Posted on 01 December 2008 by .
LoudounPrepSports.com 2008-09 Boys Basketball Preview
AA Dulles District
2007-08 Rewind: Heritage boys went 11-3 in the AA Dulles District to win their third straight title (they were co-champions with Potomac Falls the year before) but the Pride finished the year with losses in three of their final four games, falling to Loudoun County in the regular season finale, then losing to County again in the district tournament semifinals before falling to Handley in the regional quarterfinals … Potomac Falls was just 3-5 heading into January but the Panthers finished strong at 10-4 in district and then took the district tournament title with victories over Freedom, Park View and Loudoun County to advance to the regional playoffs where PF lost to Orange County … Also finishing a game behind Heritage in the regular season was Park View at 10-4 … Loudoun County opened the year with seven straight wins but settled for fourth in the Dulles with a 9-5 mark … Dominion reached .500 under new coach Steve Douglas with a 7-7 district mark and 11-11 overall … Broad Run struggled down the stretch, finishing eight straight losses and a 5-9 district mark … Freedom, under new coach Kevin Weeren, had a mid-season slump, falling in 10 of 11 games, to finish 4-10 in district … Briar Woods notched the school’s first ever victories, three over private schools, but went winless once again in district play … In AAA, Loudoun Valley went 8-6 in the tough Cedar Run District and after an overtime win over Fauquier in the district quarterfinals, fell to Osbourn Park in the semifinals to end 15-8 overall … Stone Bridge struggled in the AAA Liberty District, going o-14, and winning just four games total on the year.
2008 Outlook
Coaches: In the Dulles District more than three-quarters of the coaches in the league are in either their first or second season with their clubs including three new coaches (John Costello at Broad Run, Greg Grimes at Heritage and Mike Koscinski at Park View) and three second-year coaches (Mike Benson at Briar Woods, Steve Douglas at Dominion and Kevin Weeren at Freedom). That makes LC coach Brian Blubaugh the second longest tenured coach in the Dulles entering his fourth season. Potomac Falls coach Jeff Hawes, who started the Panther program in 1997, has almost as many seasons (12th) with his school as the other seven coaches combined (13).
In AAA, Chad Dawson starts his sixth year at Loudoun Valley and Sonny Green makes it five season at Stone Bridge.
Preseason Coaches Poll: Before the seaon got underway two weeks ago, we asked the Dulles District coaches, how they saw the race shaping up. Here are the results:
1. Loudoun County
2. Broad Run
3. Dominion
4. Potomac Falls
5. Park View
6. Heritage
7. Freedom
8. Briar Woods
The top two teams in the preseason poll have yet to lose a game heading into the district opener on Dec. 12.
LPS Editor Dan Sousa puts his spin on the Dulles District: The last two years have been real toss-ups with at least three teams within a game of the lead and expect more of the same in 2008-09 … Loudoun County would be the overwhelming favorite if four starters back from last year but Brett Tagg’s knee injury in football will sideline him the entire season … Broad Run and Potomac Falls will put players on the court that have won up and down the line starting at the youngest age levels with the Panthers being really young. Pencil in PF as our favorite for the 2009-10 season, but that doesn’t mean that the Panthers don’t have a good chance to make the playoffs this year … At Heritage there is good continuity with new coach Grimes having coached under Mark Mallisham but the Pride lost a bevy of seniors, then again, don’t we say that about Heritage every year and they always find a way to win … Dominiion is a team to watch with their “Two DeAndre’s”, the district’s top scorer in DeAndre Albritton and sophomore DeAndre Reaves, who no doubt wants to erase memories of the football season with a good hoops season. Albritton is the player most likely in the league to bust out for 30+ points and he could do that in a half if he gets hot enough … Park View is a question mark but they have talent led by Marcus Freeman and new coach Koscinski should inject some life into the program … Freedom is in the second year of Weeren installing his total program. The Eagles continue to be a team that just make some teams uncomfortable to play, especially the last two years Broad Run and Heritage … Briar Woods will win a Dulles Disrict game this season, there we said it! In fact, one area coach tabs Briar Woods as a team that could suprise some teams if taken lightly.
