Local schools claim 5k in T-Mobile contest

T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest is back again this year and several local schools have already claimed their share of the first round of prize money.

The most recent selections for “Week 5” of the contest included Clarke County and Warren County High Schools and they will each receive $5,000.

Other local winners selected earlier this season include Page County, Central, and Skyline.

Each of the five schools will now have the opportunity to win the grand prize of $1 million in stadium upgrades.

Schools from areas of population under 150,000 people are eligible and votes are cast via social media.

Photos and videos of school pride posted that tag T-Mobile, the school, and use hashtags #FN5GL and #entry will be counted towards the contest.

Schools still have until September 18th to enter the opening round of the contest and you can submit your shots from the Game of the Week Friday Night to cast your votes for Strasburg or Warren County.

To learn more about the contest, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Sports Dogs Podcast: Road to Week 1- Bull Run Preview

The Sports Dogs continue their ramp-up to the high school football season by previewing our Bull Run teams: Central, Clarke County, and Strasburg.

Listen HERE on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, or The River online.

Special guests joining the Dogs this episode include:

  • Author Ryan Sonner, “Until It Was Ours”
    • Discuss the new book
    • Strasburg’s coaching legacy
    • 2025 Championship Run
    • All Time Strasburg Football Team
    • Book available HERE.
  • Head Coach Casey Childs- Clarke County High School
    • Bull Run redistricting
    • Rebuilding a still young team
    • Standouts like Grady Ferrell
  • Head Coach Rowdy Hoover- Central High School
    • Strength of Shenandoah County football
    • New QB in Woodstock
    • Talented returning players like Chris Brown, Kyle McCabe, and Brookyln Minor and rising stars

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For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Brian Kibler named AD at Central

The Shenandoah County School Board announced the appointment of Brian Kibler as the new Athletic Director at Central High School, effective July 1st.

Kibler joins Central after working in Frederick County Public Schools since 2007.

He brings with him experience as a Physical and Health Education Teacher, wrestling coach, and football coach and most recently served as the Assistant Coordinator of Student Activities at Sherando High School.

Before his time in Frederick County, Kibler worked for SCPS as an Alternative Education Teacher and earned his bachelors and masters degrees in kinesiology from James Madison University.

In the announcement, Kibler said, “I am truly honored and excited to have been appointed as the Central High School Athletic Director… I hope to enhance the overall student-athlete experience by promoting championship-level performance where success is driven by focusing on the day-to-day process both on and off the field.”

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Sports Dogs Podcast: Sports Gumbo

The Sports Dogs dive into a bowl full of local sports topics including:

  • Front Royal Little League / getting ready for All Stars
  • Local High Schools in the Playoffs
  • James Wood’s spring domination
  • Mountaineer Magic on the diamond
  • Skyline’s weight room upgrades
  • Randy’s Nats outing
  • and more…

Available HERE on The River 95.3 online, iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon.

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Sports Dogs Podcast: State Championship recap and Bracket Bustin’

3/18/26- The Dogs take a bite out of their Tournament brackets, and look back at a great weekend at VCU for our area basketball teams including:

  • Clarke County’s girls claiming their second title in four years and record-breaker Alainah McKavish
  • Handley’s boys first program title in over 100 years
  • Luray’s boys fending off a record-setting performance to win in double-overtime
  • The valiant efforts by the Central boys, Skyline girls, and Luray girls

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Listen to the Sports Dogs on The River online, Spotify, Amazon, or iTunes HERE.

Shenandoah Valley teams claim three State Championships, three Runner-Ups

Congratulations to all our local high schools that represented the Shenandoah Valley with pride during the VHSL Basketball State Championships in Richmond over the weekend.

Three of the six teams claimed state titles including the Luray boys, Clarke County girls, and Handley boys.

In Clarke County’s 67-55 win over Union, senior Alainah McKavish claimed the school’s all time scoring record and bookended her career with a second state title after winning as a freshman.

Handley got over the hump after previously going 0-4 in State Championship games to claim the first trophy in their 103 year history, 61-42 over Hampton.

Luray brought home their first State Trophy in 50 years after a double overtime win over Fort Chiswell 84-82 and overcame Fort Chiswell’s Owen Jackson scoring a state championship record 53 points.

The Luray girls, Central boys, and Skyline girls were named State Runner-Up at VCU and we also congratulate them on incredible seasons.

For more local sports coverage, follow the Sports Dogs Podcast.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Community rallies to send off State Championship contenders

The VHSL Basketball State Championships tip off in Richmond on Friday with six of our local teams making the finals and now it’s time to send off our hopeful champions and wish them good luck.

