Patrick Henry did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard with Chuck Webb scoring on an
1-yard TD. EC Glass came right back to score with Marty Kittrell throwing a 50-yard pass
to Jertavius Osbourne for the tying TD. Patrick Henry Quarterback, Joey Beasley, answered with his pass that hit Kwalei Carter for a 65-yard TD. Chuck Webb then added to the team's total as he contributed with two touchdowns 1-yard TD run and 31-yard TD pass. 

Both teams could not stop each other on defense.  In this offensively charged game the difference was EC Glass had a lot of penalties and saw two touchdowns called back.

The game was played at Lynchburg city Stadium

Game Stats:

Rushing
Patrick Henry: Chuck Webb 27-125,

EC Glass:  Mike Thomas 11-58.

Passing

Patrick Henry: Joey Beasley,  15-15 for 247 yards,

E.C.Glass: Marty Kittrell, 11-18 for 199 yards.

EM-SPORTS.ORG   8/31/23 

The distance from EC Glass to the University of Lynchburg is approximately one mile.

It may seem even further when you think about what use to be and what is now.

That is no longer the case for one of the most popular people to step in McCue Gym at EC Glass.

Anitra Thomas is coming home, we’ll sort of.  Coach Thomas who had an amazing run as the Lady Hilltoppers Head Coach for the girls’ team is back after a short stop in college.

Thomas parlayed her high school success into an assistant coach position with the Lady Hornets basketball squad.  Her time there was short but extremely effective and beneficial.  The short trip up Lakeside Drive to Memorial Avenue, was worth more than words in the experience and invaluable tools she gained to bring back to the high school ranks.

Her transition will feel as if she never left and in reality, she will be able to make the move thanks to the wonderful job done over the last couple years by Cedric Jones, who will return to his post as the top assistant for Coach Thomas.

Thomas, a Brookville grad who once held that program’s career scoring record, previously was head coach at Glass in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. She was an assistant for one year before taking the top job.

Glass went 22-5 in 2019-20 under Thomas — who earned Seminole District and Region 4D coach of the year honors that season. It posted just two regular-season losses and marked just the second time the Hilltoppers had made it to the state tournament in program history.  She led the team into the State 4A Quarterfinals before the season ended.

The ’Toppers were 8-0 the following season, in a campaign shortened by the pandemic and eventually cut off because of COVID-19 protocols. They were slated to enter the region tournament as the No. 2 seed that year.

Those two seasons were the second and third of three consecutive winning seasons with Thomas on staff (the first came during her year as an assistant), which followed a string of seven straight losing campaigns.  Jones led Glass back to states in 2021-22 and to a 22-5 record, and another visit to the State 4A Quarterfinals, but the Hilltoppers went 12-11 in the following season.

EMSPORTS 8/25/2023

In their first-ever DIII baseball championship appearance, the Lynchburg Hornets claim the national title over the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays, 7-6.

Lynchburg won Game 1 with a 5-2 berth before falling to Johns Hopkins 11-6 in Game 2 earlier today. In a double-header winner-take-all comeback, the Hornets scored their winning runs in the fifth inning off the bat of Jackson Harding — a 3-RBI double for the lead that Johns Hopkins did not recover from.

- contributed by NCAA.com

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - For the first time ever, the Lynchburg Hornets are National Champions.

After taking game one of the three game series over Johns Hopkins 5-2, Blue Jays dominated game two of the series 11 to 6.

Hornets pitcher Jack Bachmore would be on the bump for the deciding game in what would only be his second start. He would give up 4 runs in the first inning alone but would be picked up by a Gavin Collins 2RBI single in the bottom half of the inning, and a two-run bomb from Benton Jones in the bottom of the second to erase the deficit.

Trailing by one in the bottom of the fifth, a Jackson Harding double scored three runs that put the Hornets in the lead for good.

Wesley Arrington entered the game for Lynchburg in the eighth inning and would record the final out of the game on a strikeout.

Lynchburg secures its first-ever program title with a 7-6 win over Johns Hopkins.

Copyright 2023 WDBJ. All rights reserved.

The Lynchburg Hornets were very successful and accomplished many goals with a national title.  The Hornets entered the Division III tournament at 43 wins, the most in school history.  They had advanced past a regional and made it into the Final 8 (all program firsts).

They went undefeated (3-0) and entered the championship series two wins away from the ultimate title.  The title was the fourth national title in the university's history and the first by a men's program.  Coach Lucas Jones, an alum and former player, captured his first title ever in his six-year reign as the coach at his alma mater.

The Hornets finished the season at 48-8 and will now look to defend their title as well as market their brand and the name of the ODAC for the national to recognize and appreciate.

EMSPORTS. org 6/14/2023

The EC Glass Hilltoppers have one more box the check off for the 2022-2023 season.  Every team wants to be the champ but you have to get to the game, to win the game.

Glass (25-2) has been sensational in postseason play winning eight games to reach the state title game.  All the wins have been by double digits but they have not all been easy.

In some games the offense took over early amen the team crushed their opponent.  In other games, the offense was slow starting, but the smothering and in your face defense, created havoc and limited the opponents.  Glass is averaging nearly 68 points a game while holding their opponents to less than 45 points per game in these playoffs.