In AAA, Loudoun Valley playing County to within a point proves that Chad Dawson’s Vikes would be in the mix for a Dulles District title but Valley plays in the Cedar Run District and play is up a notch from the AA Dulles. We expect Valley to again be in that semifinal district game with a chance to move onto regionals … Stone Bridge is improved from last year, having already matched the win total in the early stages and expect Sonny Green to have his team off and running for all four quarters.
Team by Team Look
AA Dulles District
Briar Woods
2007-08 Record: 0-14 district, 3-20 overall
3-Year snapshot: 0-41 in district, 3-65 overall
Coach: Mike Benson (2nd season)
Key losses: Isaiah Nicholson
Key Returners: Karl Etienne, Nate Burcak
Newcomers to Watch: Myles Tate (freshman), Philip Hardy (transfer from Loudoun Valley), Matt Roush (transfer from Loudoun Valley)
Benson on his team’s outlook: “We have great potential for this season and the future. We are again very young with only one senior on the team. Our size is a weakness. We are a pretty deep team and can rotate fresh legs in at any time.”
Benson on district race: “There are some terrific players still in the district who you have to be aware of. There continue to be great coaches who will have their teams ready to play each night. I see Broad Run and Loudoun County as being serious contenders this season in the district. Dominion returns one of the top players in the area so they will certainly be dangerous.”
Broad Run Spartans
Ashburn (school opened 1969)
2007-08 Record: 5-9 district, 7-16 overall
3-Year snapshot: 26-16 in district, 47-28 overall
Coach: John Costello (1st season)
Key losses: R.J. Jasper, Shane Johnson, Scott Hiatt, Martin Thomas
Key Returners: Kevin McGaughey, Wes Malychev, Breon Earl, Didie Saidi, Kevin Sandersen
Newcomers to Watch: Tim Sanders and Will Field (both played football and lacrosse last year), Taylor Johnson (sophomore)
Costello on his team’s outlook: See video interview
Costello on district race: See video interview
Dominion Titans
Sterling (school opened 2003)
2007-08 Record: 7-7 in district, 11-11 overall
3-Year snapshot: 16-26 district, 24-45 overall
Coach: Steve Douglas (2nd year)
Key losses: Ben Dickerson, Scott Zurish, and Balraaj Najiar
Key Returners: DeAndre Albritton Returning All-District Player of the Year, DeAndre Reaves sophomore Guard
Newcomers to Watch: (none listed by coach)
Douglas on his team’s outlook: “A senior laden team that looks to compete for their first district title. 10 seniors on the team with All-Region player DeAndre Albritton leading the way scoring.”
Douglas on district race: “Tough and Competitive. It will be a dog fight for the top spot in the district.”
Freedom Eagles
South Riding (school opened 2005)
2007-08 Record: 4-10 district, 5-18 overall
3-Year snapshot: 11-30 district, 16-52 overall
Coach: Kevin Weeren (2nd year)
Key losses: Henry Brisbe (16.2 ppg/Mary Washington), Troy Dockett (17 ppg/Frostburg State)
Key Returners: David Conrow, Ron Campbell, Kendall Jackson, Ethan Stewart
Newcomers to Watch: Mike Marceron, John Sonnenberg, Javid Kargar-Zahir, Brian Orr, Mark Muhlenburg, Chuck Thompson
Weeren on his team’s outlook: See video interview
Weeren on district race: See video interview
Heritage Pride
Leesburg (school opened in 2002)
2007-08 Record: 11-3 disrict, 14-10 overall
3-Year Snapshot: 36-6 district, 53-22 overall
Coach: Greg Grimes (1st year)
Key losses: Lost 9 seniors to graduation last year, including 5 starters and other key contributors.
Key Returners: Stephen Shockley returns this year as a senior after a solid year for us last year as a junior on a senior dominated team.
Newcomers to Watch: Elijah Calhoun, up from JV team, should provide quality minutes in the post.