Luray High School is holding a send-off for their boys and girls teams at 2pm on Friday and are inviting fans to line main street to show their support.

Clarke County High School is sending off the Eagles at 2:30 pm with a police escort on Thursday down Mosby Boulevard to Martins before turning right and then making a left onto Fairfax Street to 1st Street and continuing to Main Street.

The Central Falcons boys team will hit the road Friday at 8:30 am and the school has invited fans to join them at the gym’s front entrance for the send off.

The Skyline Lady Hawks hit the road Friday at 10 am and will pass the football stadium before following Criser Rd. to S. Royal Avenue and then Rt 55 until reaching 66 and are encouraging fans to bring signs and noisemakers to showcase the team motto of “Small Town, Big Pride”.

John Handley High School will be the final team to leave for VCU as they depart at 3 pm on Friday from Winchester and are welcoming supporters to line Handley Boulevard to cheer the Judges on to their 5th State Championship appearance.

The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com and The River 95.3’s coverage schedule:

For more high school basketball coverage, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast with previews of all the teams going to VCU here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

The Duke’s State Championship Preview: Central vs Graham

3/12/26 Richmond, VA- Central High School will take on Graham High School in the Class 2 VHSL Boys Basketball Championship game Friday with coverage starting at 2:10 pm for the 2:30 pm tip-off on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com and The River 95.3 app thanks to The Hike Kidz Foundation c/o Brickhouse Bar and Grill.

Central returns to the State Championship for the first time since 1980 while Graham is back to finish the job after ending last season as runner-ups.

Both the Falcons and G-Men fell to John Marshall in last year’s postseason and returned to the Class 2 playoffs while last year’s John Marshall team will play in the Class 3 State Championship game for Petersburg.

While many of the contributors to last year’s Graham runner-up team have moved on, coach Todd Baker feels his team does benefit some from understanding the travel required for a State Title trip but knows it won’t help him once the ball is in the air.

This year’s G-Men are led by guards Channing Disibbio (20 ppg) and Ty Martin (17 ppg) in scoring and football standout Gage Palmer has added leadership and physicality.

Graham does not have a ton of size (no contributors over 6’2″) which matches up nicely for Central who has played bigger than listed all year.

Jonathan Akasa epitomizes that with his 6’1″ frame that grabs rebounds like he’s 6’11”.

Akasa is coming off back-to-back double-doubles and is a huge reason the Falcons were able to comeback against Thomas Jefferson and dominated against Greensville.

After filling up the stat sheet in the quarterfinals with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists, he helped turn the tides in the semifinals to outrebound TJHS in the 2nd half and overcome a 14 point 2nd half deficit.

Dereck Batiz-Lugo has been the most consistent force for Central all season long, and after last year’s Class 2 2nd Team All State selection as a sophomore, he seems destined for 1st team this year.

Offensively, Batiz-Lugo has led Central in scoring in both state playoff games with 13 and 18 points.

Defensively, he is a pest for ball handlers and led the team with 2.6 steals per game in the regular season.

This game has all the makings of a coaching chess match with Central’s Jeff Whittle and Graham’s Todd Baker.

Whittle led First Baptist in South Carolina to four state titles in his first four years as coach and was named to the school’s Hall of Fame last year.

Now he has brought Central back to a State Championship for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Baker took over the program in 2018 and eclipsed 100 career wins in 2024 before advancing to his first state title appearance as a head coach in 2025.

While coaching maybe a push, it will come down to the players on the floor and like all championship games in every sport… Defense.

The Central defense has carried the Falcons to the State Championship game and will be the reason they bring home the hardware.

As a team, Central held opponents to under 45 points per game on the year and just held TJHS to 22 points below their season average.

Just like many Bull Run bashes, the first team to 50 will win and that tough district schedule will have the Falcons ready.

Unlike the football team in 2023, these Falcons will “go to war with the G-men” (if you know, you know) and win, Central 50- Graham 48.

For more coverage on the Class 2 Boys Basketball State Championship game, CLICK HERE for color commentator Josh Kirby’s interviews with both coaches and Derick Batiz-Lugo.

For previews of all our local state championship teams from the latest Sports Dogs Podcast, CLICK HERE.

Sports Dogs Podcast: VHSL Hardware and Commanders moves

3/12/26- In this edition of the Dog-Pod, The R-Dog & The Duke preview the VHSL Basketball Championship games involving six (count ’em, six!) area teams including Luray’s boys and girls, the Clarke County girls, Central boys, Skyline girls, and Handley boys, and a recap (so far) of a very busy week for Commanders GM Adam Peters…

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Click HERE for the latest Sports Dogs Podcast.