The team in being led by the great play of senior guard O’Maundre Harris.  The runaway Seminole Region 4D Player of the Year has been nothing short of amazing.  Harris has raised his scoring average from 26 points a game to over 30 points a game in the playoff run.  His versatility and natural scoring ability has carried the Hilltoppers in tight situations and spearheaded their 16-game winning streak.

The Varina Blue Devils (22-4) are no pushover or surprise team.  The Region 4B champs have also shown the ability to score when needed (over 70 ppg) or locked down on defense where they held King’s Fork to 34 points in the state semifinals.  Varina is sporting an impressive 14-game winning streak and will get the benefit of being the local team as they are less than 25 minutes away from VCU, the site of the VHSL Class 4 Championship.  

Both teams were excellent in offense scoring a nearly identical 66 points per contest during the regular season.  This was an indication of how close these two teams were on paper.  It was even more evident that the title game was a grind and the best defense on the court would make all the difference.

The teams slugged in out in the first period and neither team could take a big lead.  It was a push and pull that resembled a tug of war where Varina would pull ahead only to have Glass pull even or vice versa.  The end of the 1st quarter saw both teams knotted up at 12 apiece and this was just the beginning of a classic.

The second quarter was a copy of the first as both defenses dominated and points were few and far between each team.  Glass took a 13-12 lead with a free throw but it was short lived as Varina took the lead back.  The back and forth action continued with lots of energy and hype but not as many points.  The game was tied at 22 with just under two minutes to play.  The momentum was square in the middle until the Blue Devils were able to push ahead with four more points before the halftime horn.  The Hilltoppers spoiled several chances to tie or take the lead and saw themselves losing at halftime for the first time in the playoffs at 26-22.  O'maundre Harris, the highlight reel point guard from EC Glass, had display his wizardry on the court as he led all scorers with 13 points.  Varina, by contrast, was able to spread the scoring burden with five players contributing at least four points each with no player having more than seven.

The anticipation of a championship title fight was as big as the performance on the court.  With every move, shot, dribble or pass, the fans seemed to be pouring all their voices onto the court encouraging each player and each play.  The stands and rafters were shaking in unison as Varina started to surge ahead in the third quarter.  Varina was able to create some space and breathing room by taking a 35-26 lead in the first three minutes of the third quarter.  EC Glass who had usually played from ahead, would not go away quietly.  While Harris was not able to score as easily as before, he was setting his teammates up and Camp Conner drained a three-pointer to bring the Glass faithful off their feet and close the score to 39-35.  By the time, the third quarter ended, Varina was clinging to a 45-40 lead but Glass was not done.

The last quarter of the year hanged in the balance and the Blue Devils were leading but it was not a comforable margin.  Glass was essentially playing in an hostile environment and they knew it was time to put their best on display to claim the state crown.

The fourth quarter saw EC Glass apply enormous pressure and it began to wilt the Varina offense.  With less than a minute in regulation, the score was tied at 55.  With under 25 seconds, Glass had taken a lead at 56-55 and needed one stop to secure the victory.  The Hilltoppers could sense the end was near and they were closing in on a state title.  The Varina Blue Devils had seen a five point lead disappear and they needed to make a play. 

They turned to KJ Wyche, the Region 4B Player of the Year, who had made plays all year.  The jjunior guard, was the only returning starter for this Varina team who cut down the nets last year in this building.  He was looking to redeem his earlier free throw misses.  Wyche delivered with a bucket off the glass to give his team a 57-56 lead with nearly 13 seconds left.  Now the tables had turned and Varina needed a stop to walk away as champs.  Glass had on more opportunity but missed a jump shot to win it and the subsequent foul gave Varina two free throws to ice the game.  When the final horn sounded, the teams had given every ounce of effort and sweat was clenched to their bodies, the Varina Blue Devils (23-4) walked away as the new VHSL 4A Champions.  EC Glass (25-3) for all their valor and might, were not able to get that last stop or that game-winning basket and saw their dream season end in the state title game.

Varina was tall and physical and it showed as they collected 40 rebounds to the 25 from Glass.  The Blue Devils also received contributions from a host of players. Junior Malachi Cosby had a double-double effort with a team high 15 points and 11 rebounds.  Wyche contributed 14 while Jerome Conway scored 10 points, Myles Derricott had 8 points and Dominique Coleman provided a spark with 7 key points off the bench, all after halftime.

For EC Glass, it was a tremendous end to the career for O'maundre Harris.  The electrifying guard kept the fans on their feet and the Varina defense on their heels.  Harris was nearly unstoppable as he carried the majority of the scoring for Glass.  As he had done all year, he lifted his scoring output with another 30-point game (31) making 11 of his 21 shots.  He was supported by Connor Camp who had 7 and Aiden Treacy with 6 points.  As both teams were able to get it going in the second half, Glass finished at ~46% from the field for the game while Varina converted ~40% of their shots.  

Congratulations to both teams but most importantly, congrats to the EC Glass Hilltoppers who took their fans, the City of Lynchburg and many basketball spectators on a fantastic journey from the Hill City to the Capital City in this 2022-2023 basketball season.  This is the best team that EC Glass has put on the court since the last championship team of 1967.