Grimes on team’s outlook: “We are a very young team this season. Having lost 9 seniors to graduation, we are expecting leadership from our returning seniors to help with the progression of our younger players. Our out of district schedule is very tough, and we hope to use this schedule to get better consistently and contend for the Dulles District Title as the season plays out.”
Grimes on district race: “I think that the Dulles District race will be very competitive this season – I expect it to be a “dogfight.”
Loudoun County Raiders
Leesburg (school opened 1954)
2007-08 Record: 9-5 district, 18-5 overall
3-Year snapshot: 21-21 district, 36-36 overall
Coach: Brian Blubaugh (4th year)
Key losses: Donne Lucas, Brett Tagg, D.J. Lane
Key Returners: Joe Bushrod, Tim McLister, Rick Cottom
Newcomers to Watch: Austin Campbell, Tyler Larson, Mahir Mrkonjic
Blubaugh on team’s outlook: See video interview
Blubaugh on district race: See video interview
Park View Patriots
Sterling (school opened 1976)
2007-08 Record: 10-4 district, 16-7 overall
3-Year snapshot: 27-15 district, 42-29 overall
Coach: Mike Koscinski (1st year)
Key losses: Thomas Mulabah, Danny Foley, C.J. Leizear, Brett Dufford
Key Returners: Marcus Freeman, Jordan Owens, Josh Jones, Kenny Smith, Donnie Royer
Newcomers to Watch: Chad Pennington (played JV last year), Kurt Schray (took last season off), Brandon Absher, Tim French (JV last year and little time on Var.), Akash Singh, David Diggs, Nathan Santana, Sawyer Hackett
Koscinski on team’s outlook: “We have 9 seniors. Out of those nine, 4 were on Varsity lasty year. We have 5 senior newcomers to Varsity who am I am looking for contributions from and to add depth to our bench. We have 4 juniors on Varsity who will compliment the seniors. This is a senior laden team and I am looking for them to provide leadership and set the tone day in and day out. We need need to take one day at a time as wel gel as a unit and develop team chemistry. Many of the core players have known each other for years, which gives us a jump start. This is a new setting for us as a team and we are working hard to build a new culture within the program at Park View. We are all new to each other with a new staff and a mix of players who had not been on Varsity before. We’re still getting to know eachother and build relationships that translate to success on the floor. We are off to a good start to that regard and our seniors have taken this task quite seriously. We look to play an exciting style of transition basketball and look to attack on offense and defense. The players have seemed to embrace our new style of play and have worked very hard in practice to learn the new system and prepare for the season. I want my players to have fun while out on the court and to play instinctively without second guessing themselves. I’m looking for us to develop over the course of the season and my goal is for us to play our best basketball leading into Districts and beyond. Our players have worked hard this pre-season and I look for that to continue as we strive to get better each day.”
Koscinski on district race: “I am not very good at predictions. That said. I think the district is up for grabs this year and will be very competitive. With the absence of many big men, I look for guard play to dominate the landscape in the district. Any of the 8 teams could knock each other off on any given night. My approach is for us not to take anything for granted and to come prepared each night.”
Potomac Falls Panthers
Sterling (school opened in 1997)
2007-08 Record: 10-4 district, 17-9 overall
3-Year snapshot: 30-12 district, 51-25 overall
Coach: Jeff Hawest (12th year)
Key losses: Graduated 7 seniors. Entire starting 5. Alex Hogue – First team all district and 31 points in title game.
Key Returners: Senior Gregory Woodlief returns and is an outstanding leader for us at Point guard. Senior Kevin Bartnick should have an excellent year on the wing. Junior Tarrell Owens is a tremendous athlete at the power forward position. All 3 had significant minutes last year as well as very productive seasons and are ready to take the reigns of Panther Basketball this year.
Newcomers to Watch: Gregory Graves, a 6’5″ Freshman, is only the second Freshman ever to make Potomac Falls Varsity and could be the first ever Freshman to start. He is very athletic and has a 6’11” wingspan. Lukas Mihailovich was with us until 8th grade, moved to California for only one year and has moved back. He is a sophomore and a very talented wing player.
