By Mark Trible
FauquierNow.com Sports Editor

The basketball season for Fauquier’s and Liberty’s boys teams ended in the regional tournament quarterfinals Tuesday night.

Fauquier, the region’s fourth seed, lost to No. 5 Charlottesville, 62-52, in Warrenton. The Falcons finished the season with a 13-11 record. Charlottesville improved to 15-7.

The Black Knights, who won the Jefferson District tournament, built an 8-2 lead early and led 14-12 after the first quarter.

Charlottesville outscored the Falcons, 14-11, in the second quarter to extend its lead to 28-23 at halftime.
Fauquier junior guard Caleb Lantz made a three-pointer in the waning seconds of the quarter to cut Charlottesville’s lead to 42-36. The Falcons got no closer the rest of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Charlottesville’s height and athleticism proved to be too much for Fauquier. With three players taller than 6-foot-3, the Knights’ size under the basket created mismatches for the Falcons.

“It was a strange game,” Charlottesville Coach Mitch Minor said. “We were missing some easy shots; it was like we were playing volleyball at times. Our strength is down low and we just gotta finish down there.”

It was difficult for Fauquier senior guard Darius Stanford to walk off the court for the final time as a Falcon. Stanford finished the game with a team-high 15 points and five rebounds.

“All of my teammates were great kids to be around,” Stanford said. “Coach (Wayne) Brizzi, I look up to him off and on the court.

“Fauquier is just a great environment and a great place to be. It’s always tough. I’ve played varsity for four years; to see it end and go is tough. I gave it all I had.”

Fauquier Coach Brizzi was impressed with his team’s effort as well as Charlottesville’s play.

“It’s tough matching up with the big guys they have, my gosh,” Brizzi said. “They certainly deserved to win tonight and our kids left it all on the floor; isn’t that what you want?

“The hardest part of coaching, and people say it’s a lot of different things, but the hardest part is watching the seniors leave. You get attached to those kids.”

Brizzi’s completed his 18th season as Fauquier head coach. Asked if he’d be back next season, Brizzi chuckled.

“Unless you know something that I don’t,” he said. “I love Fauquier. I love working here, and I love the kids I have.”

Charlottesville will travel to face Fluvanna for Thursday’s regional semifinal. The Black Knights defeated the Flying Flucos in last week’s district tournament. Fluvanna destroyed Warren County in the quarterfinals, 83-56.

Liberty falls by five
Liberty’s boys team, seeded No. 2 in the region, also saw its season come to an end in a 67-63 loss to visiting Monticello, the No. 7 seed.

The Eagles trailed, 36-34, at halftime before outscoring the Mustangs, 17-14, in the third quarter to take a 51-50 lead into the fourth period.

Liberty missed a three-point attempt in the last 20 seconds that would have tied the game at 66. Instead, Monticello made two free throws to survive and advance to the regional semifinals.

The Mustangs will travel to face Handley on Thursday night. The Judges ousted Woodgrove of Loudoun County in the first round, 65-51.

Liberty finished the season at 17-6. The Eagles won the Evergreen District regular season and tournament championships.

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