Listen back to highlights of Skyline boys basketball’s Region 3B Championship win over Meridian and Coach Harold Chunn’s postgame interview with Ryan Rutherford.
The Duke’s Championship Preview: Skyline vs Meridian
2/26/26, Falls Church, VA- Skyline heads up 66 to Meridian for the Region 3B Boys Basketball Championship tonight with coverage starting at 6:45 pm for the 7 pm 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.
It’s fitting that the two most consistent powers in Region 3B hoops will decide the Region 3B title and have already earned trips to the State Tournament.
Meridian reloaded from the winningest season in school history to another #1 seed in the Region Tournament.
Last year’s squad went undefeated in the regular season before falling to Hopewell in the State playoffs.
Davis is an elite scorer and averages over 19 points per game while shooting 37.3% from long range.
Junior forward Mason Plye (11.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.5 blk) and senior guard Marques Myles (12.1 ppg, 4.9 ast, 3.1 stl) joined Davis on the All District teams.
Plye’s 6’3″ frame could cause issues for a Skyline roster that does not have a consistent contributor listed over 6’2″.
What the Hawks lack in size, they make up for with a team effort crashing the glass and a few former football players who play bigger than listed.
All Region Linebacker Andre Ford is coming off back to back double-doubles in the playoffs with 27 points and 11 rebounds against Kettle Run and 22 points with 10 rebounds vs Fauquier while All State Running Back Zayden Burks has played lock down defense and often draws a matchup listed a few inches taller.
Senior Cameron Kerns has been reliable on the boards and has grabbed 22 rebounds through the two games.
Burks, Kerns, and Ford were all 1st Team Northwestern District selections and Day’Shawn Haley joined them on the 2nd team.
The Hawks also unleashed an “ace up the sleeve” in Bentley Frye against Fauquier.
The freshman guard has been a consistent starter this season but hit another level in the Regional Semifinal with 15 points and four rebounds including a huge three to extend a Skyline run in the 2nd quarter.
As many playoff matchups do, it could come down to which stars shine or are contained.
Skyline and Meridian split the regular season series 1-1 with both teams winning on their home floor.
In Meridian’s win, the Mustangs led throughout and put game away with a 3rd quarter run and led by 11 entering the 4th quarter.
Davis led the way with 24 points in the win, but the Hawks limited him to just 12 points (including a buzzer-beating three to force overtime) when they pulled out the OT victory.
Ford and Kerns both had 19 points while Mark Jefferies stepped up late with a huge layup and solid free throw shooting to finish with 9 points.
Skyline dominated the turnover department in the win by forcing 18 and only committing 4.
This game feels like it has all the makings of an instant classic and will come down to the final possession, but I will give the edge to the Hawks who seem to be playing their best basketball at the right time.
Skyline enters Falls Church as winners of 10 of the last 11 since the loss to Meridian while the Mustangs have lost four games in the time frame.
I’ll take the Hawks to regain the Region Championship for the first time since the magical 2023 season, Skyline 71- Meridian 69.
For more local sports coverage, check out the Sports Dogs Podcast.
The Duke’s Preview: Skyline vs Meridian
11/14/25, Front Royal, VA- The high school football playoffs begin tonight with Skyline hosting Meridian in the Region 3B Quarterfinals for the Dave’s Diversified Services Game of the Week on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with the Tana Hoffman Pregame Show starting at 6:30 pm for the 7 pm kick-off.
The Hawks fly into this matchup on a seven game win streak and outscoring opponents in the stretch 301-127.
Skyline’s offensive production is based on the ground game led by Virginia’s top running back in rushing yards, Zayden Burks.
Burks eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark after 11 straight carries to start the game vs Warren County and went on to finish the night with 331 yards and a third River Rivalry win.
Burks has rushed for over 250 yards in six straight games and was only under the mark against Manassas Park.
Due to the lopsided score, he carried the ball just three times for 130 yards and 2 TDs.
He also ran all over Meridian in their previous matchup just two weeks ago and accounted for 345 rushing yards and an 86 yard kick-off return for a touchdown.
After their season finale against Manassas Park was cancelled, the Mustangs have spent a long time thinking about Skyline.
Meridian limped into the playoffs winning just two of the last six games and those wins came against Fauquier and Warren County who have combined for just three wins this season.
While struggling in the W/L column, Meridian still possesses an offense that can give you nightmares led by their tandem of 1st Team All District running backs Duke Dawson and Oumar Thompson.
The duo combined for three touchdowns in the first matchup against Skyline and will not want their high school careers to end Friday night.
Defensively, Meridian is led by JR LB Keaton Grace.
Grace is a two-sport standout in lacrosse and football and already claimed 1st Team All District at linebacker.
Skyline’s defense has benefitted from a deep line led by Jonathan Leach which opens up space for linebackers Andre Ford and Marques Lockhart-Wright to fly around and make plays.
Burks has also stepped up defensively this year and joined Leach, Ford, and Lockhart-Wright as 1st Team All District selections.
When these teams take the field, I look for Skyline to use there momentum entering the playoffs to come out of the gates firing.
QB Day’Shawn Haley will attack over the top if the defense keys in on Burks.
Haley has benefitted from defenses focusing on the run game and against Meridian two weeks ago he put up a stat line of 11/14, 174 yds, and 3TDs.
His early success followed by the ground attack of Burks will push the Hawks to the Region Semifinals, Skyline wins 43-24.
For a preview of all the local playoff matchups, a look back at the final week of the regular season, Player of the Year acknowledgements, and more, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast.