Sports

The McNeely family: Mike, Michelle, Taylor and Caleb.

Meet the McNeelys

By Josh Mathews on January 30, 2020 Community, Sports

Competitive spirit nets them success Family isn’t just an important thing. For some, it’s everything. It’s certainly proved that way for the McNeelys. The family got its start when basketball standout Michelle, who was raised in Colonial Heights, moved away to Louisville, and then back to the area. That’s when she met Mike McNeely, who was a football player at Colonial Heights known for his dashing mullet. It was love at first sight. They finished their degrees by way of Richard Bland and VCU and soon, there were children – Taylor and Caleb – on the way. The family now…

Manns talks with Brycen Blaine during their 73-41 victory over Freedom (Woodbridge).

Manns with a plan

By Josh Mathews on January 30, 2020 Basketball

Skyhawks coach drives development through hard work Actress Priyanka Chopra once said: “I believe destiny and hard work go hand and hand.” Not only that, it can shape our futures. For L.C. Bird boys’ basketball coach Troy Manns, living the Chopra formula has made him one of the most successful high school basketball coaches in Virginia over the past decade. The 2019-20 rendition of the Skyhawks team featured only one proven player before the season started: senior point guard Tyler Henderson. The roster also includes eight sophomores and a freshman, the youngest team since Manns’ second year at the school.…

Basketball Recaps

By Josh Mathews on January 30, 2020 Basketball

With just under a month left in the regular season, Village News area basketball teams are readying themselves and jockeying for playoff position as the season wears on. Four teams got through the week unscathed in the loss column. The Meadowbrook and Thomas Dale boys both won their only games of the week. The Monarchs dispatched Prince George, while the Knights took care of Dinwiddie. The Carver Academy boys won both of their games, defeating Charles City and West Point. On the girls side, Meadowbrook extended their winning streak to three games, defeating both Thomas Dale and Dinwiddie. Kyah Smith…

Basketball Box Scores

By Josh Mathews on January 30, 2020 Basketball

L.C. Bird boys (11-4) L.C. Bird 67Powhatan 36Stats not reported Manchester 54L.C. Bird 32Stats not reported Western Branch 56L.C. Bird 39Bird stats: Keyontae Lewis 13 pts, 10 reb; Yuri Manns 8 pts; Aubriel Wingfield 7 pts; Bryce Blaine 6 pts L.C. Bird girls (11-5) King’s Fork 45L.C. Bird 32Bird stats: Kameron Brown 12 pts; Kyah Smith 10 pts, 5 reb; S’Zahria Jones 10 pts, 6 reb L.C. Bird 65Powhatan 50Bird stats: S’Zahria Jones 22 pts, 19 reb, 5 stl, 3 asst, 2 blk; Kyah Smith 16 pts, 4 reb, 4 asst; Alexis Miller 9 pts, 9 reb, 4 stl; Kielle…

Dale alum Sloan named offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech

By Josh Mathews on January 22, 2020 Football

Joe Sloan, who played quarterback at Thomas Dale in 2004 and 2005, is now the offensive coordinator for Louisiana Tech’s football team. “I am thankful to Coach Holtz for this opportunity,” said Sloan to Crescent City Sports. “He has done an unbelievable job of building the culture and program at L.A. Tech.” Sloan was hired at the Ruston, La., school originally in 2013 and worked his way up the coaching ladder. Previously, he was an offensive quality control assistant at South Florida. As a college player, he walked on at East Carolina and played in all 41 games as the…

Gray, Hayden, Simmons earn roster spots

By Josh Mathews on January 22, 2020 Football

Three Matoaca athletes have been offered roster spots on Division III rosters. Brendan Gray and Jimmy Hayden were given offers by North Carolina Wesleyan, while Gage Simmons attracted the attention of Bridgewater. In 2019, Gray rushed for 105 yards on offense, but stood out more on defense, finishing fourth on the team with 36 tackles and tallying three quarterback sacks. Hayden was an even bigger impact player on defense, placing second on the team with 63 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks. Simmons was an All-Region performer in 2018, but tore his ACL on the first play in Matoaca’s first game…

L.C. Bird basketball player Promyse Ferguson.

Basketball Recap

By Josh Mathews on January 22, 2020 Basketball

Turning in the best week were the L.C. Bird boys (11-2), knocking off George Wythe, Monacan and James River. The season has been successful despite them only retaining one player, senior point guard Tyler Henderson, with any significant varsity experience. Henderson, leading a young group, dished out ten assists in a victory over Monacan. There’s little doubt that at least a couple of those were to Promyse Ferguson, who connected on seven of eight three-point attempts in the win. L.C. Bird basketball player Promyse Ferguson. Also completing an all-win week were once again the Lady Warriors of Matoaca (12-1). The…

Basketball Box Scores

By Josh Mathews on January 22, 2020 Basketball

L.C. Bird boys (11-2) L.C. Bird 59George Wythe 44Stats not reported L.C. Bird 61Monacan 46Bird stats: Promyse Ferguson 23 pts (7-8 3pt), 3 reb; Tyler Henderson 22 pts, 10 asst, 4 stl; Keyontae Lewis 8 pts, 5 reb, 2 blk; Bryce Blaine 6 pts, 5 reb L.C. Bird 58James River 49Stats not reported L.C. Bird girls (9-4) L.C. Bird 63George Wythe 17Bird stats: Kyah Smith 16 pts, 8 asst, 7 stl; Nevaeh Nicholas 8 pts, 5 reb; Jazmeir Brown 8 pts, 4 reb; Camille Martin 6 pts, 2 reb, 2 stl; Taniyah Wallace 6 pts; Kayla Edmonds 6 pts Monacan…

Coach Kevin Healy during his time coaching at South Lakes High in Fairfax.

Meadowbrook hires Healy to lead football program

By Josh Mathews on January 14, 2020 Football

This past week, Meadowbrook football introduced a new coach. The school hopes Kevin Healy can turn around a proud program that’s fallen on hard times. Healy, a coaching veteran served as the offensive coordinator for South Lakes High School in Fairfax for four years, and was named the head coach there in 2018. After a move to the Richmond area, Healy got a job teaching at Salem Church Middle School, then applied for the Monarchs position after Chamont Thompson resigned. “The program has a lot of potential,” said Healy. “It’s certainly in a talent-rich area, and it has really awesome…

Basketball Recaps

By Josh Mathews on January 14, 2020 Basketball

By Josh Mathews It was an excellent week for Village News-area basketball teams, as they were able to win 17 of 21 games played in the week ending Jan.12. Leading the way were the L.C. Bird boys (8-2) and girls (8-2), who each went a perfect 3-0 on the week. The boys took wins over Clover Hill, Cosby, and Highland Springs in the Lawson Classic. The girls won three against Clover Hill, Midlothian, and Cosby. The boys have received balanced play from their roster, headlined by unsigned senior Tyler Henderson,who should see an uptick in his recruiting this year. Promyse…

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