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There was an unmistakable sense of deja vu on 5A State Softball Championship weekend for the defending champion Atlee Raiders.
Play at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax? Check.
Face a county rival in the 5A State Semifinals? Check.
Face Hickory for the state championship? Check.
Checkmate came on a 4-6-3 double play that caromed off the glove of Peyton St. George straight to Jordan Durbin, who flipped to Casey Barrett sweeping across second base, taking the toss and firing it to Malorie Fodill at first to set off the celebration as, again, the Raiders shut out the Hawks, this time 5-0 for their second straight 5A State Championship.
Their road to Fairfax, however, was different in 2016 than 2015. They were the hunted, rather than the hunter. Atlee had an entire new coaching staff following the retirement of former head coach John Earley and longtime assistant, and 2002 state champion head coach Becky Levy.
They lost their first game on April 8th at home in a 2-0, nine-inning battle with rival Lee-Davis, then returned the favor, handing the Confederates their first loss three Fridays later with a comeback 3-2 win at Lee-Davis. Atlee returned atop our RVA Sports Network Top 10 Poll, and they never left.
They were handling postseason opponents well until Halifax came to town for the 5A North Region Championship, wanting revenge for a 1-0 loss in the Conference 16 finals. They got it, as the Raiders struggled mightily in a 6-0 loss. It was a wake-up call for the defending champions.
In the state semis, they used power and pitching to overwhelm red-hot Lee-Davis 7-1, then asserted themselves in the championship game Saturday morning against Hickory.
23-2 and two-time state champs make Atlee Softball our #4 Team of 2015-16!
Listen to the 5A State Championship game at the YouTube link below!
For three consecutive years, the Skyhawks of L.C. Bird found the juggernaut that is Henrico basketball standing in their way in the game that meant either a berth to the 5A State Boys Basketball Tournament or the end of the season.
In 2014, a missed shot at the buzzer gave Henrico a 58-57 win in the 5A South Region Semifinals at Hermitage High School. A year later, same round, same location, the Skyhawks and Warriors battled into double overtime before Henrico pulled away late for a 111-99 victory, last year's #1 game in our RVA Sports Network Top Ten poll.
For 2016, the scene shifted to the mood lighting of Prince George High School, and with L.C. Bird losing to Varina in the Conference 12 Championship, the round shifted back to the quarterfinals. In the previous two years, a win wouldn't have clinched a state bid, but with the return of the State Quarterfinal round, this game was, again, for states or bust.
As totally expected, the teams battled back and forth, the Warriors out early, the Skyhawks climbing back late in the first quarter, making sure Henrico didn't get a prohibitive advantage. Down the stretch they came like two thoroughbreds destined for a photo finish at the Kentucky Derby, and, in the end, that's exactly what happened.
Mario Haskett launched a shot high into the air in the final seconds of regulation. It kissed the top of the backboard and found the twine. We had a dead heat after 32 minutes. Again, the Skyhawks and Warriors would go to overtime.
But it would only take one extra session this time, as Henrico went cold from the field, L.C. Bird hit key free throw after free throw, and the Skyhawks finally enjoyed the reality of slaying the dragon, defeating Henrico 81-73.
Congratulations to L.C. Bird basketball, winners of the #5 Game of The Year!
Of their three consecutive trips to the Siegel Center for a shot at the 6A State Girls Basketball Championship, the 2015-16 Cosby Titans certainly took the road less traveled.
It was not a season where they would dominate opponent after opponent every time they stepped onto the court. Monacan swept their regular season series. Despite a gutsy effort in the final 90 seconds by Jocelyn Jones, the Titans fell in the T-DIT semifinals for the second straight year, this time to eventual winner Highland Springs.
And in the 6A South Region Tournament, a playoff loss forced Cosby on the road to punch their ticket back to VCU. But punch it they did, entering the Championship Game against what looked like an undersized Langley team. What Langley lacked in height, they made up for in intensity and grit, and the war was on.
Langley had the ball with 38 seconds left needing a trey to tie. Maybe it was nerves, likely it was the Titan defense, but they struggled to find that shot, or any shot. Then, joining Cosby girls basketball lore were moments that will be forever known as "The Steal" and "The Steal II".
"The Steal" was Jocelyn Jones swiping the ball, getting fouled with ten seconds left. Jones nailed the first free throw for a two-possession lead. Head Coach Rachel Mead cracked a brief smile. Jones made the second free throw, then, raced down the court and....
....as Langley tried for a desperation shot and a miracle, Jones brought Cosby "The Steal II" to run out the clock and bring the Titans their third straight 6A State Girls Basketball Championship, winning 42-37.
To listen to the 6A State Girls Basketball Championship, click the YouTube link below for our exclusive RVA Sports Network live broadcast from that magical night in March.
