Poquoson, Gloucester Make BayPort Final

YORK – Gloucester thrived from 34 points from Demariya Sills and defeated Tabb 60-56, to earn a berth in the title game against an improving Poquoson team. The Islanders toppled York 63-52 and will face the Dukes in tomorrow’s championship showdown at the Bayport Credit Union Holiday Tournament, which began on Wednesday at Tabb High. The championship game will tip-off at 7:30, preceded by the consolation matchup between York and Tabb at 6.

POQUOSON 63, YORK 52

J.D. Costulis scored 30 points, as Poquoson raced to a 23-point lead in the first half and held on for a 63-52 win. 

The first game started in an unusual manner, not with a jump ball, but two free throws, which were earned by Poquoson when York’s Jared Dawson was nailed with a technical foul for dunking in warmups.

J.D. Costulis drained both free throws, a foreshadowing of what was to come on the first quarter. Costulis and Tucker Schuhart scored the first 15 points for Poquoson, who jumped out to a 15-3 lead in the game’s first three minutes. The Isles stretched the lead to 23-3 before York’s Yomarius Eley drained the first of two free throws after being fouled. Still, it was Poquoson who led 27-4 after the first quarter.

The Falcons started to chip into the tremendous deficit in the second quarter. A steal and half-court drive and lay-in by York’s Rayvon Patrick cut the lead to 30-16. A three-pointer from the left wing by Ramsay Hayyat negated Poquoson’s next basket and held the lead at 14. Poquoson led 35-19 at halftime.

The Falcons continued to dig into the lead. A drive and finger roll lay-up by Josh Martiniez put York within six points at 39-33, forcing Poquoson coach Erik Johnson to call a time-out. Baskets by Costulis, Brody McDevitt and Keith Erb put Poquoson back ahead by 12, and the Islanders enjoyed a 49-36 lead at the end of the third.

But York continued to fight back, drawing within six points one more time at 58-52 with 1:55 remaining in the game. But a Costulis lay-in pushed Poquoson ahead 61-52 with 1:15 left and cemented the win.

“Bobby (York Coach Pearce) made some great adjustments in the second half, and they followed them and caught us on our heels,” said Coach Johnson. “Thankfully, Keith Erb and Preston Callaway made some great shots for us to stop their runs.”

Jesse Kimrey led York with 16 points, while Patrick added 14.

Poquoson   27, 8, 14, 14 -- 63

York            4, 15, 17, 16 - 52

POQUOSON (5-4): Costulis 30, Erb 7, Callaway 3, Schuhart 12, McDevitt 11. Totals 23 15-25 63.

YORK (1-6): Patrick 14, Kimrey 16, Marteniez 2, Hayyat 3, Torrence 10, Eley 1, Dye 6. Totals 19 8-12 52.

3-point goals: Poquoson 2 (Costulis). York 6 (Kimrey 2, Dye 2, Patrick, Hayyat).

GLOUCESTER 60, TABB 56

Tabb opened up the game in control, relying on a strong inside scoring presence from Arthur Smith and a pair of long range bombs from Nick Thomas to build a comfortable 17-8 edge after the first period.

But Gloucester responded in the second quarter with a stronger dose of Demariya Sills. Sills scored 11 points in the second and finished the first half with 18, including a perfect nine for nine from the free throw line. In the last minute alone, the junior buried a three-pointer from the left wing, scored on two free throws, and with time running out, drove through the lane for a scoop-and-bucket to tie the game at 31. The Dukes ended the half on an 11-2 run.

Entering the second half, the Tigers could not contain Sills, who added ten more points in the third quarter, as the Dukes edged to a 46-43 lead. However, Tabb continued to claw back. Gloucester stretched their lead to seven points, but two short jumpers, the second by Butch Camithier, cut the margin to 54-51.

In the end, it was Sills who played a key role in the game’s two clinching baskets, but it was his assists that set up the scores, first on a drop-in pass to Trey Fortner, and then a steal and outlet pass to Xander Cooke which put Gloucester ahead 58-51 with 1:10 remaining.

