New domestic violence law passes in WV

West Virginia state seal. Used by written permission by Chief Deputy and Chief of Staff of West Virginia Chuck Flannery

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has signed the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act into law.

It is strengthening penalties and judicial oversight in domestic violence cases statewide.

The legislation follows the death of Joanna Phillips of Sissonville last December and aims to address concerns involving repeat domestic violence offenders.

Under the new law, courts must consider an offender’s domestic violence history when setting bail.

Judges can impose higher bonds on repeat offenders, and penalties are increased for strangulation-related offenses and repeat convictions.

State leaders say the measure is designed to improve victim safety and help prevent future tragedies across West Virginia.

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

The Duke’s Doubleheader Preview: Handley vs Millbrook

Handley visits Millbrook on the hardwood for a doubleheader Van Metre Homes Game of the Week on Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with pregame coverage beginning at 5:45 for the girl’s tip-off at 6 pm followed by the boy’s around 7:30 pm.

Last year, Millbrook’s boys pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the regular season knocking off Handley at home right after the Pioneer girl’s took the then undefeated Judges down to the wire.

Those matchups served as a recent reminder that you can truly throw out the record books when these local rivals face-off and all four teams look to have taken other step forward from last season.

As always, ladies first.

The Handley girls (12-2) are coming off one of their best seasons in school history including a 22-0 start before falling in the regional playoffs.

Last year’s squad claimed the first district championship since 2007 and the best record since 1980, but this year’s team looks to build on that success to make an even deeper playoff run.

The Judges returned five of six leading scorers from last season including future Division-I talent Reagan Edsell.

Edsell already has offers from James Madison University, George Mason University, and VCU among others and enters the matchup leading the area in just about every statistical category including 21.4 ppg, 7.8 stls, 3.5 asts, and is second in rebounds with 11.5.

Edsell and the Judges will enter Millbrook High School with a bad taste in their mouth after losing just their second game of the season at Millbrook to Charlottesville in a showcase over the weekend.

Charlottesville is the same team that kicked them out of last season’s playoffs.

Millbrook’s girls (9-6) enter the matchup on a two-game losing skid but winners of their previous four.

The young Pioneers roster returns just two starters including the lone senior in 1st Team All Region Jaliah Jackson and junior All-District Honorable Mention selection Jane Moreland, but a lot of exciting underclass talent including Jane’s sister Grace.

The freshman took over late in Millbrook’s most recent district win on the road against Sherando to lead the team in scoring with 14 points including 10 in the 4th quarter.

Millbrook will need a ton of production from underclassmen like Moreland to hang with a loaded Handley squad.

When the boy’s take the court, all eyes will be on Handley(14-0) superstar sophomore guard Will Braun-Duin.

Braun-Duin set Handley’s single game scoring record earlier this season against Kettle Run with 51 points in just 17 minutes played.

His efforts have already caught the eye of numerous college’s including Mount St. Marys and Old Dominion University with many more on the way.

He will likely be the highest recruited player from Frederick County/Winchester since the son of the coach leading Millbrook’s bench, Erick Greene Jr.

Erick Greene Sr. will have his Pioneers (9-5) focused on team basketball and looking for the best shot possible.

His plan worked well last year in the Millbrook upset win with four players reaching double-figures and limiting Braun-Duin to just 19 points, 10 below his average so far this season.

6’4″ Kyren Oglesby was benched due to fouls early in that matchup which led to the Pioneers dominating on the boards to build their lead from 6:16 in the 1st quarter forward onward.

Handley Judges Head Coach Zach Harrell-Zook will certainly use last years performance at Millbrook as motivation in preparing his team for tonight’s game.

Now for the predictions.

On the girl’s side, Handley’s experience led by D-1 prospect Edsell will propel the Judges to a rebound victory and keep them undefeated in district play, Handley 64 – Millbrook 50.

For the boy’s, I predict Handley to come out extremely motivated after last season’s loss to Millbrook and Braun-Duin will make a statement early with a few three pointers from well beyond the arc.

Handley runs away with it late 86-64.

