Charles Falden in action at Winthrop University. Charles FaldenL.C. Bird High Guard/forward Sophomore, Winthrop Falden was the 2016 Class 5 Player of the Year for L.C. Bird High and posted many memorable performances for the Skyhawks during his time there. Interestingly, Falden didn’t have a single “position,” which made recruiting more difficult for him. After a prep year at Massanutten Military Academy, Falden caught on with Winthrop University, a successful program in Rock Hill, S.C., and a member of the Big South Conference. Falden is getting significant minutes off the bench and has impressed as of late when given increased…

Coach Glenna Lewis has Matoaca High’s girls basketball team playing arguably the best basketball they have played in her nine-year tenure. Building off last year’s 19-win season, the Warriors have shot out of the gate, winning nine of their first 10 games. “Like we thought in the preseason, we have been able to play our whole team in the majority of our games,” Lewis said. “That definitely helps us out defensively.” “We are playing well in all position,” Lewis said. “We are seeing players develop and mature as we play and have had people step up big in pressure games,…

Jaden Watkins For L.C. Bird High’s girls basketball, it’s been more of the same this year – success in the face of whatever circumstances arise. Led in part by sisters Kielle and Kiyah Shaw’s defensive prowess, the Skyhawks have jumped out to a 7-1 start despite playing without last year’s leading scorer, Mya Coleman, who is lost for the season, and Kameron Brown, another important offensive player. “We don’t have a secret that we live by at Bird. Everyone asks what our secret is,” head coach Chevette Waller said. “The girls buy into what we do. They know that defense…

ABOVE: The Matoaca Middle School girls basketball team recently won the Chesterfield County championship and finished the season with a 12-1 record. The team was honored at the Dec. 12 board of supervisors meeting. From left: assistant coach Donald Pollard, head coach Kim Pond, Brianna Montalvo, Alexa Whitlow, Ava Walker, Lauryn George, Samantha Smith, Allyson Booth, LiLa Donnelly, Kylie Booth, Emily Clark, Addison Thompson, Alyssa Thompson, Kennedy Murrell, Jada Coleman (obstructed) and Matoaca District supervisor Steve Elswick. Not pictured: Faith Brown, Abigail Wells, Kendra Carter, manager Elizabeth Stevenson and assistant coach Kym Donnelly. The Matoaca Middle School girls basketball team recently…