Speaking of his early scoring outburst, Sills said, “I knew it needed to be done for us to get through,” With regard to his final two assists, the junior guard changed course saying “I trust my teammates to make those shots.”

Sills was also a perfect 11 of 11 from the free throw line. Speaking of his prowess from the charity stripe, Sills admitted “I’m usually not 100 percent from the line, but I was feeling them tonight.”

Gloucester   8, 23, 15, 14 -- 60

Tabb           17, 14, 12, 13 -- 56  

GLOUCESTER (3-7): Cooke 14, Sills 34, Durren 2, Simmons 2, Fortner 5, Womble 3.  Totals 21 14-19 60.

TABB (5-4): Thomas 9, Cooper 1, Jordan Eleby 13, Javon Eleby 11, Knapp 3, Olson 2, Camithier 7, Smith 10. Totals 19 14-21 56.

3-point goals: Gloucester 4 (Cooke, Sills, Fortner, Womble), Tabb 4 (Jordan Eleby 2, Thomas, Knapp).

Now in its fifth year, the tournament, sponsored by Bayport Credit Union, has been dedicated to the memory of Dale Lucado since his passing in February 2012. Lucado was a star and captain of the 1967 Newport News High School Typhoon football team. However, in 1971, he broke his neck while making a tackle in an alumni football game against Hampton High, and the injury made him a quadriplegic. In spite of his health situation, Lucado’s dedication to youth athletics and optimistic approach toward life made him an inspiration to many kids on the Peninsula. In Lucado’s name, all proceeds from the Bayport tournament are donated to the scholarship fund of the Boys and Girls Club.

Allen Iverson Comes Home to N.N. Boys and Girls Club for Dinner and Presents

NBA Hall-of-Famer Allen Iverson
gave gifts to 50 local youths last
Tuesday at his old Boys and Girls
Club in Newport News, VA.

As seen in Daily Press on 12/21/2016

http://www.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/dp-spt-allen-iverson-boys-and-girls-club-1220-20161220-story.html

Allen Iverson came home for Christmas.

More specifically, Iverson was in Newport News on Tuesday night to donate toys and gifts, and provide a barbeque dinner for 50 children at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Hampton Roads.

While this visit followed a similar gathering in Portsmouth last night, there was a special significance to Tuesday’s event.

“Allen grew up in this Boys and Girls Club. This is where he learned to play sports and learned to grow,” said Hal Smith, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula, adding that Iverson split his formative years between the Greater Hampton Roads Club on Hampton Ave., and another club on Shell Road. “It’s incredible to see the generosity he has given to kids in this community.”

Iverson made sure to remind the youths on hand at every opportunity that this is where he came from. While scooping food in the middle of a line of eight servers, that included Congressman Bobby Scott, Iverson talked to the kids, alternately reminding them that they could be anything they want to be, and then pointing out fellow Dallas Cowboy fans in the crowd.

At one point, Iverson put his arm around mother Ann, who sported a #33 Tony Dorsett jersey, and told a group of two dozen children, “I’m right here where you’re all from. And this is who I listen to – my Mom. Listen to your Mom and do what she tells you.”

While some of the youngsters were unaware of their host’s accomplishments as an athlete, two young men needed no explanation.

“Oh, I know who he is! He’s a legend,” said ten-year old Samuel Bates, adding that he is also a basketball player, with the AAU Vikings.

Nine-year old James Neal was also well aware of Iverson’s athletic stature, although he noted that “I have only seen him on video games and TV.”

Tuesday night was all about the kids. “I love being able to do this,” said the 2016 inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame.  Asked about the best part of his life since becoming a Hall-of-Famer, he added, “Being a 24-7 Dad to my kids. Being a better parent.” At one point in the evening, he held his own cell phone up to a group of kids and instructed them to “tell MY kids.. HEY-Y-Y!!”

Iverson’s charisma was on full display throughout the evening, and the kids returned the energy. After they gathered for dinner among six tables spread across the midcourt of the gym, the group congregated in a semicircle near the free throw line for a raffle drawing of gifts. After waiting a couple of minutes for their ticket puller and announcer (Iverson), the kids joined in a rally cry of “Come on Chuck!,” a slightly veiled reference to Iverson’s “Bubba Chuck” nickname from his teenage days at Bethel High.

For James “Poo” Johnson, the event brought back memories, back to days when the main attraction was another one of the kids in the gym. Johnson devoted 45 years to youth development with the Boys and Girls Club, and Iverson was one of his pet projects. But not the only one.

“I’m as proud of him as I am a guy that works at the shipyard,” said Johnson. “But I have to treat him like I treat everybody else.”

For one night at Christmas time, Allen Iverson was back where he started.

ALL-STAR WEEKEND - GAME #2 - The VHSCA All-Star Game Ends Tied at 28

by Jim McGrath, recruit757

HAMPTON — In a game as wild and wooly as the weather surrounding it, the Red and Blue teams degrees, but ended with bouts of heavy rain and wind. In the end, it was the player who possibly traveled the farthest to participate that decided the game’s outcome.
of Virginia squared off at Darling Stadium on Sunday for the VHSCA All-Star Game. The players traveled from all over Virginia to take part in the game, which started with weather conditions of sunny and 75

With ten seconds remaining and trailing 27-24, the Red Team, coached by South County’s Gerry Pannoni, faced fourth down-and-three at the Blue 20-yard line. Pannoni looked in the direction of his kicker, Jordon Stout, from tiny Honaker High School, located deep in the southwest corner of the state, just 40 miles southeast of Elkhorn City, Kentucky. Earlier in the quarter, and with a chance to tie the game, Stout had attempted a 37-yard kick that cleared the crossbar and would have made the distance from 55 yards. However, the ball went over the goal post and was ruled a miss.

Stout would not miss a second time. His second 37-yard attempt was perfect, ensuring the tie.

“I was hoping for another chance,” said Stout, who is being recruited heavily by Virginia Tech, Arkansas and Bowling Green. “The first one went over the goalpost, and I thought they were going to call it good.”

Stout would have one more important kick, as the Reds’ special teams still had to make a stop on Hampton’s electrifying return man, Dazz Newsome, on the ensuing kickoff.

That prospect was not a guarantee. In the first quarter, Newsome had provided the game’s most exciting play. Standing at midfield awaiting a punt, the ball bounced ten yards in front of the Virginia Tech-bound Newsome, who looked as if he would allow the Red team to down the ball. However, on the third bounce, and amidst a trio of Red special teamers, Newsome grabbed the ball out of midair and started running through the middle of the coverage. Once he reached the 25, Newsome broke toward the right sideline and scored on an improbable 52-yard return, which gave the Blues a 14-3 lead.

On the final kickoff, Stout and the Red team managed to avoid Newsome by kicking the ball into the end zone. On the next play, Brady Dodson intercepted an errant Blue pass, but the Reds last-ditch pass with three seconds to go sailed wide.

The Red team got on the board first. After an interception gave them possession at the Blue 45, Jake Sturgill (Abingdon) found Elijah Smith (Stafford) for a 16-yard pass. A personal foul penalty gave the Reds an additional 15 yards, setting up a 1st-and-10 situation from the 14, and leading to Stout’s 32-yard field goal, giving Pannoni’s team an early 3-0 edge.

John-Luke Asbury connected with Trevon Stewart on a 45-yard TD pass, to put the Blue team ahead 7-3. Nevertheless, after Newsome’s touchdown, the Reds stormed right back, with Jack McDaniel (South County) finding Elijah Smith (Stafford) for a long 71-yard score to make the score 14-10.

Five of the game’s six touchdowns came on plays of 45 yards or more. In the second quarter, Sturgill connected with Kris Thornton (Osbourn) for a 59-yard touchdown. However, Aidan Marshall’s field goal with seven seconds left in the first half evened the score at 17.

The game was chock full of turnovers, including seven interceptions between both squads. Toward the end of the third quarter, Stafford’s Mondell Hampton got a hold of a Red pass and returned the ball 50 yards for a score that put the Blue team ahead 27-17, and within the grasp of putting the game away.

