The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Skyline vs Millbrook

1/6/26 Front Royal, VA- Millbrook hits the road to visit Skyline in tonight’s Hike Kidz Foundation Game of the Week courtesy of Brickhouse Bar and Grill on Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with coverage starting around 7:15 pm for the estimated 7:30 pm tip-off.

Both teams began there seasons with strong starts and will need to sustain that success as the calendar turns and district play starts to heat-up.

While Millbrook is in Class 4 and Skyline is in Class 3, both are members of the Northwestern District and usually put on a show for the fans in attendance.

This is the first of two matchups this season and last year the teams split the season series 1-1.

The homestanding Hawks won their first six games to start the season before stumbling into two losses in the Ram Hardwood Classic.

Skyline led throughout the first half against Spring Mills before fouls began to pile up and the size of the reigning West Virginia State Champions began to take its toll.

The Cardinals pulled away with a 17-4 run to close things out.

The following night against Central, it was more of the same through the first 3 quarters with Skyline leading the entire way.

Then in the fourth quarter, Central tightened up their defense leaving the Hawks scoreless in the final frame and Derek Batiz- Lugo took over scoring the game winning 3 pointer and the game’s final 9 points.

Skyline bounced back into the win column, 66-47, on their most recent outing against Sherando with a balanced scoring attack that saw 5 players in double figures (Cameron Kerns 13 points, Day’Shawn Haley 12 points, Zayden Burks 12 points, Mark Jeffries 10 points, Bentley Frye 10 points).

Millbrook will look for their bounce back against Skyline after a tough loss at home to Handley.

Millbrook hung around with one of the favorites to win the VHSL Class 4 title before falling 63-55.

The Judges were without top scorer Will Braun-Duin, but Jaevon Brisco (20 points), Kyren Oglesby(16 points), and Christian Dinges (19 points) shouldered the load in his absence.

Fouls piled up on the Pioneers which led to Handley reaching the bonus in 3 of 4 quarters and they made it count shooting 17/22 from the line.

Coach Erick Green Sr.’s squad did not go quietly into the night and won the fourth quarter 20-14 behind senior leader Rylee Baker and sophomore spark plug Keanen Dennis.

The loss halted Millbrook’s second four game winning streak this season, but now the Pioneers will head back on the road where they have played incredibly well this season.

Seven of Millbrook’s eight wins have came on the road and all four games in the most recent winning streak came on the road with Baker silencing crowds across the region.

During that stretch, he averaged 26.8 points per game and each win came by 12+.

Baker will need a performance on pace with those outings to take out the Hawks Tuesday night and the game appears to be a matchup of a team with the best player on the floor vs the more balanced team.

Skyline’s team defense has improved lately and could be the difference to limit Baker and the Pioneers.

Millbrook should have an advantage on the glass due to their size, but Skyline’s athleticism will make that size a liability when attempting on-ball defense.

I look for Skyline’s balanced approach to help them hold on after a back-and-forth game, Hawks 67-Pioneers 65.

Click here for Josh Kirby’s interviews with tonight’s coaches Harold Chunn and Erick Green Sr.

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: James Wood vs Clarke County

12/1/25, Winchester, VA – James Wood hosts Clarke County in the Hike Kidz Foundation Game of the Week courtesy of Brickhouse Bar and Grill with a girls and boys basketball doubleheader on Fox Sports Radio 1450, TheRiver953.com and The River 95.3 app.

The girls tip-off first at 6 pm with pregame coverage starting at 5:45 pm followed by the boys with an estimated start time of 7:30 pm, 7:15 pregame.

The Clarke County girl’s squad returns a star-studded lineup that advanced all the way to the State Semifinal before falling to John Marshall, 67-56.

Leading the way once again for the Eagles this season will be the duo of Paige and Alainah McKavish.

Alainah enters her senior season after another 1st Team All State campaign last year and averaged 21.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, and 3.9 steals.