EMSPORTS.org 3/9/2023

The high school playoffs are entering the last two rounds with a couple of boys’ teams from Central Virginia still in the hunt.  

ALTAVISTA COLONELS:

In Class 1 semi-finals, the Altavista Colonels are looking to make it back to the state title game for the second time in three years.  A proud program with many titles to their trophy case, the Colonels blew by the Middlesex Chargers and will faces the biggest challenger of the year when the undefeated Lancaster Red Devils (27-0) who have played phenomenal all year.  The winner can make reservations for a state title tilt on Saturday, Mar. 11.  

The dream season came to an abrupt end.  The Colonels were bested by the undefeated Red Devils who were too big and too quick for Altavista.  The Colonels could never get comfortable and they were always playing catch up from the beginning.  Lancaster get off to a great start and cruise into the half with a 37-22 lead.  

Altavista attempted to close the gap but as was the case in the first two quarters, Lancaster showed no weaknesses.  The lead was extended to 18 when the quarter ended at 52-34.  Lancaster proved to be all that they were advertised and the winning streak extends to 28 games.  The final score was confirmation that Altavista was willing but Lancaster was ready for the assignment.  The final score was 69-40.

The Colonels were led by Jayden Boyd who poured in 14 points and Stuart Hunt who contributed 13 points. ALTAVISTA finished the season at 21-5.

EC GLASS HILLTOPPERS:

About 25 minutes up 29 north, the EC Glass Hilltoppers can claim multiple VHSL state titles but it has been nearly 70 years since they last hoisted the winners’ trophy.  This Glass team has knocked in the door but have not punched through in recent history.  That can all change if the Hilltoppers can protect home court (actually Heritage High School) but must get past a stout Tuscarora Huskies who feel confident and are capable of turning in a victory for a trip to VCU on Wednesday. 

EC Glass (25-2) seemed to follow the similar scripts as they had the last few games.  They started slow and seemed to work and grind in the first half.  The Huskies did all they could to keep Glass within striking distance and trailed 30-27 at halftime.  As they had shown, the Hilltoppers were a team of adjustments and the second half Tuscarora was overwhelmed by the pressure and speed of EC Glass. Tuscarora had the size and length but they could not stop the Big Blue train from running downhill.

The Hilltoppers scored 43 points in the second half, increasing their total with each quarter.  At the end of the third quarter, Glass led 48-39 but save their best for last with a 25-point last stanza.  The offense was great but the defense even better as Tuscarora (24-5) was held to nearly 10 points under their season average of 58ppg. The Hilltoppers’ win stamped their ticket to VCU to compete for the Class 4 VHSL State Championship.  The 73-49 victory was an emphatic statement that the boys from midtown were ready to finish the dream and it was one step away. The Hilltoppers will face Varina High School riding a 16-game winning streak into the title game.

There were many stars but these two stood out as O'Maundre Harris, Region 4 Player of the Year and EMSPORTS Basketball Player of the Year scored a game high 34 points, 11 rebounds. His teammate Jason Knox added 15 points. Those two alone scored as many as the Huskies did.

EMSPORTS.org 3/06/2023

High basketball enters the championship rounds this week as each of the six VHSL Divisions prepare for state tournaments.  The team that wins the ultimate prize must win three more games in this gauntlet of competition.

ALTAVISTA COLONELS:

In Class 1, the Altavista Colonels have enjoyed great success with a 20-4 record on the season.  They had completed an undefeated season in the  Dogwood District and had a six game winning streak working. The Colonels may be from a small town but they boast some of the biggest and most successful basketball history in Central Virginia.  They have braved some hostile environments with none being any more challenging than at Franklin High School in Suffolk.  The Colonels overcame a big deficit to win an exciting regional final and earn a home state quarterfinal game at nearby Heritage High School in Lynchburg. 

Their opponent, the Middlesex Chargers, were also undefeated in their district play and were the winners of 19 consecutive games until they lost in the regional finals to Lancaster.  Lancaster was responsible for all three Middlesex losses in their 23-3 campaign.  The Chargers are not overlooking the Colonels but certainly eye the possibility of avenging their losses of both they and Lancaster advance to the state semi-final round.

The end came sooner than Middlesex would have wanted.  Altavista used their superior quickness and speed to simply outrun their visitors from up North.  The Colonels could seemingly do know wrong and breezed into the Class 1 semifinals with an impressive offensive display.  The final score of 78-57 seemed like more as Altavista moved with precision and scored with ease. Altavista will now look to stamp their ticket into the Class 1 state finals by defeating a formidable foe in the Lancaster Red Devils who are undefeated this year at 27-0.  This game will be held at Heritage High School.

EC GLASS HILLTOPPERS:

The EC Glass Hilltoppers were having a dream season.  They knew how close they had been in the past and were eager to get the elusive state crown.  A team with 23 wins in 25 games, that had dominated teams all year, Glass was pushed by Western Albemarle in their regional final but found enough offense and utilized their defensive prowess to gain the victory and earn a state quarterfinal home

contest against the Handley Judges. The Judges were 15-11 but had played strong towards the end of the season and have peaked in the last couple of weeks.  

