We ring in a New Year, 2025, but not before looking back at some results of significance to close out 2024.
With 23 points, five rebounds and five assists, Anthony Lewis was named MVP of the George Long Holiday Tournament at Wakefield as Oscar Smith soundly Potomac 82-45 in the Championship. Lewis had a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds the game before when they beat the host school, Wakefield, 77-38 in the semifinals.
While the Tigers remain at the top of the Class 6 rankings, there are a host of teams breathing down their necks, many of which hail from Northern Virginia as well as Landstown, a team they've run into several teams over the years in the postseason.
At the Class 5 level, two-time defending State Champ Woodside is one of two unbeatens in our rankings there with the surprise being Kellam, which is off to its first 9-0 start since the 2010-11 campaign when they went 27-1 overall and reached the regional semifinals. Norm Hassell's Knights have relied on great balance behind senior guard Alex Ethridge (12 PPG, 8 RPG, 7 APG), sophomore Trey Barnhart (16.3 PPG, 59% 2's, 48% 3's) and junior forward Sam Naidyhorski (16 PPG, 7 RPG) as well as 6'7" senior center J.T. Ellis (9 PPG, 8 RPG).
Potomac Falls Head Coach Jeff Hawes earned career win No. 500 when the Panthers beat Dominion by a count of 80-41 back on December 20th. His team is quietly rolling along with a potential showdown come playoff time lurking against a Riverside team that many view as the favorite in Region 5D.
John Handley and GW-Danville are at the top of the Class 4 rankings. GW-Danville faces Spotswood in the Chance Harman Classic in Floyd County. Spotswood was beaten by E.C. Glass, 49-45, in a game where the Hilltoppers knocked down six three-pointers compared to none for the Blazers.
Glass will take on unbeaten Northside, the two-time defending Class 3 State Champs, in the Chance Harman with their sights set on snapping a 22-game winning streak the Vikings are riding. Billy Pope's Vikings are putting up 78.6 PPG on the season after winning their own Northside Invitational Tournament in comfortable style.
There are a couple of surprises to some in Class 3 with New Kent at 9-0, averaging 79 points per game on the season while scoring over 90 on three occasions. Meridian, which made the State Tournament last winter, is at 7-0 as Jim Smith's Mustangs are walloping foes to the tune of 80.4 PPG and giving up just 39.3 PPG.
Altavista is coming off a dominant showing against Middlesex, 76-38, in the Championship of the Joe Ellis Holiday Classic at Surry in a game where they had 22 assists on 31 field goals, plus recorded 24 steals on defense. But the Colonels will have their hands full with Auburn at the Chance Harman Classic.
A couple of other noteworthy matchups this weekend in showcases include Class 6 title contender Hayfield taking on Class 4 State Tournament fixture Varina, while last season's Class 3 runner-up Lake Taylor faces a Westfield team that put forth a solid showing in winning Thomas Edison's Holiday Tournament to close out December.
See the VHSL Hoops Top Tens Entering 12-26-24 Here
See the VHSL Hoops Top Tens Entering 12-17-24 Here
Honorable Mention:
Forest Park (9-2)
Glen Allen (7-3)
George Marshall (7-4)
Robinson (7-3)
Brooke Point (8-4)
Honorable Mention:
J.R. Tucker (7-0)
Riverbend (8-1)
Nansemond River (6-2)
Indian River (7-0)
Honorable Mention:
Powhatan (7-0)
Monacan (6-1)
Warhill (6-2)
Smithfield (6-1)
Salem (5-1)
Honorable Mention:
Skyline (9-1)
Staunton (6-2)
Rustburg (6-2)
Honorable Mention:
Appomattox (6-2)
Bruton (4-4)
Greensville (5-2)
Honorable Mention:
Brunswick (6-3)
Matthew Hatfield serves as Publisher for VirginiaPreps.com, part of the Rivals.com Network. Check out Hatfield’s Twitter page for more sports related updates, and you can also read his work in the Suffolk News Herald. To contact Matthew, please e-mail hatfieldsports2k4@yahoo.com, and be sure to Subscribe to Hometown Sports Productions where you can hear his Podcasts.
