The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Millbrook vs Handley boys and girls doubleheader

1/2/26, Winchester, VA- Millbrook welcomes Handley in a Northwestern District boys and girls basketball doubleheader tonight for the Hike Kidz Foundation Game of the Week courtesy of Brickhouse Bar and Grill on Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and TheRiver953.app with coverage starting at 5:45 pm for the girls 6 pm tip-off followed by the boys.

In the girls matchup, Handley and Millbrook meet with identical 3-7 records, but the Judges are starting to find their footing while the Pioneers are still struggling to find their way.

Handley has won three of their last four with the lone loss coming to 9-1 Turner Ashby and the most recent win against previously undefeated East Rockingham.

Reagan Edsell recently returned to the Handley lineup after an injury and has led the way ever since.

Against East Rock, she put up 35 points and gave Harrisonburg/Rockingham County residents a taste of what she is capable of before heading to James Madison University next year.

In addition to Edsell, Reese Craig has been elite in the paint and Cameron Hobson’s three point shooting has taken another step forward.

Millbrook was hoping to have similar support for their returning star Jane Moreland but due to some injuries and sickness surrounding the team, she has been asked to carry the load.

While Handley has stacked wins in their recent outings, Millbrook is just 1-7 after starting the season 2-0.

Jane Moreland can put up a double-double every night but without additional support, it could be a long season for the Pioneers.

Coach Cary Bartlett is still optimistic for the season and we could see some big strides from underclassman like Grace Moreland, Emily Randall and Brielle Demus who have shown potential throughout the season.

Grace Moreland led the Pioneers in the season opening win with 15 points and Millbrook will need her to continue to help out her big sister in the scoring column.

When the boy’s take the court, Handley will need to overcome a key injury on their roster and lockdown one of the area’s top athletes to continue their quest towards a State Title against an upset minded Millbrook squad.

Future D-I athlete and reigning All State selection Will Braun-Duin went down with a leg injury against Sherando in our last game of the week and the Judges responded by outscoring the Warriors 40-15 the rest of the way.

While Handley should be able to win the district with or without Braun-Duin, their State Title hopes could lie with their injured leading scorer.

The Judges went 0-2 during the recent Arby’s Classic without Braun-Duin played put up respectable performances against two powerhouse programs in Oak Hill and Roanoke Catholic.

Millbrook’s star power on the other hand has continued to heat up with Rylee Baker dominating the competition lately.

The Pioneers enter Friday night on a four game win streak with Baker averaging 26.8 ppg through the stretch.

Outside of the superstars in Baker and Braun-Duin, both teams have great supporting pieces as well.

Christian Dinges, Kyren Oglesby and Jaevon Brisco all have college basketball aspirations for Handley and Millbrook’s Keon Lewis, Daniel Clater, and Keanen Dennis provide plenty options to help out Baker.

This matchup will also feature one of the best coaching duals in Virginia this weekend with the established leader Erick Green Sr. taking on the youngest head coach to lead a team to the VHSL Championship, Zach Harrell-Zook.

Expect a big crowd for these rivals as Millbrook’s 7-2 record this season has came primarily on the road or in tournaments and tonight will be their first home game in over a month.

Just two seasons ago, a struggling Millbrook boys team upset Handley thanks in part to the rowdy homecourt.

For the girls matchup, I look for Handley to ride their recent momentum and go to Edsell early and often to secure the lead and roll from there, Handley 57-Millbrook 37.

The boys should be a bit more competitive with the loss of Braun-Duin evening the playing field, but Judge’s depth will prove to be too much for the Pioneers and Handley will pull through late with some clutch shooting from the free throw line, 76-69.

For color commentator Josh Kirby’s interview with both girl’s basketball coaches Cary Bartlett and Katlyn Orndorff, click here.

For Josh’s interview with Coach Erick Green Sr., click here.

(Coach Harrell-Zook was unavailable for an interview at this time.)

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.