The game was tight throughout and just as Glass had done in the regional finals, they built up momentum and a lead going into the half ahead of Handley, 31-25.  

Coming out of the locker rooms, both teams commenced to become more active and a great give and take took place.  When the Judges scored, the Hilltoppers answered.  If Glass looked to run away,  Handley stayed in close in their rear view not giving up an inch.  The excitement from the prolific offenses, was matched by the energy in the building as both teams scored in double digits as the game entered the fourth quarter.  Glass held a lead of 49-40 but Handley was not discouraged.

In the fourth quarter, the homestanding Hilltoppers found another gear.  The Handley Judges were not able to ride the momentum from the third quarter nor take advantage of the mistakes made by Glass.  Glass showed why they looked to be a favorite for the title and pushed the lead into double digits. As if a repeat of last week was taking place, Glass got stronger as the game move along.  In the end, Glass had their best quarter scoring 19 points to finish off Handley 68-54.  O'maundre Harris led all scorers with 32 points.  Handley was valiant but could not keep up with the hot shooting Hilltoppers and their season comes to an end at 14-12.  The Hilltoppers will continue the march in the tournament and improve to 24-2 with an active 15-game winning streak. The Tuscarora Huskies now stand in the way of Glass getting to the final game in Class 4.  The Huskies are 24-4 on the season and look to extend their three game winning streak at the state semi-final battle.  This game will be held at Heritage High School.

EMSPORTS.org 3/3/2023

It is a Friday night in February.  If you are looking for drama, excitement, and entertainment then the place to be is at a basketball gym.

The EC Glass Hilltoppers were hosting another Region 4D Finals as the top seed in the region. They were on the wave of a 13-game winning streak and already punched a ticket to the VHSL 4A state finals.  They hosted the second-seeded Western Albemarle Warriors were not strangers to playoff success and boasted a seven-game winning streak as they visited McCue Gymnasium in Lynchburg.

Both teams were known for their high-powered offenses and winning by large margins throughout the year.  This battle was shaping up as a classic back-and-forth with each possession being important.  The defenses were not expected to be the calling card for victory.

The game began with a lot of energy but not much in the way of buckets.  Each team searched for the right combination of passes and shooting but it produced little in the first quarter as the game was tied at 8 apiece. 

The second quarter was more offensive efficiency and fewer defensive stops.  The Hilltoppers used some of their ultra quickness and deft passing to find holes in Western’s defense and grab a 23-15 lead at halftime.

It seems when the teams returned from the halftime break that more offense would be on display.  Each team still struggled with shooting however Glass’ was starting to wear the Warriors down and by the end of the third quarter, the home team expanded their lead to 37-27 heading into a make-or-break fourth quarter.

Western Albemarle made every effort to get back into the game but EC Glass had a counter for each move.  In the end, Glass was able to stave off the Warriors’ best attempts and claimed the crown as Region 4D champs.  The win guarantees Glass another home game in the state quarterfinals as they await the loser of the Region C Championship.  Western will be on the road again as they travel to the winner of that same Region C contest looking to possibly regain another chance against Glass if both win in their next games.

Glass improves to 23-2 on the year and Western now stands at 23-4.

O’maundre Harris pumped in a game-high 22 points to lead the Hilltoppers.  The Warriors got 11 points each from Aidan Sims and Wes Gobole. 

EMSPORTS.org 2/24/2023

EC Glass has performed extremely well this season.  In another exceptional campaign, the Hilltoppers were perfect (14-0) in the Seminole District capturing another district crown. The Hilltoppers have been rarely tested and their only two losses occurred early in the year.  The Hilltoppers are on a current 12-game winning streak and look to be favorites for the Region 4D crown as well as looking to grab a title at the VHSL 4A State Tournament in a couple of weeks.

The Hilltoppers had no problem handling Mecklenburg County to advance to the regional semifinals at home in McCue Gymnasium.  The boys, from midtown, are undefeated at home this year and looking to return to the state tournament after a close defeat in last year’s quarterfinals at the hands of Loudoun County.

The GW- Danville Eagles are very familiar with their regional foe.  The Eagles seeded 4^th in Region D defeated 5^th seeded Amherst County to win a trip up 29 North looking for an upset.  The Eagles and Hilltoppers are not strangers to one another in this setting and have had classic battles in the past.  The Eagles advanced to this round last year as well and are looking to improve and advance to the state tournament as well.

The high scoring Hilltopper offense was going to be a test for the Eagles.  In the first quarter, both teams played with some nervous and high energy but not very efficient.  The teams traded baskets as they tried to establish their gameplan.  Glass was able to take a small lead at 13-10 at the end of the first quarter.

The teams found a little more rhythm in the second half, but Glass’ pace started to take over and they began to take control of the contest.  The Hilltoppers doubled their output from the 1^st quarter and increase the point total to 27.  In the meantime, GW started to turn the ball over and the deficit became bigger as the game moved to halftime.  With only 18 points, the Eagles were slowly becoming a one-man show.  Senior guard, Casyn Lewis, carried his team into the locker room with 12 points.  O’maundre Harris, the prolific scoring guard for EC Glass, was nearly at his average of 25 points per game in first 16 minutes, as he pumped in 18 points alone to match the grand total for GW Danville. 

The Hilltoppers showed they were able to play defense as well as offense.  They suffocated the Eagles, creating turnovers, tough shots and clearing the rebounds limiting the visitors to only 25 points in the second half.

Glass pulled away late and secured a 57-43 victory.  The win is EC Glass’ 13^th in a row and secures them another home game in the regional championship on Friday.  The other bonus of the win is they punch their ticket to the next level by earning one of the coveted spots in the VHSL 4A state tourney just as they did one year ago. GW (18-10) finishes just one step from seeing the state tourney for another year again.  Glass (22-2) will host the #2 seed, Western Albemarle, on Friday.  Both teams advance to the state tournament.

EMSPORTS.org 2/21/2023

iIf you are a fan of basketball, you know that Virginia vs Duke has been must see TV for nearly 10 years.  The decade has brought close games, fantastic finishes and memorable moments.  This game was no different.

The 8th-ranked Cavaliers had flexed their muscle with an impressive defensive showing beating the 22nd-ranked NC State Wolfpack by a score of 63-50 in their last game.  This time Duke, another North Carolina resident, made the trip north to JPJ.  In the first time since 1996, a Blue Devil basketball team came in unranked.

The Cavaliers knew a win kept them in the top position of the ACC race and it also kept their impressive home record intact.  The Cavaliers had only lost to Houston at John Paul Jones Arena and this would be even more valuable as the backend of conference games were in full swing.

Virginia started off making their first four field goal attempts but senior guard Jeremy Roach for Duke was an one-man wrecking ball as he scored 12 of the Blue Devils' first 14 points.  His sharpshooting staked the visitors to and early lead that ballooned to 20-13 in the first half.  From their Virginia slowly pulled back in it and a Reece Beekman dunk from an assist of Kihei Clark ended the first half with Virginia trailing 27-25.

The second half saw Virginia still scoring and they parlayed the first half 4-0 into another 4-0 run to take a 29-27 lead.  This did not last long as Duke's Jacob Grandison nailed a three-pointer to retake the lead at 30-29.  This started a back and forth affair where neither team could gain more than a five point lead throughout the half.  

Virginia seemed to be in control with about 90 seconds to play and a 58-53 lead.  However, Duke was capable and ready and finished strong with 5 straight points and nearly won the game before overtime.

In overtime, Virginia was able to make enough shots and their standard defense was stellar.  The Cavaliers created 22 Duke turnovers that led to 20 points.  They were also very aggressive scoring 42 points in the paint to make up for an abysmal shooting of 4-14 from the 3pt range and 9 of 22 from the free throw line.  They did excel by shooting nearly 51% from the field for the game.

Duke was so close but didn't have enough to finish as they were outscored 11-4 in the overtime.  The Blue Devils dominated with 39 rebounds to UVa's 24 as well as making 9/23 from behind the 3pt arc.  They were also a solid 75% (9-12) at the free throw line.

Four Blue Devils scored in double figures with Roach (16 points), Tyrese Proctor (14 points). Grandison with 11 pionts and Dariq Whitehead with 10.

The Cavs got a game high 23 points from Armaan Franklin, 16 points from Kihei Clark and 213 points from Ben Vander Plas.  The win makes Virginia 19-4 overall and 11-3 in ACC.  Duke drops to 17-8 (8-6 ACC).

EMSPORTS.org 2/11/2023

After a week off following a big road win at Wake Forest, Virginia returned to the friendly confines of JPJ and entertained the Boston College Eagles.  BC was a tougher opponent than the 10-11 record suggested and on the horizon for the Cavaliers awaited a trip to Syracuse.  

In many peoples’ mind, this is a trap game but the Cavs did not fall for the bait. Instead, Virginia made a statement as they produced their sixth consecutive win.  

The scrappy Eagles were not going to lay down and not battle.  The combatants traded the lead for the first ten minutes of the game with BC taking the largest of the leads at four (21-17) before Virginia went on a 18-6 run that gave them a 35-27 lead into halftime.  

In the second halftime, Virginia started as they left off with more hot shooting and limiting the looks from the Eagles.  The Cavaliers pushed the lead to 46-31 before Boston College was able to gain a little momentum and cut into the lead.  Boston College made a move and the game was 52-43 and the crowd was hoping not to see another Virginia lead wasted.

The Hoos heard the murmurs and responded to the challenge.  The Cavaliers were able to reload and came out with a Cavalanche as they pushed the lead to 27 (76-49) on the strength of a 24-6 run.  With about 3:30 minutes left, Virginia had dominated the game and were looking to kill the clock and complete the victory.

The combination of Jaylen Gardner and Armaan Franklin was efficient and overwhelmed the Eagles.  Each Hoo recorded 18 points while Franklin recorded a team high seven rebounds.  The other two Cavs in double digits were Issac McKneely at 12 and Reece Beekman with 11. For BC, Quintin Post was one of two Eagles to hit double figures.   He had a game high of 24 points with six rebounds.  Makai Ashton-Langford provided 12 points.

