(Article by Staunton News Leader's Patrick Hite)
Following a year in which it won the VHSL 2A boys state basketball championship, Robert E. Lee is now reaping the benefits of that title with postseason honors.
The VHSL has named Darius George its 2A boys player of the year. Meanwhile, Lee High coach Jarrett Hatcher was named the 2A coach of the year. It was made official Thursday morning when the VHSL released the 2A all-state team.
George, a senior who has signed to play college basketball at Marshall, averaged 24.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this year. In the state championship game, a win over Amelia County, George had 17 points and 15 rebounds.
"It means a lot to me," George said. "This season was so fun to play with my brothers and get this championship. And especially doing this for Coach Hatcher. We said at the beginning of the year we were getting a state championship and we did. And to get player of the year puts the cherry on top."
George finished his career as the third leading scorer in school history with 1,866 points, trailing only Kevin Madden and Tyler Crawford. George started every game he played at Lee since his freshman season. His first two points were scored on his first possession as a freshman and his last two came on a tremendous dunk in the final seconds of the state championship game, bringing the Lee fans to their feet at Virginia Commonwealth University's Siegel Center.
George had a career-high 41 points in a regular-season win over Amelia County in December.
"I am so pleased for Darius," Hatcher said. "He has been such a wonderful player to coach. He is a great student athlete and a better person. Darius was always a quiet, reserved star, he let his actions speak for him. I am so lucky to have been able to coach him and have a front seat at his evolution into a Division I prospect."
The state championship was the first for Hatcher as head coach. He became the coach in 2011 following the retirement of his dad, Paul Hatcher, who won four state titles. The state championship was the seventh in school history.
"All coaches are the benefactors of having good or talented players," Hatcher said. "I was very fortunate to have a great group of young men to coach. The team and my tireless assistants Terrell (Mickens), Teley (Tate) and Sam (LaClair) deserve most of the credit.
"It is nice to be recognized for achievement, but there are a lot of folks that helped in so many ways this season and every season. All of the high school coaches I know work so hard for their programs and teams. I am humbled and honored to be selected. Without my team and assistants our success would not be possible."
In addition to grabbing the state's top two honors, Lee also had another first-team selection. Joining George on the 2A boys first team was junior Jarvis Vaughan, who averaged 16.6 points and 8.7 rebounds a game this year. It was in the postseason where Vaughan really caught fire. In three state games, Vaughan averaged 28 points, including scoring 31 in both the state semifinals and finals.
On the girls side, Stuarts Draft's Danielle Brenneman was named to the all-state second team. She finished the season averaging 16.5 points a game and, for her career, scored 1,053 points, third all time at Stuarts Draft.
PHOTOS Courtesy of Mike Tripp/News Leader
Robert E. Lee's Darius George takes the ball up past Amelia's Larry Jones and Eric Medley as he heads to the basket during the Group 2A state championship game played in Richmond on Thursday, March 9, 2017.
Robert E. Lee's head coach Jarrett Hatcher smiles with pride and hugs his assistant coaches as the seconds fade away to zero and they defeat Amelia High School to win the Group 2A state championship in Richmond on Thursday, March 9, 2017
Following a year in which it won the VHSL 2A boys state basketball championship, Robert E. Lee is now reaping the benefits of that title with postseason honors.
The VHSL has named Darius George its 2A boys player of the year. Meanwhile, Lee High coach Jarrett Hatcher was named the 2A coach of the year. It was made official Thursday morning when the VHSL released the 2A all-state team.
George, a senior who has signed to play college basketball at Marshall, averaged 24.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this year. In the state championship game, a win over Amelia County, George had 17 points and 15 rebounds.
"It means a lot to me," George said. "This season was so fun to play with my brothers and get this championship. And especially doing this for Coach Hatcher. We said at the beginning of the year we were getting a state championship and we did. And to get player of the year puts the cherry on top."
George finished his career as the third leading scorer in school history with 1,866 points, trailing only Kevin Madden and Tyler Crawford. George started every game he played at Lee since his freshman season. His first two points were scored on his first possession as a freshman and his last two came on a tremendous dunk in the final seconds of the state championship game, bringing the Lee fans to their feet at Virginia Commonwealth University's Siegel Center.
George had a career-high 41 points in a regular-season win over Amelia County in December.
"I am so pleased for Darius," Hatcher said. "He has been such a wonderful player to coach. He is a great student athlete and a better person. Darius was always a quiet, reserved star, he let his actions speak for him. I am so lucky to have been able to coach him and have a front seat at his evolution into a Division I prospect."
The state championship was the first for Hatcher as head coach. He became the coach in 2011 following the retirement of his dad, Paul Hatcher, who won four state titles. The state championship was the seventh in school history.
"All coaches are the benefactors of having good or talented players," Hatcher said. "I was very fortunate to have a great group of young men to coach. The team and my tireless assistants Terrell (Mickens), Teley (Tate) and Sam (LaClair) deserve most of the credit.
"It is nice to be recognized for achievement, but there are a lot of folks that helped in so many ways this season and every season. All of the high school coaches I know work so hard for their programs and teams. I am humbled and honored to be selected. Without my team and assistants our success would not be possible."
In addition to grabbing the state's top two honors, Lee also had another first-team selection. Joining George on the 2A boys first team was junior Jarvis Vaughan, who averaged 16.6 points and 8.7 rebounds a game this year. It was in the postseason where Vaughan really caught fire. In three state games, Vaughan averaged 28 points, including scoring 31 in both the state semifinals and finals.
On the girls side, Stuarts Draft's Danielle Brenneman was named to the all-state second team. She finished the season averaging 16.5 points a game and, for her career, scored 1,053 points, third all time at Stuarts Draft.
PHOTOS Courtesy of Mike Tripp/News Leader
Robert E. Lee's Darius George takes the ball up past Amelia's Larry Jones and Eric Medley as he heads to the basket during the Group 2A state championship game played in Richmond on Thursday, March 9, 2017.
Robert E. Lee's head coach Jarrett Hatcher smiles with pride and hugs his assistant coaches as the seconds fade away to zero and they defeat Amelia High School to win the Group 2A state championship in Richmond on Thursday, March 9, 2017