Yet the Red team remained resilient. After a Jason Scales pickoff gave the Reds possession at the Blue 23, it was Jamorya Cousin who ran the ball five consecutive times, with his fifth, a nine-yarder, pulling the Reds to within three points, and leading to the game’s decisive kick by Stout.

The VHSCA (Virginia High School Coaches Association) game, directed by Hampton’s legendary coach Mike Smith, has become the concluding contest of the All-Star games and unofficially marked the end of the players’ high school careers.

It was a point that was noticed by several of the participants, who were picked by a draft this year rather than being assigned to a team by geography.

A trio of South County players, quarterback Jack McDaniel, cornerback Veronta Jones, and lineman Cameron Lucas, stood in front of their bench 20 minutes after the game and looked back on their high school careers.

“It was the best four years of my life,” said McDaniel, who started the season as the Stallions’ backup, but ended up leading the D.C.-Metro area in touchdown passes with 36.

“I’ll miss the brotherhood aspect of it, the camaraderie,” added Jones, who like McDaniel, has attracted interest from a number of FCS schools in the Pioneer, Patriot, and CAA conferences.

“High school football shaped me as a person,” said Lucas. “The trials and tribulations made me more humble. I realized that others cannot be blessed with my size (6’7”, 310 lbs.) and opportunities.” Lucas is focusing his college effort on playing for an HBCU (Historically Black College & University), and has received the most interest from Norfolk State and Delaware State.

All three players expect to make their final decisions close to the official Signing Day in early February.

Quarterback Bryce Witt of 4A runner-up Dinwiddie was also reflective.

“It has gone by so fast,” said Witt, who has drawn interest from a number of Division II and II schools, including U. VA-Wise. Speaking of the game itself, he likened the experience to stepping up a level in competition. “You have a lot of fun meeting guys that you don’t know – the best athletes in the state. But, they’re a little faster, and better.”

– Jim McGrath

RED 10, 7, 0, 10 — 27
BLUE 14, 3, 10, 0 — 27

1st Quarter
Red: Stout 32 FG
Blue: Stewart 45 pass from Asbury (Marshall kick)
Blue: Newsome 52 punt return (Marshallkick)
Red: E. Smith 71 pass from McDaniel (Stout kick)

2nd Quarter
Red: Thornton 59 pass from Sturgill (Stout kick)
Blue: Marshall 26 FG

3rd Quarter
Blue: Marshall 37 FG
Blue: Hampton 50 int. return (Marshall kick)

4th Quarter
Red: Cousin 9 run (Stout kick)
Red: Stout 37 FG

Red Blue
First downs; 8, 10
Rushes-yards; 25-37, 20-43
Passing yards; 223, 94
Comp-att-int.; 10-27-4, 7-20-3
Penalties-yards; 2-20, 7-65
Punts-avg; 4-31, 5-38
Fumbles-lost; 1-0, 1-0

ALL-STAR WEEKEND - GAME #1 - Richmond (804) Outlasts Hampton Roads (757) 14-7 at I-64 Bowl

L.C. Bird's Shedrick McCall gained 191 yards on 28 carries
to lead the 804 Team to a 14-7 win over Hampton Roads (757)

by Jim McGrath, recruit757/recruit804

VIRGINIA BEACH – For one more weekend, high school football is alive and well in Virginia, as a trio of All-Star games are taking place in Hampton Roads.

In Virginia Beach, the I-64 Bowl made its debut at the Sportsplex on Saturday. While the name was new, the game was not. Established by Playmaker’s Sports Marketing, this is actually the third game. In 2014, the inaugural game was called the Adidas 757 High School All-Star Football Game, and was held at Powhatan Field in Norfolk. The following year, the game was retooled and renamed, as the Virginia National Guard All-Star Game.

