With a relatively disappointing 10-12 season last year, Meadowbrook under second-year head coach Sam Bryant will look to push their players to improve to make the playoffs and become contenders, after failing to qualify in 2018-19. Departures: Isaiah Richardson, Alphonzo Mason, Kelly Jones Jr., Duane Watkins. Richardson will be playing for Erie Community College, Mason for Coastal Florida Prep, and Jones Jr. for Fork Union Academy. Watkins will be attending Norfolk State University just as a student. Returning players: Lamondre Gregg, Sincere Clark, Ezekial Edwards, Gary Ampy, and James Patterson. Backcourt: The Monarchs’ backcourt includes seniors Gregg and Ampy, and…

Head coach William Simon and Carver Academy reflect proudly on last year’s successes, but are hungry for more. A 21-win season culminated in the state quarterfinals loss to the Rappahannock Raiders, 68-60. Simon has some key returners, as well as some depth from last season that could star this year. Departures: Travis Williams, Ryan Johnson, Corey Atkins, Michael McQuinn, Damian Mosher, and Mikael Jaaber. Williams and Johnson both decided to transfer to new schools coming into the new year. Mosher will be playing basketball at Patrick Henry Community College while Jaaber will be suiting up for Carolina Basketball Academy. Returning…

Once a top program, Thomas Dale has slowly been closing the gap back to being a contender under coach Leon Gholson, who enters his fifth season. Their 16-7 mark last year was the best during Gholson’s tenure. The Knights fell to Cosby in the region at semi-finals, 58-47. Departures: Jessica Henderson, Daizjah Brown, Jaiyden Winfield Henderson is playing basketball at Lees McRae in North Carolina, and Brown is suiting up at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Key returning players: Aliyah Kellum, Rana Richie Backcourt: Rana Richie, Elayna Givens and Ayanni Madison will be the top guard’s in Gholson’s rotation.…

Matoaca girls’ basketball had a landmark season under Glenna Lewis, winning 18 games and advancing to the second round of the region 5B tournament, where the team fell to Highland Springs. This year, they lost just two players, and five seniors return. This is a group that’s clearly hungry for more and could push L.C. Bird for local supremacy during the 2019-20 season. Departed players: Jania Harrison, Nadja Gray Returning players: Jordan Carpenter, Aliyah Coleman, Aliyah Jackson, Maia Pettaway, Alize Armstead Jordan Carpenter fights for a rebound. Backcourt: This will be an experienced and deep group, even down to sophomore…

By Soren Rutherford After completing a regular season that saw Meadowbrook finish with an 11-11 record and a loss in the 5B quarterfinals to Highland Springs, 74-46. head coach Daniel Connor and the Monarchs are looking to have the same success they had two years ago, when they went 15-5. Departures: Jayahna Jenkins and Taiye Johnson Johnson, a first-team All-Region player, will be playing basketball for the Highlanders at the University of Radford. She locked up 14 double-doubles during the 2018-19 season. Returning players: Tamiia Anglin, Jayla Johnson, Jaylynn Johnson, Madison Howard, Maya Ellis, and Tiona Moore. Backcourt: Meadowbrook’s top…