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Region 2B Championships

2/28/26, Winchester VA- The Region 2B Championships invade Shenandoah University for tonight’s coverage of girls and boys basketball on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app starting at 5:45 pm thanks to the Hike Kidz Foundation c/o Brickhouse Bar and Grill.

The girls championship game will tip-off first at 6 pm and feature Clarke County against Strasburg.

Clarke County has looked like a team with a clear mission all season long under 1st year Head Coach Shadd McCaw and that mission is win a State Championship.

The Eagles dominated regular season competition again and finished 23-2 with an astounding average margin of victory at 35.7 points per game.

Clarke County is led by District Player of the Year and future Shippensburg University athlete Alainah McKavish.

McKavish has the ability to takeover a game and averages over 20 points per game, 6.4 rebounds, and 4 steals, but the Eagles have enough talent to make the opposition pay if they try to focus on the senior.

In the Region Semifinal, Alainah was held to 10 points, but her sister Paige, Savannah McCaw, and Paige Stemberger balanced the scoring sheet with 11 points each.

Clarke County also had a dominant team performance on the glass and outrebounded Central 38-18 (14-3 for offensive rebounds) on the way to a 59-34 win to set up a Bull Run District Championship rematch with Strasburg.

The Rams are coming off an impressive 49-35 win on the road against Stuarts Draft in the Region Semifinals.

Strasburg saw Emily Gorrell and Jayden Stinnette return to action after suffering injuries in the BRD Championship game loss to Clarke County and missing the entire second half.

Both seniors looked to be close to 100% in the Semifinal win with Gorrell leading all scorers with 22 points followed by Stinnette with 16 to secure Strasburg’s 5th State Playoff appearance in the last 7 years.

While falling to Clarke in the BRD Championship game about a week ago, the Rams should still feel confident in their ability to play with the Eagles as they are the only team in Virginia to defeat them this season.

In the win, Strasburg limited Alainah McKavish to just 3 points through the first three quarters while Stinnette and Gorrell combined for 31 points and connected for the game winning basket.

Clarke County would love nothing more than to prove that loss was simply an off-night and another Region Championship.

Clarke County’s defensive pressure led by the length and athleticism of the McKavish sister’s and the tenacity of Paige Stemberger will be the difference maker to keep Strasburg under 50 and give the Eagles the 61-49 win.

Following the girls championship game, the boys from Strasburg and Central will take the floor for a rubber match with the Region 2B trophy on the line.

Strasburg and Central split the regular season matchups with each team winning on the road and silencing rowdy home crowds.

If tonight’s matchup is anything like the first two, it could come down to who makes the better halftime adjustments.

The third quarter essentially decided both previous games with Strasburg going scoreless in the 3rd quarter while Central went on a 14-0 run and forced 5 turnovers, then Strasburg turned the tides in Woodstock with a 19-4 run to close the 3rd quarter and led by at least 17 the entire 4th quarter.

These two rivals are so familiar with each other and matchups like this often turn into chess matches between head coaches Larry Fox and Jeff Whittle.

During the final regular season matchup, I predicted the first team to 50 would win but tonight it might be the first team to 40.

With each basket coming at a premium tonight, Strasburg’s Gavin Dellinger could be the game changer with his quick release from deep and ability to get open off the ball.

Dellinger led the Rams through the regular season with about 15 points per game while Jasiah Warner has gotten better and better as the season has gone along and is coming off a career high 27 points against Page County in the Region Semifinal win Friday night.

The Rams had to fight off a furious comeback and three point barrage from Page County to reach the Championship game while the Falcons needed overtime to finish the job against Fort Defiance.

Central had to over come a double digit deficit after Fort Defiance put together a 19-2 run in the second quarter.

Last year’s District Player of the Year and All State selection Dereck Batiz-Lugo continues to play at a high level for Central and led the way in the Region Semifinal with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists.

Jonathan Akasa has been a force on the boards this year and had 9 rebounds to go with 8 points in the Semi and he led the Bull Run in rebounding through the regular season with 7.4 per game.

This game is truly a coin-flip in my mind and could come down to the final shot and I think the Rams get that final shot with the defense keying in on Dellinger before he drops it off to Warner for the game winning basket, Rams 49-Falcons 47.

For more local sports coverage, listen to the Sports Dogs Podcast here.