Regardless of the moniker, the objective remained mostly unchanged. While other games featured Peninsula players versus their Southside counterparts, for this year, PSM President Craig Spruill and Event Coordinator Oliver Walmon knew that they needed to find a new niche to distinguish their game from the others. With this in mind, they changed the opponents, combining the Peninsula and Southside teams into a coordinated 757 team, while attracting a new opponent. For this, they merely had to look 60 miles up the road to the River City, Richmond.

Thus, a new battle was born – the battle of Hampton Roads versus Richmond prep football. And in this edition of the I-64 Bowl, it was the team from the state capital that emerged victorious, as Team 804 defeated Team 757 14-7.

The game featured approximately 40 players from Hampton Roads against 40 from Richmond. This year’s version attracted some All-American talent, including Cox’s Jordan Williams, Bishop Sullivan’s Tahj Capehart, Indian River’s Devon Hunter and Benedictine linebacker Ellis Brooks, as well as All-Staters such as Phoebus’ Jonathan Gregory, recently named the 3A Defensive Player of the Year.

Not all of the players are All-American or All-State. In fact, according to Walmon, the purpose of the game is to give the some of the lesser known players a chance to shine under a bright light.

“We have had at least 30 players from previous games that received scholarships,” said Walmon. “This gives the athletes who may not have received any offers yet a chance to showcase their talent. There are a number of coaches from Division I to Division III who will view the DVD of this game and extend an offer to an athlete.”

Other players continue to wait on their decision, such as Menchville’s Nick Webster, a linebacker and punter. Monarch head coach Ray Savage Jr. has done a remarkable job getting his athletes noticed as eight players moved on to play at various colleges after a 1-9 season with Menchville. This year’s Menchville team was also 1-9, but several players have attracted college notice, something that Webster noted, but he also hopes for more looks.

“I got a couple of offers from schools,” said Webster, noting that they were for partial scholarships. Asked what he could gain from playing in an All-Star game of this caliber, Webster thought toward the future.

“It’s like playing in a college game before you go to college.”

The 804 team, coached by L. C. Bird’s Chamont Thompson, had the momentum from the opening kickoff on Saturday, a kick that made the ball travel 25 yards in the air before bouncing off the chest of a 757 player and landing in the hands of an 804 player.

Starting at the 50-yard line, quarterback Trey Laughlin handed off to Bird’s Shedrick McCall for six straight plays. McCall was effective, gaining 23 yards and a first down on his first five runs. On the sixth play, a fourth-and-one from the 757’s 27-yard line, McCall took the hand off and dashed through the middle, running untouched for the team’s first score.

After a short drive failed for the 757 squad, Laughlin and McCall went right back to work. McCall carried six more times, moving the ball from the 804’s 27-yard line to the 42 of the 757 team. On the drive’s seventh play, Laughlin finally called another number, his own, sweeping right, and then breaking toward the middle of the field, avoiding at least five tackles on his way to a 42-yard touchdown. The extra point made the score 14-0, which held up through a scoreless second quarter.

The 757’s offensive team found its way to the scoreboard late in the third quarter. Facing direct pressure from a defensive front, led by Rashard Ashby (L.C. Bird), Indian River quarterback Keyshawn Brown scrambled back and forth behind the line of scrimmage at his 40, before launching a bomb that found his receiving teammate Germeek Knight at the 20-yard line. Knight faked out two defenders and coasted into the end zone. Bethel’s John Vassilakopoulos’ extra point cut the lead in half at 14-7.

McCall led all rushers with 191 yards on 28 carries.

The game capped a weekend of festivities, which included a jersey ceremony at Buffalo Wild Wings in Newport News on Friday night with former NFL player Wali Ranier. At the jersey event, a lifetime achievement award was given to former longtime Bethel football coach Dennis Kozlowski. Kozlowski won a state title at Bethel with a young quarterback named Allen Iverson.

– Jim McGrath

Team 757 0, 0, 7, 0 — 7
Team 804 14, 0, 0, 0 — 14

1st Quarter
804 – McCall 27 run (kick good)
804 – Laughlin 42 run (kick good)

3rd Quarter
757 – Knight 60 pass from Brown (Vassilakopoulos kick)