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.

The Duke’s State Championship Preview: Clarke County vs Union

3/13/26 Richmond, VA- Clarke County High School returns to the VHSL Class 2 Girls Basketball State Championship game to take on Union High School in the first game of our coverage from VCU starting at 12:10 pm, 12:30 tip-off on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app brought to you by the Hike Kidz Foundation c/o Brickhouse Bar and Grill.

Clarke County has dominated their way to the State Championship game from the regular season all the way to the Siegel Center.

The Eagles only losses came to State Semifinal opponent Strasburg and a team still in play for the Maryland state title.

In the first year under Coach Shadd McCaw, Clarke County has had a clear goal of reaching Richmond and he has already referred to the game as a “business trip.”

Once the playoffs began after the late regular season loss to Strasburg, the Eagles found another gear and have won each postseason game by at least 11 points.

Alainah McKavish reclaimed District and Region Player of the Year and still upped her play for the title run.

She has increased her points, blocks, and assists per game since the end of the regular season and now stands at 22 ppg, 2.4 blks, and 3.2 ast.

Paige Stemberger’s return from injury added another senior leader to a youthful team (four sophomores) and her defensive ability raises the ceiling for a Clarke County team that could likely compete for a championship at any of the Classifications in the VHSL.

Team defense will be key for the Eagles to slow down Union’s star Katelynn Witt.

Witt is the greatest scorer in Union history after eclipsing 1,300+ points and has averaged 30+ through the playoff run.

She is coming off a 38 point Semifinal win over Ridgeview but the Bears did not have any other players in double-figures.

Clarke County has already succeeded in limiting stars throughout the Valley like Emily Gorrell and JMU-bound Reagen Edsall, but Witt may be the most pure scorer they have faced so far.

I look for the Eagles to throw a lot of fresh defenders at Witt to try to wear her down and force off balance shots.

Overall, Clarke County has a more well-rounded roster and players who can step up even if their player of the year has an off night…

Spoiler Alert: She won’t.

The Eagles finally get to celebrate with the trophy they have really wanted all year long, Clarke County 76- Union 56.

For more pregame coverage of the Class 2 girls state championship, CLICK HERE for color commentator Josh Kirby’s interviews with both coaches and Alainah McKavish.

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

The Duke’s Championship Preview: Strasburg vs Graham ft. Coach Lamb

Strasburg will travel to Salem Stadium for the VHSL Class 2 State Championship on Saturday at 5 pm to take on the Graham G-Men in the final High School Football Game of the Week for the 2024 season with coverage starting at 4:30 pm on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and The River 95.3 app.

Strasburg steamrolled through the first three rounds of the playoffs until meeting Poquoson in the State Semifinals.

Last week’s game came down to the slimmest of margins and resulted in a 14-13 Strasburg win.

In a contest that was extremely even in most statistical categories, Strasburg held a +3 advantage in turnover margin and all three of those came in crucial moments.

The Rams defense rallied inside their own 10 yard line to force a turnover in the game’s opening possession, and then later in the first half with the game tied 7-7, Takhi Coates came up with one of the most athletic interceptions you will see after breaking on the throw and laying our for the catch.

Takhi capped off the following drive with his second touchdown of the day.

The second half was a true chess match between Poquoson Head Coach Elliot Duty and Strasburg’s Tripp Lamb with neither defense budging until Poquoson QB and VMI baseball commit Eli Tyndall scored a rushing touchdown.

Tyndall’s touchdown was one of many questionable calls that went against Strasburg as the runner appeared short of the goal line.

While men lie, women lie, and numbers may lie… The ball doesn’t.

That led to a missed Poquoson PAT thanks to some great pressure from Strasburg’s kick-block unit, and the score sat at 14-13 Rams.

Strasburg’s defense played lights out with the slimmest of leads in the 4th quarter and Zach Britton tallied two massive sacks.

On Poquoson’s final drive of the game, a phantom first-down called after the ball was placed short of the sticks gave Poquoson a new set of downs.

In another moment of instant karma, Strasburg forced an interception on the following play after Brady Knight deflected a pass that was caught by Hunter Williams.

Strasburg secured a first down and advanced to the State Championship game for the first time since 1995.

Graham advanced to the State Championship game after another thrilling matchup, a 28-24 win over Glenvar.

Glenvar caught fire through the air thanks to their 6’5″ QB who threw three first half touchdowns, but then Graham’s defense adjusted and did not allow a touchdown in the second half.

Graham scored the game winning touchdown late in the 4th quarter to secure their 8th state championship appearance in school history.

The G-Men are led by a massive offensive and defensive line with talented skill players

Graham does not have the top-end D-1 talent like they have had in previous years, but still have plenty of players who will play at the next level.

Ty’Drez Clements (Virginia Tech) dominated the backfield against Central two years ago, but they now rely on a more balanced offensive approach including quarterback Dalton Roberts, running back Gabe Lilly, wide receivers Chris Edwards and Blake Graham.

Lilly has been the most used weapon in the offense this season with averaging roughly 8 yards per carry for 1,323 yards and 17 touchdowns.

He is also featured in a Wildcat role as Graham approaches the redzone and threw for a touchdown pass against Glenvar.

Chris Edwards is the reigning offensive District Player of the Year while Blake Graham has shown big play potential this season with four of his ten catches this playoff run going for touchdowns as well as kick return for touchdown against Glenvar.

Defensively, you will hear a lot of those same names with their most dynamic athletes playing both ways, but manning the middle of the defensive line is last year’s defensive District Player of the Year Omarri Hill.

“Big O” earned that nickname with all 6′ 275 pounds of him, but the most impressive part is how quickly he moves at his size.

Hill led Graham in these playoffs with 10 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in four games.

He can be a true a game-wrecker and against Lebanon in Week 8, Hill tallied 6 sacks in a single game.

Graham’s entire defense showcases size and speed at all three levels including 6’2″ 225lb linebacker leading tackler Yubrenal Isabelle.

Hill along with the many other seniors on this team have already tasted a championship in the win over Central, and are looking to cap their high school season with one more.

Strasburg will look to do something they have never done before after making four appearances under legendary coach Glenn Proctor.

This game will be a defensive battle as both teams will lean on their strengths which will amplify field position and turnover margin once again.

If Strasburg can win in those categories and time of possession, the Rams can hoist the hardware for the first time in school history.

Graham will overlook these boys from the Valley and by the time they adjust, it will be too late.

Rams win, 20-14, and arrive home to Strasburg with a hero’s welcome Saturday night!

To listen to my interview with Strasburg Head Coach Tripp Lamb, click here.

To hear the Sports Dogs discuss last week’s Strasburg and Sherando State Semifinals and the State Championship game, click here. 

Mike Yew resigns as Central football coach

ryan lingle

Mike Yew has resigned as head coach for Central High School’s football program.

Yew led the program for the last 17 years and has coached football at various levels in the Shenandoah Valley for over 25 years.

He helped build Central into a powerhouse in the region and the state level, winning two regional titles in the last three seasons and advancing to the Class 2 State Championship game in 2022.

His Falcons earned the second undefeated regular season in school history last year.

Before Yew took over, Central had not won a playoff game or regional title.

He finished his first two seasons with a 2-18 record before building up the program and going 119-53 the rest of his career.

The Falcons advanced to the playoffs 7 of the last 8 years with the only exception being the COVID shortened season.

Yew continues to serve as the interim athletic director.

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