But the teams were excellent from the free throw line as BC missed just one attempt going 12 of 13 and Virginia was perfect at 10-10.  The three point shooting was identical as both teams struggle at just under 29%.  Virginia was much better from the field as they shot over 50% while BC was only successful at 41%.  The Cavaliers will take their game on the road to Syracuse on Monday and now stand at 8-2 in ACC with 16-3 overall.           BC (4-7 in ACC, overall 10-12) will return home to face the ACC leading Clemson Tigers on Tuesday.  

EMSPORTS.org 1/28/2023

In a battle of two Seminole District heavyweights,  the Jefferson Forest Cavaliers traveled into the city of Lynchburg to square off with the Lynchburg Christian Academy Bulldogs.  Each team was preparing for the home stretch as January Basketball continues to separate contenders and pretenders.

The Cavaliers were in the midst of a seven-game winning streak and sat one game behind EC Glass Hilltoppers for the top of the Seminole.  The Bulldogs, on a current two-game streak, were just a game behind as they chased JF in the standings. 

Jefferson Forest owned the first quarter with rebounding and inside scoring to take a 17-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

As we each passing quarter, the Cavaliers hit double digits on offense and the defense created heavy pressure resulting in LCA’s poor shooting and miscues.

The score was JF 31 - LCA 22.  The most productive quarter for LCA was the third.  They scored 16 points. It JF was better pouring in 22 points.  The game’s score going into the fourth quarter was JF-53 and LCA-38. 

The Cavaliers continued to flex their muscle and led from start to finish as they pulled away for a 67-44 victory. 

JF point guard Isaiah Scott led all scorers with 21 points after hitting a game-high 7 three-pointers.

Jefferson Forest will continue to ride this winning wave as they prepare for a showdown of Seminole supremacy when they host the first place Hilltoppers.  LCA looks to regroup and start a new streak when they face another Lynchburg resident, the Heritage Pioneers. 

It is Friday night in January.  It is cold outside but that will not stop basketball.

The Hill City was preparing for the first edition of the Hill City Throwdown and Heritage vs EC Glass was ready to make moves up the Seminole District Leaderboard.

This annual event generally brings out the best on the court and fans in the city.  The EC Glass Hilltoppers are undefeated in the district (6-0) and have only lost twice all year.  The Hilltoppers lead with a frenetic pace and the all-out fullcourt pressure has been known to make teams wilt.

The Pioneers are no strangers to the playing lockdown defense and have turned their early season woes around riding a four game winning streak and stand 4-2 in the district.  

Glass plays host in the first matchup as the Pioneers make the short trip, about 3 miles, to midtown for a chance to claim bragging rights and continue their winning ways.

Glass came out the gates smoking and they never let up.  A packed house in Glass’ McCue Gym saw the home team

In white race out to a 23-10 lead with transition buckets and three point accuracy.  

At the end of the 1st quarter, the Pioneers were already digging out a big hole.

Heritage attempted to make a game in the second quarter but they hardly slowed down the Hilltoppers.  The Pioneers scored more but the lead got bigger and Glass cruised into halftime with a big lead.

At half, the score was Glass 42, Heritage 25.   The leading scorers for each team were:

ECG - Dexter Harris 13 points, Jason Knox 11 points

HHS - Terrell Washington 13 points

Terrell Washington from Heritage led all scores with 28.  Glass shared the wealth with multiple players in double figures.  

10 Heritage turnovers were part of a bigger problem as the Hilltoppers shot well over 50%.  

O'Maundre Harris led his team with 26 points and poured on 19 in the second half. 

The reigning Seminole District and Region 4D player of the year made his team better early and then put the finishing touches on the victory late.

Heritage only committed two turnovers after halftime but the damage was already done.  Washington was the highest scorer with 28 points.  He connected on 8 of his 12 attempts from the field and also hit 11 of his 14 free-throw attempts.  His teammate, sophomore guard, Tavion Clark added 17 points and his 4 of 6 3-point attempts. 

Heritage falls to 6-6 and 4-3 in district.  The Hilltoppers improve to 12-2 and stay undefeated at 7-0 in the Seminole District.

EMSPORTS.org  1/21/2023

1/4/23  O' Maundre Harris lead Glass to Victory with 30 points night at EC Glass Gymnasia.

Harris made 3-three points beginning of the game. Franklin County too early led 21-10

in the first quarter. Harris made a three-point to cut the lead to 8 points with 3 minutes to

go in the quarter. Harris and Jason Knox got hot to put Glass in lead 34-28 before halftime.

Harris and Knox combined for 49 points. Hilltoppers out score Franklin County in all

three quarters to win 70-59. top score for Glass Q' Maundre Harris with 30 points

his  teammate Jason Knox with 19 points . Glass used Full- Court Man to-Man pressure

Defense. Franklin County had a problem with it.  Randy Clark had 17 for Franklin County.

