By Mark Trible
FauquierNow.com Sports Editor

Things didn’t look good for Fauquier’s boys basketball team midway through the third quarter in Wednesday’s Evergreen District tournament semifinal in Warrenton.

Warren County started the second half on an 8-2 run to build a 35-22 lead with 4:35 remaining in the third period.

Fauquier Coach Wayne Brizzi called timeout and made an adjustment. Instead of sticking with a man-to-man defense, the Falcons came out in a half-court, matchup zone trap.

The move instantly paid dividends for the Falcons. Fauquier forced several Warren County turnovers in a 14-5 run to end the quarter.

In the fourth period, FHS remained in the trap and continued to dominate play. The Falcons outscored the Wildcats, 22-8, and won, 58-48.

“We just stopped taking care of the ball,” Warren County Coach Vernon Mathews said. “We did a poor job and (Fauquier guard Darius Stanford) is very athletic; when we passed, he went up and got ‘em.”

Stanford, who was named first-team all district Tuesday, scored eight of his team-high 11 points in the second half. The senior lined up at the top of Fauquier’s trap and used his athleticism to disrupt Warren County’s offense.

“If we didn’t win, it would be the end of my career in high school,” Stanford said. “I did whatever I could to get the victory.”

Brizzi was impressed with Stanford’s defensive performance.

“He made some athletic, heads-up, big basketball IQ plays on his own,” Brizzi said. “He put us on his back and we rode him.”

Brizzi also acknowledged the difference in his team after the change in strategy.

“When we play with energy, we’re a different club. We forced some turnovers and got our energy going. We stayed with the trap down the stretch, if it works you stay with it.”

Wednesday’s win coupled with Liberty’s win (see below) set up a fifth game between the rival schools Friday in Bealeton at 7 p.m. It also gave Fauquier a berth in the regional tournament. The Falcons improved to 13-10 and will likely host the first-round game against the winner of Friday’s Jefferson District championship between Charlottesville and Western Albemarle.

“I wanna play them again,” Stanford said of the fifth game with Liberty. “They’re a good team to play, good competition, and it’s always a great game.”

Liberty defeated Fauquier Saturday at Brentsville to clinch the regular season district title, 77-70. Fauquier defeated the Eagles in the two meetings in Warrenton, 77-71 and 63-59. Liberty won the only matchup in Bealeton, 64-62.

Mathews expects Friday’s contest to be another close game.

“I watched them play last Saturday,” he said. “It’s amazing to watch them play. Who knows who will win? It’s really a toss-up; it’s not a game I’d bet on.”

Liberty wins 10th in a row
Liberty’s boys basketball team defeated visiting Brentsville on Wednesday in the other Evergreen District tournament semifinal, 54-38.

Brentsville made a buzzer-beating three-pointer to narrow Liberty’s lead to 12-11 after one quarter of play. The Eagles outscored the Tigers, 15-9, in the second quarter to take a 27-20 halftime lead.

The Eagles allowed just 18 second half points to secure a place in the district title game.

“The second time we played them we gave up 37 points in the first half,” Liberty Coach Pat Frazer said. “We gave up 38 in the entire game tonight; they missed some shots they normally make and that helps but we played well defensively tonight.”

Evergreen District player of the year Xavier Colbert led the Eagles with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Rashawn Latimer added 12 points and Ryan Ramirez chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds.

Liberty improved to 16-5 on the season with its 10th consecutive win. The Eagles will host Fauquier in the tournament championship Friday at 7 p.m.

The Eagles had clinched the second seed in Region II by virtue of the regular season district championship. They will host the first round next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
 
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