball up as Greensville County's Allan Williams during a Virginia Group AA boys basketball state semifinal game in Richmond on Friday, March 10, 2006. (Photo: Mike Tripp, The News Leader)
Lee beat Greensville for the fourth time in three years, this time 83-67. Lawrence Lightfoot had 27 points and Eli Crawford had 24 points to lead the way.
That game also marked the final win in Lee's state record-setting streak of 85 wins in a row. Lee would lose the next game, falling Martinsville in the state title game.
On Friday night, Lee and Greensville will renew that rivalry in a state quarterfinal game. Lee can only hope it turns out like the last four meetings between the two teams.
The News Leader's Patrick Hite is the author of "The Staunton Streak: Paul Hatcher's Basketball Dynasty," which chronicles Lee High's 85-game winning streak from the 2004 through the 2006 high school basketball seasons.
Patrick Hite, phite@newsleader.comPublished 12:54 p.m. ET March 1, 2018 | Updated 1:07 p.m. ET March 1, 2018
When Robert E. Lee and Greensville County step on the court at Wilson Memorial High School Friday night, it will take many area basketball fans back in time about a dozen years.
The history doesn't matter to the players on both teams this season. All they care about is getting a win and advancing to the Class 2 state semifinals. What happened years ago is not relevant to Friday's game.
But for area basketball fans, Friday is still a fun trip down memory lane.
Robert E. Lee's Daryl Taylor struggles with Greensville County's Rustin Jeesee during the 2003 State championship game Saturday.(Photo: Mark Miller, Copyright Leader Publishing Company)
The last time Lee High and Greensville met in boys state basketball was 2006 in Richmond. Lee High was the two-time defending state champion and was just two wins away from a third title in a row. Lee and Greensville met on March 10, 2006, in one of the Group AA state semifinal games.
The two programs had developed a bit of a rivalry over the past three seasons. They played for the state championship in both 2004 and 2005 with Lee winning both times.
In the 2004 title game, Lee easily won 96-57. Greensville County shot just 33 percent The Eagles spent a lot of time shooting 3s in the game, and when they missed Lee was off and running, either scoring inside or going to the foul line. Lee made 40-of-49 free throws in the win. It was Greensville's first loss of the season.
Robert E. Lee's Travis Stuart celebrates their win over Greensville County during the 2004 State championship game Saturday.(Photo: Mark Miller, Copyright Leader Publishing Company)
Tyler Crawford scored 14 points in his final game as a Leemen before heading off to play at Georgetown. His cousin, Eli Crawford, finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds.
The next season, the two programs met again in the state championship.
Years later, in a quote for "The Staunton Streak," a book about Lee's High's amazing 85-game winning streak, Keary Bonner, a senior on the 2005 team, said his favorite part of that game against Greensville, his favorite part about any game with Lee, was just before it started, standing with his teammates in the tunnel before running to the court.
"To just stand there and go like the Lakers better be out there," Bonner said, "because we are going to smoke some people unless these dudes know what they're doing.
Greensville was not the Lakers, and no match for Lee, in losing for a second straight year 74-55. Lee finished with a 31-0 record and improved its winning streak to 55 games.
The next season, Lee and Greensville actually met twice. In the regular season, the two played in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Classic at James Madison University.
Greensville was 13-1 and ranked No. 2 in the state, just behind Lee High, coming into the game in Harrisonburg. Lee coach Paul Hatcher warned his team before the game that upsets happen every day and they better be prepared to play their best if they were going to beat Greensville for a third straight time.
Tyler Crawford works against Greensville County's Marcell Powell during the 2004 VHSL State Basketball Championships at the Stuart C. Siegel Center in Richmond Saturday. (Photo: Vincent Lerz, Copyright Leader Publishing Company)
The players listened, winning 78-58. It was closer than the previous two meetings, with Greensville leading by a point late in the third quarter, but the fourth quarter belonged to Lee.
"Those cats are good," Greensville coach Randy Jessee said after the loss. "No doubt about it."
When the two met again, it was on the state stage. The game was on a Friday afternoon and Staunton City Schools closed early that day so students and teachers could make the trip to Richmond to watch the Leemen.
Lee didn't disappoint their fans. Coming into the game, Lee had won 84 games in a row over three seasons. No. 85 came against Greensville in the Group AA state semifinals.
Robert E. Lee's Ryan Crawford takes the ball up as Greensville County's Allan Williams during a Virginia Group AA boys basketball state semifinal game in Richmond on Friday, March 10, 2006. (Photo: Mike Tripp, The News Leader)
Lee beat Greensville for the fourth time in three years, this time 83-67. Lawrence Lightfoot had 27 points and Eli Crawford had 24 points to lead the way.
That game also marked the final win in Lee's state record-setting streak of 85 wins in a row. Lee would lose the next game, falling Martinsville in the state title game.
On Friday night, Lee and Greensville will renew that rivalry in a state quarterfinal game. Lee can only hope it turns out like the last four meetings between the two teams.
The News Leader's Patrick Hite is the author of "The Staunton Streak: Paul Hatcher's Basketball Dynasty," which chronicles Lee High's 85-game winning streak from the 2004 through the 2006 high school basketball seasons.