12/16/22

Altavista and Rustburg play a hard tough game Wednesday night at Rustburg. Altavista 
goes up 16 to 18 with 3;00 minutes to go in the second quarter game. Rustburg stole
the ball to take the lead 20 to 18. Altavista took the lead back 25-22 with 3; minutes
to go in the second quarter. Rustburg cut the lead by two points with 55 seconds to go before 

Halftime. Rustburg stole the ball to tire the game 36-36 end of the second quarter.
 Rustburg tire game 5 times before they took the lead to win the game 61-58

The top score of the game for Rustburg Eligh Sherrard 20 points for Altavista Jagen Boyd 32 points.   EM-SPORTS 12/14/22

Ralph Sampson is a name that just about anyone old enough to see a basketball knows who he is and what a legend.  At the University of Virginia, men’s basketball was the must see action because of Ralph Sampson from 1978-1983.  

The three-time unanimous National College Player of the Year raised the bar for Cavalier basketball and raised the level of excellence of basketball in college. 

Ralph Sampson has turned his talents from player to ambassador.  He is now holding team camps for the youth and he is bringing his knowledge and personality to EC Glass High School in July 2022.

As were the days in U-Hall, Ralph Sampson is ready to display his talents.  This time he is making a way for the next generation excel on the hardwood. 

Lynchburg VA

Heritage and Jefferson Forest started out slow with the score in the first quarter Heritage
8 and Forest 5 . The Pioneers had 8 turnovers in the first half as the Cavaliers made 5 turnovers. The Pioneers controlled the inside and dominated the lane with both scoring and rebounding.
Darrius Brown of Heritage scored 12 points and got help from his teammate Kyle Ferguson who finished with a game high 13 points. The Pioneers used new lineups as they incorporated the services of new players who were added from the JV team. 

Jefferson Forest's leading scorer was Jack Wimmer who was only player from JF in double figures with 10 points.

EM-SPORTS 2/11/22

The Hilltoppers and the Bulldogs know each other very well.  This matchup was the second contest between these two Lynchburg City public schools and this one had more riding no the line.  The Hilltoppers took the first battle early in the year and now they were looking to maintain their hold on the top spot.  The Bulldogs were at home and looking to avenge the loss when they were across town in the Glass' gym.

The Hilltoppers and Bulldogs came out scrapping and clawing.  Each team didn't give up much to their opponent in the first quarter.  Sully Holmes led the way for LCA with his athleticism and some high flying dunks.  EC Glass with their relentles speed and tenacious in your face defense, was not intimidated.  In fact, Glass held a 15-14 1st quarter lead. 

With both teams battling the full 94 feet, this game looked to be a seesaw fight.  Then, EC Glass stepped up the intensity and LCA could not keep up.  Glass turned up their defense which led to some easy offense and by the time the dust cleared, the visitors in blue were steamrolling the stunned Bulldogs.   A 19-5 second quarter blitz catapulted the EC Glass into 34-19 halftime advantage.  

EC Glass took over the momentum and took away the LCA home court advantage as the second half began more like the beginning of the game.  Both teams traded baskets and LCA could never take clear control of the matchups.  Glass was able to maintain the healthy lead and very little changed during the fourth quarter.  LCA was able to win that quarter by two points but it was too little and too late.

With the season sweep, EC Glass, now 12-1 in district, locked up at least a tie for 1st place position in the highly competitve Seminole District. LCA at 10-3, which was tied at the top just a week ago, now has dropped into third place in the Seminole but still are a threat in the VHSL 3A division. EC Glass will now look to be a big favorite in VHSL 4A division as they prepare for a state championship run as postseason tournaments are just around the corner.

Stars of the game were Aidan Tracey from EC Glass with 20 points.  Sully Holmes led all scorers with 27 points to score more than half of the Bulldogs' points.

EMSPORTS 2/11/2022

In the world of pop culture and music, there are many times we see the ladies take center stage.  This was on full display when the girls' basketball teams of EC Glass and Lynchburg Christian Academy met face to face on the hardwood.  This epic battle would showcase not only the two best teams in the area but also two teams just over 5 miles apart that could challenge for the state titles in over a month from now.

The two top teams were battling for Seminole district supremacy as they laid their unblemished district records on the line to keep ahead of the other teams. EC Glass was 10-0 while LCA was 9-0 in district competition. The two teams had only lost two games between them on the year.
The first matchup of this rivalry was hosted by LCA at the Lady Bulldogs' Arena. The defenses came out in full effect as the points were few and hard to find. There were far more missed shots than made shots. The teams battle and scrapped and by the end of the first quarter the score was 9-6 in favor of Glass.

Much of the quarter, EC Glass was without out the services of their dynamite senior guard, Jamiyah Henry.  The inspirational leader of the team had to take a seat with two fouls.  The recipient of those fouls was none other than sensational sophomore, Avery Mills.  The Bulldogs’ superstar was a tough cover and proved as much when the second quarter commenced. 
Mills collected eight points in the second quarter and spearheaded her team to a 23-19 lead in front of the home faithful.  Henry was a non-factor and it hurt Glass has they saw their lead slip away. 

The teams found a better rhythm in the second half but Glass made more and finally put some breathing room between them and the Lady Bulldogs. Jamiyah Henry scored 18 points in the game and was most effective in the final quarter where she poured in 11 points.  She also led a defensive effort that saw the Lady Bulldogs score just two points in the last quarter.

Mills was sensational in the third quarter where she added another nine points to her total of 21.  However, she could not get anything going in the fourth and without their best player making shots, LCA lost momentum and eventually the game.  Glass used their high energy defensive and big play ability to mount a comeback.  When the final horn sounded, the Lady Hilltoppers were on top and triumphed with a 45-36 win.

The Hilltoppers preserved their impressive Seminole district win streak that started back in January 2019.  The record of wins is now 37-0 in district play in three-plus seasons.

EMSPORTS 2/2/2022

In the Seminole District, there are no off nights. The LCA Bulldogs were the defending champs and they knew all too well how hard the schedule was in the back half of the season. After a 8-0 start, the Bulldogs were beaten by the Heritage Pioneers and now had to quickly turnaround for a date with the other HillCity squad, the EC Glass Hilltoppers.

The Hilltoppers were looking to take a home victory after losing on the Bulldogs' court earlier in the year. Both teams shared the top spot in the Seminole with a single loss each in district play.

With each team prepared to take their opposition's best shot, both teams came out looking for cracks in the armor. LCA was more aggressive and more efficient. The Bulldogs ball movement and shouting gave them a double digit lead and limited the high-scoring Hilltoppers to only 19 first half points. 14 of those came from the play of Omaundre Harris.

Harris was not done. He willed and carried his squad to an impressive 57-47 triumph in front of a raucous home crowd of blue and white. Everything that went right for the Bulldogs, went the opposite way in the second half. Glass overcame a 12-point deficit to blow past LCA. There was no denying Harris who scored a game high 31 points to out pace the 22-point performance of LCA senior Sully Holmes.

EMSPORTS 2/2/2022

In the battle of big time basketball in this area, two of Lynchburg’s three high school squads squared off on the hard court. LCA battles with Heritage in a matchup of competition for Seminole District's top spot. The Bulldogs are reloading after falling short in the VHSL 3A championship title from last year. The Pioneers did not make a long playoff run but have righted the ship after a slow start.

The Pioneers were seeking revenge after losing early in the year at LCA. That game took place before the Christmas holiday break. It seems like just five short weeks but the Pioneers are 7-2 in the Seminole looking up at the undefeated district leading Bulldogs who are 8-0 in district and have lost only once this season.

The game was a defensive struggle early with LCA taking a 14-6 lead after one quarter.  The Bulldogs from the jump ball showed very few holes in their defensive armor and Heritage couldn’t get in a groove.  It seemed the pause between quarters was a much needed break as Heritage found their rhythm and flipped the tables and the scoreboard.

The Pioneers took control as senior guard Kyle Ferguson jumpstarted the offense.  Ferguson slashed and dropped in shots from all over as his 13 points gave his team fuel to take a 31-28 halftime advantage. The three point lead was sliced to one when LCA came alive in the third quarter. With the score only 42-41, the Pioneers and Bulldogs were locked into a nip and tuck affair entering the last period.

The teams shadowed one another with a scrappy defense, tenacious effort in the boards and enough shotmaking to keep the crowd entertained.  The last quarter was just a culmination of the fantastic three quarters combined and every great play was countered with a great play.  The ending was even better.

Heritage was clinging to a two-point lead and only seconds remained.  LCA had possession and with just two seconds left, drew up a play that had to go the length of the court for a chance to tie or win.  The pass traveled in the air hoping to reach the hands of a Bulldog player but instead Kyle Ferguson secured the steal and was able to run out the clock.  

Ferguson did it as he led all Heritage scorers with 22 points and created the game-clinching turnover.  His teammate, Simeon McMillan, was a key contributor with 10 points.  

As for LCA, this was their first loss in nearly four years to Heritage.  They received an outstanding effort in defeat from Sebastian Atkins, top scorer with 26 points and Sully Holmes who complimented  him with 12 points.

After a slow 0-2 district start, the Pioneers are one-half game back of the Bulldogs, now 8-1, as the Seminole District crown hangs in the balance.

EMSPORTS 1/31/2022

by EM-SPORTS.ORG  1/21/22

Lynchburg VA  (Girls)

Glass Jump off to an early lead against Brookville with an 11-1 run two minutes into the game. Brookville Bees had 5 turnovers in-game and Glass had 11 steals. at end of the first quarter Glass 18 Bees 1. Glass controls the offense boards and the defense boards. Halftime score Glass 36-4 with Jermal Henry 17 points in the first half of the game.
Henry finished the game with 22 points for Glass. Hilltoppers went on to win game 61-18 to stay undefeated in the Seminole District.

Heritage got even with Glass tonight with a win it was a small crowd tonight at Heritage high school with both teams in the same city. Glass started out on top went up by 8 points. Heritage fought back to tie the game up 28- 28 in the first quarter.Omaundre
Harris keeps getting inside the paint to score. Harris ends up with 22 points for Glass loss.
Pioneers lead at halftime 27-21 Kyle Ferguson caught fire in the second quarter
with 31 points for Heritage win. Tony Crews the head coach of Heritage had his
team play a tough defensive game they press Glass all night. also Darius Brown had
a quiet 11 points and his teammate Simieon McMillan add 10 points for the win.

by EM-SPORTS  1/20/22