Paige earned 2nd Team All State during her Freshman year and was second on the team with 10.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 3.1 apg.

While the roster experienced little turnover, former Head Coach Regina Dowling left for Sherando and her assistant Shadd McCaw will takeover as head coach.

McCaw will look to continue the Clarke County tactic of jumping on opponents early with their signature full-court pressure and the Colonels will need to be ready for physical and aggressive opening night.

These teams met on opening night last season and Clarke County ran away with a 61-24 win.

James Wood returns a few key members from last year’s team including guard Aubrey Nail (7.1 ppg, 2.2 steals, 2.7 apg) and forwards Hailey Harlow (4.7 rpg and 62.5 FT%) and Ashlyn Evans (5.8 rpg).

The Colonels have some huge shoes to fill this year following the graduation of former 1st Team All District selection Josie Russell who led the area in rebounding with 13.1 ppg and added 18.4 ppg.

When the boys tip-off, it will be James Wood who returns more experience while Clarke County will be searching for who will step-up next.

The Colonels return the senior backcourt of Brodie Sirbaugh and Ashby Copenhaver who combined for nearly 20 points per game and a good size front court including 6’5″ Michael Bell and 6’4″ Ronnie Barrett.

James Wood showed solid improvement behind that core last season to reach .500 after a 7-14 campaign in 2023-2024 and will look to take it another step farther this season.

The Eagles lost their top two scorers from last season in Tanner Sipe and Lincoln Booker and will be without the lone returner in double-figures Isaac Nei due to a minor injury.

Coach Kent Auslander is excited about JR guard Chris Reid and  SR guard Maddox Roberts after a great offseason.

Reid was a standout for the JV squad and Roberts has great length as a 6’3″ guard and could be the teams top player after averaging just 3 ppg and 2 rpg last year.

While the Clarke girls will hit the court running, the boys side may take time to find their footing with so many new pieces.

The McKavish sisters might outscore the Colonels on their own and the Eagles should start the season with a win, 64-38.

The boys game should be more competitive and I look forward to the matchup of senior guards for James Wood and the emerging Maddox Roberts with experience providing the edge, Colonels win 58-52.

For a preview on the girls matchup with both coaches and Josh Kirby, click here.

For a preview on the boys matchup with both coaches and Josh Kirby, click here. 

The Duke’s Girls Hoops Preview: Skyline vs Warren County

Skyline (10-3) hosts Warren County (5-6) in the girls basketball edition of the Van Metre Homes Game of the Week on Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with coverage beginning around 7:15.

Both teams enter the evening on an upward trajectory compared to previous seasons and are on pace to match some of their best records in the last 10-15 years.

Skyline’s 10 wins are already an improvement on last year’s 9-15 mark, thanks to some great returning players and another year under the reigning Northwestern District Coach of the Year Charles Hudnall.

The Sherando alum has helped players like Lyzie Scriva (14.1 ppg), Karsyn Bunch (8.1 ppg), Laney Breeden(area’s leading rebounder with 8.5 rpg), Camilla Diamond (11.2 ppg) and other key returners reach another level this season.

While freshman Camryn Logan has provided a boost in all phases with 11.2 ppg, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 2.3 asts

Skyline may be without a few of those stars including guards Scriva, Bunch, and reserve guard Taliyah Vanruck Degroot as they have missed the last three games with injury.

The Hawks are 1-2 in that stretch with the only other loss came early in the season to perennial Class 2 State Title contender Clarke County.

If Skyline is without three guards for the fourth straight game, Warren County will have a much better chance to pull off the upset, but the Hawks haven’t played in over a week so they may have had a chance to heal-up with the time off.

Warren County ended last season on a seven game losing streak to finish 6-16, but would match that win total with a win tonight.

First year head coach Abby Gallagher has helped steady the Cats, especially on the defensive end where they have kept opponents under 50 points per game.