The Duke’s Preview: Millbrook vs Handley ft Coach Smith

The Handley Judges (8-1) head down Route 7 to take on the Millbrook Pioneers (3-5) in the High School Football Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, and streaming on The River 95.3 app and theriver953.com with coverage starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.

While Handley has a lot ahead of them including a looming showdown against Sherando with playoff seeding and the Apple Cup on the line, they can’t over look Millbrook.

When two Frederick County/Winchester teams matchup, the familiarity and hometown rivalry can overcome any perceived imbalance based on wins and losses.

Millbrook plays tough and physical football, but has been plagued by injuries this season and were missing 16 student-athletes against Sherando last week.

Most notably, the losses have came in the backfield with leading rushers Kyler Jackson and Cameron Clark missing multiple games this season.

Clark returned last week against the Warriors but was unable to finish the game.

The running game will be crucial to maintain possession of the ball and keep Handley’s high-powered offense off the field.

The Judges average 49.6 points per game without even playing the starters for the majority of second halves this season.

The backfield combination of senior running back Hassan Akanbi and freshman quarterback Triston Darling have taken the Valley by storm this season.

Akanbi averages 13 yards per carry and joined Skyline’s Zayden Burks as the lone running backs in the 1,000 yard club this season.

Darling and Akanbi both have reached the endzone 17 times a piece on the ground with Darling adding another 9 passing touchdowns to his total.

Handley’s explosive offense has allowed them to build leads quickly like the 49-0 advantage at halftime against Liberty last week.

If the Judges jump ahead of Millbrook early, the heavy rushing style of the Pioneers has had a difficult time overcoming leads.

Coach Jake Smith will have his team ready to avoid the “look ahead” game and set up a winner take all matchup with the Warriors next week, Judges 49-16.

To listen to my interview with Handley’s Coach Jake Smith, click here.

For a breakdown of all of this week’s games, a look back at last week, and much more, listen to the latest Sports Dogs Podcast here. 

The Duke’s Preview: James Wood vs Handley featuring Coach Todd Wilson

Tonight’s High School Football Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and the TuneIn Radio App features the 61st matchup between James Wood (2-2) and Handley (1-3).

This is one of the most anticipated games in the area every year thanks to one of the oldest rivalries.

This year’s installation will feature two head coaches looking to make their first mark in the rivalry.

Handley’s head coach Dan Jones is in his first year with the program after coaching at Sherando last season.

Todd Wilson has served on the Colonel’s coaching staff as the offensive line coach for the last 4 years before taking over the head job.

Coach Jones will bring with him a Handley offense that has explosive potential from numerous spots on the field.

Running Back Manno Lusca enters the game as one of the area’s leading rushers with 380 yards, 9.2 yards per carry, and six touchdowns, but he is just one of many players who could go the distance at any time.

Hassan Akanbi possesses track athlete speed and has already taken one catch 99 yards to the house this season.

Breylon Miller looks the part of a future Division I athlete at 6’6″ 218 lbs. and has stats to back it up.

Miller is second in receiving yards in the area with 264 yards off 12 receptions with two touchdowns.

James Wood’s defense looks to be up to the task, already having faced some of the best offenses in the area.

The Colonel’s limited the an explosive Brentsville offense to just one second half touchdown and forced two turnovers in that half.

They also contained last year’s state runner-ups, Kettle Run, on the first three drives forcing two turnovers and a turnover on downs.

Two leaders on that opportunistic defense include defensive back Justin Gwinner, the area’s leader in interceptions with 4, and linebacker Zack Smith, the area’s leading tackler with 46.

They will need to keep the explosive Handley offense in front of them and force a few turnovers to come away with the victory.

Handley must focus on efficiency inside the red zone and execution on special teams.

Last week the Judges were stuffed on numerous opportunities in the red zone.

I look forward to another  great installation of this rivalry which gave us a classic game as recently as last season when Handley came back from trailing 16-0 early and a 10 point deficit with 3:47 remaining to come away with a 37-30 win in overtime to clinch a playoff birth.

This will be another close game but Handley’s playmakers should help the Judges prevail on the road, 27-20.

Press play below for my interview with James Wood Head Coach Todd Wilson.

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