Who’s Built for a State Title Run in Each NOVA District (9-5)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the district tournaments kicking off, I want to focus on the team from each NOVA district that has the best shot to win states. This is ranked in order of who I think has the best chance to win in their class, not the best teams in order.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9. National District: Hayfield </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hayfield is a good defense team with some solid talent on offense, and after blowing out Edison last week, they finished first in the National District in the regular season. Besides clinching the district, this win was Hayfield's first win over another truly good team in NOVA, and that is a big reason I have them at 9. Hayfield has looked a tier below a lot of the other elite Class 6 teams in NOVA, and while they are a good team, I don't know if they have the shot creation that the other teams above them do. They do play good defense and will not be an easy out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. Patriot District: Woodson </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodson and South County both are playing great ball recently, and they are tied at the top of the Patriot District. I think Woodson has a slightly better chance to make a run because I like their guard play more. [player_tooltip player_id='3499719' first='Brady' last='Conklin'] is underrated, and [player_tooltip player_id='1963550' first='Ryan' last='Corallo'] has had a nice senior season. [player_tooltip player_id='2884163' first='Stephen' last='Mayernik'] can also get hot in a hurry, and when he's on this team becomes one of the more dangerous offensive teams in the state. Woodson hasn't lost in almost a month and seems to be peaking at the right time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7. Potomac District: Stone Bridge </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was debating between Stone Bridge and a well-balanced, well-coached Potomac Falls team out of the Potomac District, but I ultimately went with Stone Bridge. [player_tooltip player_id='2788037' first='Kevin' last='Reyes'] is one of the most underrated players in the state, and he is leading a very good Stone Bridge team. Kaden Golston is an outstanding athlete who has racked up double-doubles, Carter Burns is a lights-out shooting wing, and [player_tooltip player_id='1782701' first='Sam' last='Rubino'] has missed time this year but is a solid player. Stone Bridge is an outstanding offensive team and has been playing good ball the past few months. There are a couple of teams that I think are a tier above them in Class 5, specifically Albemarle, that I don't know if I see Stone Bridge beating, but either way, this is a very good team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6. Liberty District: Marshall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defense Defense Defense. That is how this Marshall team wins games, and that is how they clinched the Liberty district title against a terrific Yorktown team last week. Marshall has only two losses, and both of those losses were by one possession. [player_tooltip player_id='2896177' first='Jackson' last='Fraser'] is an outstanding passer and has multiple double-doubles with points and assists. [player_tooltip player_id='2815378' first='Trey' last='Lonardo'] has been critical to this team for a few years, and [player_tooltip player_id='2780095' first='Shreyas' last='Vaidya'] is a marksman from range. It doesn't stop there, either; there are a lot of guys who contribute on both ends. Marshall is the best when it comes to PPG in NOVA, and although they did not have a great strength of schedule, they could definitely make some postseason noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. Catoctin District: Broad Run</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Broad Run is a really interesting team for me. They've had a lot of days where they look like they can beat anyone, then they have had a few games where they really struggled and looked flat. Broad Run has an outstanding duo with matchup nightmare [player_tooltip player_id='1963533' first='Ryan' last='Brzezanski'] and talented, uber-consistent guard Adam Purdue, and they have a couple of fantastic role players around them. This is a truly elite offensive team; it's just about consistency for me. They've put 80+ points 6 times this year, and if they're clicking, they could definitely make a run at states.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->