Sophomore Melissa Dingess is already making a big impact at the varsity level leading Warren County in points (5.3), assists (2.0), steals (2.0), and three point percentage (22%).

I am making my prediction under the wishful thinking that both sides are fully healthy for this game as I have no information on their status until the players take the court for warmups.

The fully healthy Hawks will continue their run towards one of the best seasons in recent history and defeat Warren County, 55-38.

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Skyline vs Millbrook

Tonight tips-off our coverage of the High School Basketball Game of the Week on Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and The River 95.3 app with the Skyline Hawks hosting the Millbrook Pioneers (0-1) starting at 7:15 pm.

Skyline returns a ton of talent from last year’s roster including late season call-up Zayden Burks, Isaiah Maxwell (5.3 ppg), Andre Ford (7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Ahsan Adul-Qasim(6.3 ppg), and First Team All-District and All-Region selection Dwayne Tucker (18 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 2.6 spg).

Tucker is also one of the area’s leading returners in points, steals, rebounds, and field-goal percentage.

The Hawks biggest losses came in guards Colby Wood and Caden Thorne, but will have Burks, Cole Logan and Dayshawn Haley ready to step up at their former roles.

Coach Harold Chunn’s squad utilized a fast paced style and aggressive defense to advance to the Regional Semifinals last year, before falling to James Monroe at home.

This is a team that plays at another level on their homecourt in recent years and has allowed only three home losses over the last two seasons: two playoff losses and one loss to Class 4 state title contender Handley.

Millbrook is continuing to shift the culture of their basketball program in the second year under the local-legend Erick Green Sr.

Coach Green wants his Pioneers to focus on a balanced, team approach and will be led by returning contributors Rylee Baker(51.5% 3p, 75% FT) and 6’4″ Shaun Rooks (8.7 ppg, 1 bpg).

Rooks and 6’4″ freshman Braylon Fauver will have their hands full Tuesday night with Skyline’s senior forward.

Tucker had a career night against the Pioneers last year totaling 27 points including an exclamation point of a dunk in the fourth quarter during the 88-74 win.

Skyline’s wealth of varsity experience will play a huge roll against a Millbrook team still finding itself after a 69-33 loss to Broad Run on Monday night.

I predict the Hawks soar to a win on opening night over the Pioneers, 74-66.

Check out the full list of upcoming games on Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and The River 95.3 app with the schedule below!

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Strasburg vs Amelia County

Strasburg hosts Amelia County in the VHSL Girls Basketball State Quarterfinals tonight on The River 95.3, Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com and the Tune In Radio App with coverage starting at 6:50 pm.

The Rams earned homecourt in this matchup by defeating Page County for the Regional title on Saturday at Shenandoah University, 63-47.

Strasburg sprinted ahead in the first quarter with red-hot shooting from the floor, scoring 29 points and shooting nearly 65%.

Page battled back to make it a two point game in the 4th quarter before Strasburg closed the door with a 15-1 run.

Macy Smith has continued her tear through the Regional Playoffs with 23 points against the Panthers to follow up her 26 point performance against Central in the Regional Semifinals.

Smith was recently named the Regional Player of the Year as she continues to add to her trophy case before departing to Division I St. Bonaventure.

Sophomore guard Emily Gorrell has also looked strong throughout the playoffs and finished the Regional Championship game with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Strasburg will meet a defensive minded Amelia County team that fell to the juggernauts of John Marshall in their Regional Championship game, 75-23.

Amelia County boasts a Big Three of All-District selections in Tasia Rather, Zhikia Wiggins, and Leah-Marie Marshall.

The Lady Raiders’ stingy defense has allowed 38.4 points per game this season, but that has ballooned to 54.6 points per game against the tougher competition in the Regional playoffs.

On the other hand, Strasburg has increased their scoring output during the playoffs from 52.9 points during the season to 61.3 points per game in Regional action.

