VHSL Playoffs: Class 6A North Region Preview
The Favorite: Westfield Doug Ewell leads an experienced group which is firing on all cylinders at the moment. Tyler Scanlon and Blake Francis scored 25 of their 27 first quarter points in their conference championship win vs. Chantilly. They’ve been steady…
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Continue ReadingThe Favorite: Westfield
Doug Ewell leads an experienced group which is firing on all cylinders at the moment. Tyler Scanlon and Blake Francis scored 25 of their 27 first quarter points in their conference championship win vs. Chantilly. They’ve been steady all season, averaging over 43 points per game between the two of them. If the Bulldogs want to take care of unfinished business, however, it will need to be the supporting cast who must step up. Hank Johnson, Kory Jones, and Joe Katchmark are a big reason why they have not lost since mid-December. They must continue to play at a high level for the Bulldogs to succeed.
Primary Challengers:
West Springfield – Behind Lewis Djonkam’s 30-point, 10-rebound effort last night, the Spartans advanced past Osbourn and will face Herndon tonight. Look for the return of Brock Vaughn from suspension to revitalize them as they look to make a regional final four appearance.
Battlefield – The Bobcats are clicking at the right time. Fresh off another conference 8 regular season title, Randy Bills’ bunch looks to return to the final four again. They’re led by 6-foot-4 2016 forward Blake Pagon, who has been a double-double machine as a result of his tireless motor.
West Potomac – The Wolverines were crowned conference 7 champions last week, and look to ride momentum in to regionals. Conference tournament MVP Khalil Williams-Diggins is a dynamic and explosive lead guard. His ability to score and dictate tempo will be crucial for West Potomac.
The Darkhorse:
If Brian Nelson’s Robinson Rams can find a way to upset the #2 seed West Potomac Wolverines, anything is possible. The Rams would draw the winner of Battlefield/Chantilly and avoid a matchup with Westfield or West Springfield until the final. 2017 guard Markos Eyob is Robinson’s leading scorer. He’s a skilled guard who owns a nice blend of speed to go along with an advanced feel for the game. Look for him to be the focal point of their offense. Fellow junior guard Luke Ferguson has proved to be among the best dead-eye 3 point shooters in the region. Look for his teammates to find him and set him up for open looks.
Watch List (scoring avg.):
Westfield – 2016: Tyler Scanlon (23.4), Blake Francis (20.8), Hank Johnson (12.3), Kory Jones (8.3), Joe Katchmark (5.6)
Herndon – 2017: Mike Griffin (16.8), Liam Harrington (15.2); 2018 James Lee (16.9)
Battlefield – 2016 Blake Pagon (18.8), 2017 Shonari Street (11.8), 2018 Brayden Gault (12.8)
West Potomac – 2016 Jamie Sara (13.9), 2017 Khalil Williams-Diggins (16.4), 2019 Daryl Mackey Jr. (11.8)
Stonewall Jackson – 2016: Keaton Simmons (25.1), Zach Hinton (13.9), Devin Nordike (11)
West Springfield – 2016: Lewis Djonkam (13.8), Spencer Askew (9.2), Andrew Storr (7.2), Brock Vaughn (6.7), 2017 Riley Welch (9.7), 2018 Gabe Kier (5.7)
Robinson – 2016: Avi Silberman (9.5), Danny Krug (5.3), Chi Zama (6.6) 2017: Markos Eyob (14.4), Luke Ferguson (7.9), Kaleb Hailu (7.3)
Regional Prediction:
Final Four: Robinson, Battlefield, Westfield, West Springfield
Championship: West Springfield over Battlefield