Hawes on team’s outlook: “Not many kids have drivers licenses on our team, so it’s a good thing we ride a bus to games!! We do have seven seniors actually, but we have 3 sophomores and a freshman who are very talented and should see plenty of minutes. 3 of the seniors did not play varsity last year. How the experience and youth blends together might determine how far we go this year. We are very excited about our possibilities, but we will just have to see how fast and how much we grow. We hope to challenge for the crown as we have won the regular season/tournament/ or both for 6 of the last seven years. There is something special in our jersey’s that we have built for the last 11 years. We have NEVER graduated all 5 starters, but this team is probably the most athletic team that I have ever had and that falls right into the style that I like to play/coach with.”
Hawes on district race: “I would say that this is the hardest year to predict that I have seen in years. You can generally pick the top 3-4 every year and be close. It could really go a lot of different ways this year.”
AAA Teams
Cedar Run District
Loudoun Valley Vikings
Purcellville (school opened in 1962)
2007-08 Record: 8-6 district, 15-8 overall
3-Year Snapshot: 8-6 district (Vikes did not play district schedule while in National District), 43-26 overall
Coach: Chad Dawson (6th year)
Key losses: Josh Mallory (5’9″, 165lbs) – currently playing at Eastern Mennonite Univ., he was 1st team all Cedar Run District and led us in scoring 15.8ppg and rebounding with 5.9rpg.
Key Returners: Seniors – Connor Trombly 7ppg, Jamie Clarke, Ryan Mueller, and starting point guard Drew MacMahon 4ppg, 4 assists per game, Juniors Cody Mangano 8ppg, and honorable mention all Ceadr Run District player Django DeGree 8ppg.
Newcomers to Watch: 6’5″ Freshmen Forward John Yoxthimer is a versatile scorer inside and out. Shoots the ball well from three point range. Also, 6’5″ Junior Center, Grant Hutton has excellent hands and footwork around the basket.
Dawson on team’s outlook: “We have a lot of work to do since our district is very competitive. Last season their was one game seperating 1st and 4th place at the end of the season. We have to get better defensively, but we have looked suprisingly better on offense than I expected this season so far. Our seniors have played very unselfishly which is a trademark of our team play and a key ingredient to our success. One improtant factor for us is the fact that basketball season started on Nov. 10th and we actually will have had 2 full weeks of practice before our first game for the first time since 2003-04 – our elite 8 team who lost in the regional finals to eventuall State Champion RE Lee of Stafford, VA. We will need every practice as we play the top four teams in our district all before Christmas. We have several “blender” players returning, and physical team defense will be vital to our success again this season. 5 times last season we held teams to single digits in a half and will have to again this season to win. One thing we haven’t had since I have been here is relatively tall players who are long and athletic. We should be able to put pressure on teams with our length and rebounding.”
Dawson on district race: “We were picked last in the Cedar Run District last season (2007-08) and finished the season 4th out of 8 teams, although we were tied for 1st place most of the season. Fauquier – has the District player of the year returning (5th place last season) and Liberty (3rd place last season) has every starter retruning from a year ago. Osbourn Park and Battlefield (regional qualifiers) have most players back, so it wouldn’t suprise me if we were picked last again this season or in the bottom half of our district. Although I think we might suprise a few people again this year as our kids are working very hard.”
Liberty District
Stone Bridge Bulldogs
Ashburn (school opened 2000)
2007-08 Record: 0-14 district, 4-19 overall
3-year Snapshot: 9-33 district, 22-47 overall
Coach: Sonny Green (5th year)
Key losses: K.C. Whitaker
Key Returners: Ryan Lowdermilk, Jerel Wright, Ricci Patrick, Michael Prince
Newcomers to Watch: Nik Brown (transfer from Paul VI), Richie Berry (transfer), Brian Slay (didn’t go out last year), Kyle Gouveia (up from JV)
Green on team’s outlook: See video interview
Green on district race: See video interview
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