VHSL Class 5 Tournament Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The VHSL state tournament brackets have been completed after region play, and we're going to make our predictions as to who we think has a chance to win in each classification. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue with the second biggest classification, Class 5, which has teams from Hampton Roads, Richmond, NOVA and Roanoke competing. This classification has some surprise teams who made the tournament, and will be very interesting as it seems wide open for the taking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams competing are listed below in bracket form below, and our predictions of favorites, next up, dark horse candidates and finals prediction will follow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B1 Woodside vs. A2 Princess Anne</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A1 Green Run vs. B2 Maury</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>D1 Patrick Henry (Roanoke) vs. C2 Glen Allen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>C1 Highland Springs vs. D2 Stone Bridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Favorite: Woodside</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1438616,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/Smith-Trevor-Loaded.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/Smith-Trevor-Loaded.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1438616" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Richmond commit [player_tooltip player_id='992530' first='Trevor' last='Smith'] is one of the best players in the state for Woodside.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodside got their revenge over region rival Menchville in the region semifinals sending the Monarchs home and securing the 1 seed with a win over Mary in the championship. The Wolverines are as deep as any team in the tournament, with tons of options to score the ball and depth at every position. Senior point guard and Richmond commit [player_tooltip player_id='992530' first='Trevor' last='Smith'] is one of the best players in the state as he can score it at will with his shot making ability and is a threat as a distributor too. Junior wing My'Kell Jenkins is a super talented and versatile 6'5” forward who causes all sorts of matchup problems, and senior Sayquan Welsh is an absolute driller from deep. 6'6” senior [player_tooltip player_id='1241879' first='Christian' last='Greenlaw'] and 6'8” sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1494107' first='Silas' last='Barksdale'] provide plenty of size up front, and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1489102' first='Travis' last='Hamilton'] and sophomore Masaiah Stevens provide depth in the backcourt for Woodside. They'll be a tough team to matchup with after knocking out their biggest competitor in the region tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Next Up: Patrick Henry (Roanoke)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patrick Henry always is one of the top teams out of the western portion of the state, but this was possibly their best year going 29-2 with their only losses coming by 2 and 3 to rival William Fleming, who knows them better than anyone. They are led by 6'6” junior [player_tooltip player_id='1259628' first='Abu' last='Yarmah'] who is going to be a handful for anyone to matchup with as he's a versatile forward who can play with the ball in his hands on the perimeter, is an athletic rebounder and finisher around the rim and he plays with a good motor on both ends of the floor. Senior guard Sidney Webb is a handful to deal with as well as he's a big time athlete who is tough, skilled and loves to compete. They have a tough matchup with a Glen Allen team that's loaded with guards and will have to beat either Highland Springs or Stone Bridge, but there's just something about the only team out west having an edge as none of the teams they play will have seen them during the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Dark Horse Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Green Run</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1605058,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Miller-David-CBG-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Miller-David-CBG-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1605058" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1494114' first='David' last='Miller'] and the surprise Green Run team are as hot as anyone in the state right now.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Green Run is the surprise team in the tournament, as the young Stallions team is under 500 but upset their way to a 5A region championship with a 25 point win over Princess Anne. The Stallions have had their ups and downs but they are the hot team right now playing with confidence and while some may see their inexperience as an issue it could help them as they have nothing to lose. Sophomore big man [player_tooltip player_id='1494114' first='David' last='Miller'] has been a load in the paint and brings mismatch qualities with his ability to step out and play on the perimeter as well as battle in the paint. Sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1494116' first='Kassidy' last='Jackson'] is an absolute playmaker who has the dog in him and is playing his best basketball of the year right now. They're deep, athletic and riding high right now, making them a dangerous team to matchup with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Highland Springs</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1602909,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Coles-Danzelle-CBG-1-scaled.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Coles-Danzelle-CBG-1-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1602909" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1489070' first='Danzelle' last='Coles'] is playing as well as anyone in the state for Highland Springs.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Springers are the defending 5A state champions, and they have played well all season against a tough Richmond area schedule and they know what it takes to win a state championship. They went 19-6 on the year and in regional play flexed their muscles and showed they're still the team to beat, beating a very good Glen Allen team 70-53 in the championship. While the Springers aren't the deepest team, they have one of the best players in the tournament in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1489070' first='Danzelle' last='Coles'] who has been on a tear of late and can beat anyone. The 6'4” combo guard is an absolute competitor who steps up in the biggest of games, scores the ball in so many different ways and isn't afraid of the big shot or situation and will come to play when the lights are the brightest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Finals Prediction: Woodside beats Patrick Henry</h2> <!-- /wp:heading -->