Tuesday July 5th:
West End Post 361 29, Colonial Heights Post 284 Bucs 5
Wednesday July 6th:
South Richmond Post 137 26, Colonial Heights Post 284P 2
Lakeside Post 125 12, Mechanicsville Post 175 8 (16 innings)
Thursday July 7th:
Powhatan Post 201 13, Lakeside Post 125 3 (7 innings)
Colonial Heights Post 284 Pirates at Mechanicsville Post 175, postponed
South Richmond Post 137 8, Colonial Heights Post 284 Bucs 3 (Game 1; Game 2 ppd, rain)
West End Post 361 12, Lakeside Post 125F 9
Friday July 8th:
South Richmond Post 137 10, Colonial Heights Post 284 Bucs 0
Colonial Heights Post 284 Pirates at Powhatan Post 201, ppd.
CURRENT STANDINGS:
West End Post 361 8-2
South Richmond Post 137 8-3
Mechanicsville Post 175 7-3
Lakeside Post 125 6-5
Lakeside Post 125F 5-5
Powhatan Post 201 4-6
Colonial Heights Post 284 B 1-7
Colonial Heights Post 284 P 0-8
SCHEDULE:
Saturday July 9th:
Colonial Heights Post 284B at Mechanicsville Post 175, 12pm, Hanover HS
Lakeside Post 125F at Powhatan Post 201, 7pm, Powhatan HS
Colonial Heights Post 284P at Colonial Heights Post 284B, 7pm, Shepherd Stadium
West End Post 361 at Mechanicsville Post 175, 7pm, Hanover HS
Sunday July 10th:
Lakeside Post 125F at Lakeside Post 125, 3pm, Douglas Freeman HS
West End Post 361 at South Richmond Post 137, 3pm, LC Bird HS
Monday July 11th:
Colonial Heights Post 284B at Lakeside Post 125, 7pm, Douglas Freeman HS
Mechanicsville Post 175 at Colonial Heights Post 284P, 7pm, Shepherd Stadium
South Richmond Post 137 at Powhatan Post 201, 7pm, Powhatan HS
Tuesday July 12th:
South Richmond Post 137 at Lakeside Post 125, 7pm, Douglas Freeman HS
Colonial Heights Post 284B at West End Post 361, 6pm, Hermitage HS
Colonial Heights Post 284P at West End Post 361, immediately following, Hermitage HS
Wednesday July 13th:
Colonial Heights Post 284B at Lakeside Post 125F, 6pm, Douglas Freeman HS
Colonial Heights Post 284P at Lakeside Post 125F, immediately following, Douglas Freeman HS
This was the kind of match that never looked like a Top 10 Games candidate for the first two sets. But, by the end of the night, it became a match where 100 people attended, but 1,000 people will swear to you they were there.
It was expected to be a mere formality that the Mills Godwin Eagles, who already clinched their berth in the 5A South Region Tournament, would win the Conference 11 Tournament Championship against overmatched Douglas Freeman, and, when the Eagles won the first two sets 25-20, 25-15, everything seemed to be following script.
That is, until the Rebels deviated from it. Ellie Biese, Ashley Frederick and the rest of the Freeman squad rose to the occasion, making the third set one for the ages, staving off elimination, and finally putting away the Eagles in a 33-31 marathon that had the assembled holding their collective breath point after point after point.
Suddenly, every non-Godwin fan rallied behind the underdog Rebels, and, for a moment, it looked as if we would go to a fifth set tiebreaker. But the Eagles ended the upset threat, barely pulling out at 26-24 fourth set win to clinch the Conference 11 title.
Biese had 22 digs and two aces, Molly Herring 12 kills for Douglas Freeman, while Nora Saxman registered 59 assists, Ayanna Swan 32 kills, and Mackenzie Brewer 19 kills for the Eagles on a night where everyone was reminded, it truly is not over until it's over.
Mills Godwin and Douglas Freeman girls volleyball, the Conference 11 Championship, our #6 Game of 2015-16!
This is the story of Nina Sorkin and the five newcomers. Sorkin understood the disappointment of reaching the brink of a state team tournament berth in girls tennis, only to see her's school's rival, Mills Godwin, take it away, as they had done year after year after year.
But in 2016, Sorkin came armed with a group of five wide-eyed freshmen who had heard of the Eagle juggernaut, but wasn't fazed by it. When all was said and done in the 5A South Region Semifinals, Deep Run had defeated Mills Godwin 5-2, ending Godwin's reign and launching the Wildcats into the 5A State Tournament, which they won, defeating George Marshall in the semifinals before beating Thomas Jefferson S&T of Alexandria in the title match, both by 5-0 scores.
Congratulations to 20-0 Deep Run, our #6 Team of 2015-16! (Photo courtesy of Daily Press)
Many Atlee Raider football fans thought the road to the state championship would be easier with a move out of the brutal 5A South Region into 5A North, where no L.C. Bird, Highland Springs, or Hermitage would stand in their way.
But in Atlee's first-ever game in the 5A North Region football playoffs last November, the fans were quickly shown that nothing ever comes easy.
After a disappointing regular season, the Raiders had to hit the road as a #10 seed, going to Stafford County to face #7 seeded Mountain View on a chilly Friday evening. And while we look back at that game now on this Fourth of July, there was just as many fireworks in the final three minutes of that November night as you'll see on America's Birthday.
Though the football season didn't advance as far as the Raiders hoped, they can take credit for winning two of our RVA Sports Network Top 10 Games of the year gone by.
Here's how RVA Sports Network wrapped up coverage of a classic high school football game as seen in the pages of the Herald Progress:
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It would have been wholly appropriate for fans at Mountain View High School in Stafford Friday to receive video game controllers as a halftime gift, for they were about to be transported into Madden '16.
Down 14-7 at the break, and desperate to find some defense with their season on the line, the Atlee Raiders concentrated on their strength, as their offense went toe to toe with the homestanding Wildcats, setting the stage for a finish for the ages in a 38-35 upset victory in the first round of the 5A North Region playoffs.
The tenth-seeded Raiders (7-4) won their fourth straight game doing what they do best: airing out the football and using their talented receiving corps to light up the scoreboard. Quarterback Rasharrd Harris threw for 295 of his 418 yards in the second half, throwing four of his five touchdown passes during that time.
Atlee wasted no time, tying the game on the first offensive play of the third quarter, as Harris lasered a ball to his right nine yards to Cole Blackman, who turned, broke a tackle, and tore down the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown for a 14-14 tie. But Tre Coghill, who became a focal point for Mountain View's efforts, took the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to the Atlee 15.
Moments later, the Wildcats assumed the lead again on a two-yard run by Jamil Collison-Cofie for a 21-14 lead. The penalty flag, Atlee's actual worst enemy all night, cost Chris Green a 56-yard scamper to the one yard line as a chop block infraction negated the play.
Later, a Blackman punt return to the Mountain View went off the boards thanks to a hold. The Raiders would drive, but settle for a 23-yard Ethan Ratke field goal to cut the deficit to 21-17 with 3:33 left in the third.
"In practice, I play the referee, and what I've come to realize is I've got to call plays tighter," said Atlee head coach Roscoe Johnson, visibly surprised to see the statistic sheet that read 17 penalties for 254 yards. "We're in a new region, and we'll need to get used to how things are called."
As they opened the third with a score, the Raiders closed it with one as well, as Harris found a wide open J.J. Givens, whose Wildcat defender had fallen onto the turf, for a 70-yard touchdown to give Atlee its first lead at 24-21. The lead held, thanks in part to a defensive stand, stopping Mountain View short of a first and goal by one yard at the three with 6:02 remaining, until a frantic final three-minute stretch that left even veteran fans of high school football reeling from the action.
The Wildcats began the fury with a 42-yard drive in just 2:16, as quarterback Ahmad Tweedy hit Coghill over the middle in stride for an 18-yard touchdown and Mountain View surged ahead 28-24. Jebril Murray grabbed a short kickoff, giving Atlee the ball at their 45.
It was time for Harris to Blackman again, this time crossing the middle of the field on a short pattern, doing the rest with his feet, finding the sideline, joined by Givens who threw a key block just before the goal line for a 55-yard touchdown pitch and catch. In 20 seconds, Atlee had seized a 31-28 lead.
The Wildcats weren't done. A three-play, 66-yard drive was highlighted by Tweedy throwing long to Coghill, who beat double coverage for a 47-yard score with just 51 seconds left. Mountain View led 35-31, and their fans seemed confident of victory. Atlee had three timeouts, and three reliable weapons ready for one more round.
The Raiders began at their 35, needing 65 yards in 45 seconds. On third down, a screen to Givens earned ten yards and a first down. Out of a timeout, Harris took a deep shot to Justin Hall, and in an ironic moment, it was Mountain View's sixth and final penalty of the night, pass interference, that put Atlee in Mountain View territory at the 40 with :21 remaining.
Harris looked to Givens again, the South Carolina commit using his athleticism to turn a short pass into a 26-yard gain to the 14. Timeout was called with eleven seconds left. The play was called, the stage was set.
"I knew what the play was, I knew he (Blackman) had a corner route," Johnson said of the play call. "I knew if Justin (Hall) crossed the face of the front side safety, I knew he'd slow him down a little bit, and Blackman faked one way and was wide open."
The problem was, when Harris released the ball to the right back corner of the end zone, there was too much air. Blackman jumped with his defender, grabbed the ball, leaving the only question whether a foot was in the end zone.
The referee signaled touchdown. Raider Nation erupted, as Wildcat Nation descended into shock at just 6.6 seconds left.
Mountain View had one play from their 20 yard line, but Mason Cooper sacked Tweedy to send the Raiders to a second round game Friday in Leesburg against unbeaten defending 5A North Region champion Tuscarora.
"Where we are in the Richmond area, there's good football. We respect Tuscarora, but we don't fear them, and that's what I tell our kids about anything," Johnson said.
Blackman had five receptions for 177 yards and three scores, Givens six for 211 and two. The teams combined for 1,050 total yards, 603 of them in the breathtaking second half.
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Relive the game thanks to KG Media and our radio call on WHAN by going to the video on YouTube below!