Strasburg has lost just two of their last 18 games and both were to Page County before defeating them in the Regional Championship game while Amelia enters the evening after losing three of their last five games.

The Rams are peaking at the right time and should advance past the Lady Raiders in front of a rowdy home crowd, 63-46.

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

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Skyline vs Sherando

Tonight’s High School Basketball Game of the Week on Fox Sports Radio 1450, theriver953.com, and the Tune In Radio App features the Skyline Hawks (10-3) hosting the Sherando Warriors (10-5) with coverage starting at 7:20 pm.

The first meeting of the two teams was a Sherando victory in a 55-53 season opening thriller.

This matchup is expected to be no different as both team’s enter the game still holding high expectations for this season.

Sherando will arrive in Front Royal on a four game winning streak led by senior guard Trey Williams, who has averaged over 20 points per game in the stretch.

Williams is an early candidate for Player of the Year in the region as the second leading scorer with 17.2 per game, third in rebounding with 6.5 per game, and the leader in assists and steals with 4.4 apg and 2.3 spg.

Skyline enters the evening winning 7 of their last 8 games by an average differential of 22.4 points per game.

While the Warriors are led by Williams from the outside, the Hawks follow the lead of junior forward Dwayne Tucker on the interior.

Tucker has been a dominant force for Skyline in his second year of varsity action.

He led all scorers in the first matchup against the Warriors with 23 points, many of those coming against Sherando’s 6’4″ senior center Drew Tyson.

Tucker has also collected a few double-doubles this season and joined Williams on the All Tournament Team at the Ram Hardwood Classic.

Tonight’s heavyweight matchup could come down to the free throw line, an area that helped Sherando secure a few victories already this season including the first game against Skyline where the Warriors finished 14/21 from the line while the Hawks made just 5/16 free throw attempts.

Skyline’s aggressive defense could end them up in foul trouble and send the Warriors to the free throw line early and often, leading to the difference in a tight Sherando win, 57-54.

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

The Duke’s Hoops Preview: Warren County vs Luray

Warren County (2-0) hosts Luray (0-1) tonight in the High School Basketball Game of the Week on Fox Sports Radio 1450 WFTR, theriver953.com, and the Tune In Radio App with coverage beginning at 7:20 pm.

Warren County enters the game 2-0 for the first time since 2011 (according to MaxPreps) and looks to have taken a big step forward in their second year under Head Coach TJ Atlee.

In a tight season opener, Warren County took down Strasburg, one of last year’s state quarterfinalists.

The Wildcats did a great job responding to each run Strasburg put together and locked in defensively to contain the Rams 6’7″ star forward Walker Conrad.

Warren County dominated the 4th quarter 11-2 to come away with the 48-43 win.

The Wildcats followed up that performance with 67-50 home win over Manassas Park where they dominated the glass.

Will Bergmann finished with a double-double including 14 rebounds and Jayden Jefferies added 7 boards in his return from injury.

Luray is coming off a tight loss to East Rockingham but also looks to have taken a step forward this season.

Head Coach Mat Huff is really excited about the Bulldogs balance of experience and youth for this year’s squad.

Senior 6’4″ center Christian Lentz returns to the paint where he was a 1st Team All-District and 2nd Team All-Region selection last season.

In their opening game, the underclassmen led the way including sophomore guard Conner Hillard and freshman guard Ayden Haddock who finished with 15 and 14 points.

Warren County appears to have an advantage in three point shooting thanks to Marshall Barton, Raymond Dingess, and Ethan Bare while Luray only converted on two attempts from the perimeter in their first game.

I predict Warren County’s defensive effort and momentum entering their third consecutive home game will contribute to the win in what should be a tight and competitive game, 57-53.

Next week, we will head across town as Skyline hosts Brentsville in our first look at the Hawks this season on 1450 WFTR, theriver953.com and the Tune In Radio App with coverage beginning at 7:20 pm.

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