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HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Parry McCluer wins first ever hoops title; Pulaski County, PH girls finish as runner-ups

Spencer Hamilton scored 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks in the 56-39 win, as Parry McCluer won its first VHSL State Championship in program history. Ad“Two out of three years we’ve been to state title game, we get a little closer every year,” said Pulaski County head coach Scott Ratcliff. This season they reached a VHSL State Championship game for the first time in program history. The difference was, we made a few turnovers we didn’t want to and we had some shots that didn’t go in,” said Patrick Henry head coach Mike Hedrick. With the win Princess Anne has now won 8 consecutive VHSL State Championships, 12 overall as a program.

WATCH: Patrick Henry girls claim back-to-back Region 5D Titles

ROANOKE, Va. – Patrick Henry raced to a 20-5 advantage in the first quarter that was dominated by Savannah Derey. Though the shots didn’t fall at the rate that they would’ve liked, the Patriots remained tenacious at the defensive end. “We didn’t shoot the ball very well tonight but, we played really hard and refused to lose,” said Patrick Henry head coach Mike Hedrick. “[We] survived and advanced and now we have the opportunity to play for the final four, maybe the opportunity to maybe play for state title and that’s why we do this. The Patrick Henry boys will also host a Class 5 State Semifinal on Wednesday at 7pm when Stone Bridge comes to the Star City.

WATCH: Comets and Cougars go to 5 OTs, Radford boys and girls advance to Region Finals

ROANOKE, Va. – Pulaski County came out strong against Halifax County in the Region 4D Semifinal, building a 10 point first half lead. But Halifax County stayed disciplined, remained poised and closed the game strong to force overtime. In Radford both the boys and girls programs advanced to Region 2C Finals. The girls defeated Fort Chiswell 64-32, behind four three pointer from Haley Whitt. AdOther Wednesday night scores included:BOYS:Blacksburg 50, Amherst County 30Halifax County 75, Pulaski County 69, 5OTLiberty Christian 67, Fluvanna 53Floyd County 73, Fort Chiswell 39Radford 66, Glenvar 45Narrows 59, George Wythe-Wytheville 57Parry McCluer 44, Auburn 33GIRLS:Pulaski County 64, Salem 33Glenvar 52, Giles 42Radford 64, Fort Chiswell 32

WATCH: Fleming and Radford boys get wins on the hardwoods Tuesday night

ROANOKE, Va. – On senior night at William Fleming, Mickey Hardy’s Colonels paced themselves in a 59-43 victory over Franklin County. In Daleville, the highly touted Radford Bobcats put their show on the road, earning a 65-55 win over Lord Botetourt. The three-point machine, Cam Cormany, tallied 23 points in the win for the Bobcats. Other scores from Tuesday night included:BOYS SCORES:Cave Spring 66, William Byrd 43E.C. Glass 74, Heritage 10Nelson County 46, Altavista 36Northside 46, Glenvar 42Patrick County 58, GW-Danville 8Patrick Henry-Roanoke 64, Salem 43Timberlake Christian 46, Blue Ridge Christian 22William Fleming 45, Franklin County 34

Lord Botetourt girls basketball feeling grateful amid challenging preseason

DALEVILLE, Va. – After nearly nine months of no high school basketball, the Lord Botetourt Cavaliers were grateful to be back on the court. “I just want to take advantage of anything that I’m given this year,” senior Grace Taylor said. “So we’re in phase two in Botetourt which means we can’t pass the ball,” she said. “It’s really hard to game prep right now because we can’t do anything five on five, we can’t do anything five on zero, so we can’t pass and put in plays or anything like that,” Favaro said. “Whatever I’m given, I’m just looking to play, anything that is, just shooting or doing something with the team, I’m thankful for that,” Taylor finished.

