It was an adventurous 2023-24 season in Virginia High School Basketball across the board. Yet, for many of the twists and turns, highlight-reel moments and exciting games and finishes along the way, there didn't prove to be tons of drama throughout the State Basketball Playoffs.

Only one overtime game took place on the Boys side in the State Playoffs - a 58-53 win by Hayfield over Landstown in the Class 6 quarterfinals - and the most memorable buzzer-beater came this year in the semifinal round with L.C. Bird's Demarion Hunt burying a three-pointer from just inside half-court to propel the Skyhawks past Albemarle, 47-45. Ironically enough, Bird had an instant classic seven years earlier, a 61-59 double-overtime triumph over Albemarle, in the 2017 State Semis at Hampton University on their way to a Championship.

In terms of the six State Champs - South Lakes in Class 6, Woodside in Class 5, Hampton in Class 4, Northside in Class 3, John Marshall in Class 2 and Lancaster in Class 1 - there was just one squad capturing their first ever title. That was South Lakes in Class 6, which avenged a regular season loss to Patriot by beating the Pioneers soundly, 65-39, at VCU. Junior Jordan Scott put on a show with 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor to go with five rebounds and a couple of blocks for the Seahawks.

A year ago, Woodside had a dramatic comeback from 16 points down in the Class 5 title game against Patrick Henry-Roanoke, edging the Patriots on a buzzer-beater. They didn't need late-game heroics this time around for its repeat, rolling past L.C. Bird 53-33 as Silas Barksdale dominated around the cup with 17 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks.

The closest Championship game of them all on the Boys side was in Class 4, where Hampton saw its 15-point lead with under four minutes to go become considerably smaller, holding a comeback from Tuscaora as they won 66-63. Coach Eric Brown's Crabbers finished with a commanding 34-8 advantage in paint points against the perimeter-driven Huskies.

Coach Billy Pope of Northside achieved his 648th career win, third in the State Championship round and second in a row as his Vikings toppled a Lake Taylor team with a towering front-line, 73-58 for the Class 3 crown. Juniors Mykell Harvey (27 points) and Cy Hardy (17 points, six assists, three steals) led the way for Northside in completing its mission of back-to-back Championships.

No team at any level has been more dominant recent years of VHSL basketball than Ty White's John Marshall Justices, who outscored their Class 2 State Tournament foes by an average of 56.7 points per game. That included beating Virginia High by a whopping margin of 87-32 in the Final for their sixth state title in 14 years under White. Ashaun Moore led the balanced, explosive attack with 18 points.

In the Class 1 title game, it was a frantic finish for the Lancaster Red Devils, who erased an 11-point deficit and doubled up Auburn 26-13 in the final quarter for a 65-59 victory that brought them their second consecutive State Championship. Troy Henderson thrilled the fans at the Siegel Center with 30 points, seven rebounds and four steals, while Daevon Smith more than helped out as his running mate, contributing 24 points, seven rebounds and five steals in his finest moment with the Northern Neck school.

Check out the Final Playoff Brackets and Top Ten Rankings below...

See the Final Playoff Brackets for 2023-24 Here

Honorable Mention:

Alexandria City (19-7)

W.T. Woodson (16-10)

Madison (15-13)

Wakefield (21-5)

Honorable Mention:

Patrick Henry-Roanoke (18-6)

Norview (15-10; 14-9*)

Riverside (16-11)

* Indicates Record not including Eastern District Tournament games

Honorable Mention:

Courtland (17-8)

E.C. Glass (15-9)

Henrico (18-5)

Atlee (16-9)

* Indicates Record not including Eastern District Tournament games

Honorable Mention:

Cave Spring (15-10)

Staunton (17-7)

Rustburg (19-4)

Carroll County (21-3)

* Indicates Record not including Eastern District Tournament games

Honorable Mention:

Clarke County (20-9)

Greensville (19-6)

Union (18-10)

Amelia (16-8)

Honorable Mention:

Chilhowie (17-11)

Patrick Henry-Glade Spring (19-10)

Westmoreland (13-8)

Grundy (17-9)

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