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 Hoops Preview: Strasburg vs Clarke County V

3/6/26 Berryville, VA- For the fifth and final time this season, Clarke County and Strasburg will face-off in girls basketball, but this go-round the winner will advance to VCU and the State Championship while the other team’s long season will come to an end.

The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app begin State Semifinal coverage tonight at 6:10 pm ahead of the 6:30 pm tip-off, brought to you by The Hike Kidz Foundation c/o Brickhouse Bar and Grill.

Clarke County holds a 3-1 edge on the season series and claimed the Bull Run District and Region 2B Championship trophies against the Rams after falling to Strasburg at home.

The Eagles set a record for the briefest trophy celebration in history after winning the Bull Run District and has clearly had their eyes set towards bigger things all season long.

Coach Shadd McCaw’s group has dominated playoff play with each win coming in double figures and annihilated State Quarterfinal opponent Prince Edward County 90-15.

Prince Edward’s only other losses this season came to John Marshall, Strasburg’s State Quarterfinal opponent.

The Rams discarded John Marshall 54-45 after falling to the Justices the last two state tournament meetings and proved that the Bull Run District is one of the toughest in Class 2.

Strasburg was led by Jaden Stinnette with 18 points and 7 rebounds along with Emily Gorrell who just missed a double-double with 14 points and 9 assists.

Coach Kelly Stinnette will need both of her seniors to have big games against Clarke County to advance to Richmond.

Emily Gorrell lit up the stat sheet with 26 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals in the Region Championship, while Clarke County held Stinnette to just five points outside the six she scored during a late run.

Alainah McKavish led all scorers with 27 points in the Region title game and was joined in double figures by Paige McKavish (14 points), Savannah McCaw (10 points) and Eryn Demko (10 points).

Seniors Alainah McKavish, Eryn Demko, and Paige Stemberger have established the standard, but Clarke County’s three sophomore starters- Paige McKavish, Savannah McCaw, and Kendall Harmon- really showcased their composure on a big stage at Shenandoah University with a trophy on the line.

Instead of shying away or trying to do too much, they stayed within their roles to make sure Clarke County won the turnover battle and played complimentary basketball that allowed their Region 2B Player of the Year to dominate.

While I have no doubt the stars will shine in Berryville Friday night, Clarke County’s edge with their role players will prove to be the difference.

Eagles protect homecourt and advance to Richmond for the trophy they have had their eyes on all season long, Clarke County 72- Strasburg 55.

For more local sports coverage including The Three Pointer discussing neutral sites for the playoffs, unfairness in Class 3, and hiding game film, check out the latest Sports Dogs Podcast. 

For Color Commentator Josh Kirby’s chat with coach Shadd McCaw, click here. 

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.

The Duke’s Bull Run District Championship Preview: Clarke County vs Strasburg

2/18/26, Berryville VA- Clarke County hosts Strasburg in the Bull Run District Girls Basketball Championship Game with coverage starting around 7:30 pm on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, The River 95.3 app and TheRiver953.com for the first of two Hike Kidz Foundation Games of the Week c/o Brickhouse Bar and Grill (Boys Championship game will take place on Thursday).

Clarke County was pinned as the early favorites to repeat as Bull Run District Champions this season, but Strasburg made sure no one forgot about them after a 21-3 record and splitting with Clarke County in the regular season.

Strasburg upset Clarke County just 7 days ago at home 48-47 after a late Jayden Stinnette lay-up, but stumbled in their final regular season 56-51 to Central before a rematch three days later in the Bull Run District Semifinals where the Rams won 54-51.

In the win vs Clarke County, Strasburg snapped a 12 game Eagles win streak and limited All State Forward Alainah McKavaish to just 3 points in the first 3 quarters.

Limiting McKavish will be key to another chance at knocking off the Eagles.

In the first matchup between the schools in early January, McKavish dominated with a 21 point and 10 rebound performance and was one of five Eagles to knock down at least two 3-pointers.

McKavish leads Clarke in nearly every statistical category but has a strong and experienced supporting cast with 8/9 players returning from last years State Semifinal squad.

Paige McKavish (15.9 ppg) and Kendall Harman (10.5 ppg) join Alainah (20.6 ppg) in double digits while Savannah McCaw leads the Eagles with 4.1 assists per game and Paige Stemberger’s lock-down defense leads to 3.6 steals per game.

The Rams are led by seniors Emily Gorrell and Jayden Stinnette.

When Clarke County zeroed in on Gorrell last week, Stinnette made them pay with the game winner.

Gorrell leads the Rams in scoring with 17.8 per game and assists with 3.2 while Stinnette is just behind at 11.9 points per game and is the leading rebounder with 8.3 per game.

The duo is playing their best as the Rams enter the playoffs with both earning a double-double in the BRD semifinals.

Individually, Gorrell is on a tear with three straight games over 20 points.

Strasburg will have an advantage in coaching experience with Kelly Stinnette leading the bench for her third season while Coach Shadd McCaw is still in his first year as head coach.

While a loss tonight wouldn’t end either teams season, Clarke County should be in playoff mode and will look for revenge against the only team in Virginia to beat them this season.

I look for the Eagles to come out very aggressive and Alainah McKavish to be a little more “selfish” early to build a Clarke County lead then pull away for a 60-45 win.

For a regular season recap and playoff preview, check out last week’s Sports Dogs podcast here. 

Color commentator Josh Kirby spoke with Clarke County’s Shadd McCaw here. 

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