High School hoops practice opens with restrictions

Roanoke, Va. – Monday marked the first day of basketball practice for the abbreviated VHSL winter season. But the Roanoke-Alleghany zone remaining in Phase 2 restrictions, practices are underway at schools including Patrick Henry with limitations. This also means less time for tryouts. Schools wait for the metrics to calm down in order to proceed with games, possibly later this month. The original VHSL guidelines marked December 21st as the first basketball game date, while other winter sports could begin competition on December 28th.

Local hoops coaching legends honored at Roanoke Valley Sports Club

Roanoke, Va. – Hoops slides into the spotlight at the Roanoke Valley Sports Club this month. Area basketball coaching legends Woody Deans, Burrall Paye, Ed Greene and Troy Wells were all recognized. The Roanoke native climbed the ladder from refereeing AAU games all the way to the NCAA final four. I was fortunate enought to be hired by the ACC in 1998 and still humbled and blessed,” Ayers says. There wasn’t a single one that I didn’t love to play against and love to go home and think 'Here’s what he did.

Another state honor for Cavaliers Veldman

Daleville, Va. It has been quite a run for Miette Veldman. The Lord Botetourt graduate leaves the Cavaliers program as one of the most decorated athletes ever to come through Daleville. Tuesday she is once again a scholarship winner after being named the Allstate VHSL Class 3 female athlete of the year. Veldman won five state championships and had six all-state first team selections while starring at Lord Botetourt in both volleyball and basketball. Dan Rivers Ethan Lewis was also honored as the boys Class 2 athlete of the year.

Lord Botetourt’s Miette Veldman joins the 1k club for the fourth time

DALEVILLE, Va. – In the world of Class 3 volleyball and girls basketball, Lord Botetourt has taken the cake the past few years. One of those being senior Miette Veldman. “We had heard a lot about how good the middle school was, but coach (Chuck) Pound and I hadn’t heard about Miette. But volleyball and basketball have gone hand-in-hand for Veldman, and she’s had success on both courts. Veldman has had 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in volleyball and 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in basketball.

Northside's gym to be named after coach Bill Pope

ROANOKE, Va. – Another honor for longtime Northside head boys basketball coach Bill Pope. The Roanoke County school board voted Thursday night to name Northside's gym after the veteran coach who has won more than 500 games in a 33-year coaching career, including the school's first boys basketball state championship this season. The county policy is to not honor an individual in this way until they are no longer a part of the school system for one year. The policy was not changed, but an exception was made for coach Pope.

Northside returns to state finals

ROANOKE, Va. – For the second time in three years the Vikings of Northside will play for the VHSL Class 3 title. And after surviving another VHSL gauntlet, Coach Bill Pope says his team is used to the "go big or go home" mentality. You know that we have to come out and play or it ends, that's how it works, so. The 27-1 Vikings will face Phoebus Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at the Siegel Center on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Northside is led by 6-7 James Madision signee Julien Wooden, who scored 36 points in the Vikings' state semifinal win over Cave Spring.

Fleming girls, Radford boys post region tournament victories

ROANOKE, Va. – For the second time in as many years, the Region 5D final is an all Roanoke affair. William Fleming flogged Potomac 79-43 while Patrick Henry defeated Brooke Point 53-39. In other girls action Friday night, Carroll Co. won the 4D title over Pulaski Co. by a 44-36 score. On the boys side, Jefferson Forest needed overtime to outlast GW Danville 61-54 for the boyd 4D title. In the 5D boys tournament, Patrick Henry was eliminated on the road by a 67-64 score at Potomac.

Cave Spring prepares for River Ridge final Friday night

ROANOKE, Va. – Cave Spring hasn't run into many teams that can match them but their opponent in the River Ridge District final is one of them. The Knights have been battle tested all season and feel confident heading into Friday nights contest against Patrick Henry. Now sitting at 19-4, with a regular season district title already in the case,this once-young team is showing poise to make a deeper run. "These guys have been battle tested," said head coach Jacob Gruse. Cave Spring will battle Patrick Henry for the River Ridge District Tournament title at 6 p.m. Friday.