SPORTS WRAP
The Week in Review:
Most Undisputed Champions: Having already secured berths in next week's regional playoffs, all three local district champion basketball teams solidify their dominance with victories in their respective league tournaments. Charlottesville's Lady Knights bear up under the pressure of their top AA ranking, cruising past Orange County to the Jefferson district championship.
On the boys' side, after knocking off Charlottesville in a tight playoff game to earn the regular season title last week, the Fluvanna Flucos pull out another clutch 46-44 triumph over CHS, Saturday, February 19. (Fluvanna has won all four meetings with CHS this season.)
Finally, the Albemarle Patriots boys conquer their demons, defeating the Culpeper Blue Devils 74-62, and the North Stafford Wolverines, 65-54 Friday, February 18 (both Culpeper and North Stafford had defeated AHS earlier in the season) to claim their third Commonwealth District championship in just their fourth year in the league.
Worst Rivalry Week: Following an 85-61 blowout at powerhouse No. 4 North Carolina (22-3, 10-2), Wednesday, February 16, the UVA men's basketball team return to University Hall for a "must-win" game. Despite arguably their most valiant effort all season, the Hoos' tournament hopes suffer a major blow in a heartbreaking 92-89 double overtime loss against the No. 22 Maryland Terrapins (16-8, 7-6) Saturday, February 19.
The Cavs refused to lose down the stretch as Gary Forbes and Sean Singletary capped thrilling comebacks with game-tying three-pointers in the waning seconds. In the end, however, basic fundamentals come back to haunt the Hoos as UVA misses more than half of their 23 free throws. (Center Elton Brown capped off his awful 3-of-13 performance with an airball.) "As hard as we played, as courageous as we played, you've got to make free throws to win," UVA coach Pete Gillen told the AP. "If that's all you shoot, all good things are unfortunately hurt by that stat."
Best Border War: In another hotly contested Virginia-Maryland classic basketball game, a late comeback rallies the Lady Cavs past the hated No. 20 Terrapins (18-7, 7-6) at U-Hall, Sunday, February 20. Just 24 hours after the men's team fell short in a similar scenario, UVA (18-8, 7-5) closed out the last six minutes of the game with a 12-4 run en route to a crucial 63-61 victory. "Obviously, the credit goes to Virginia. I thought they were very inspired," Maryland coach Brenda Frese told The Daily Progress following a game that had major NCAA tournament implications.
Best 15 Minutes: The UVA men's lacrosse team's 16-7 home opener win over Drexel is highlighted by a sudden 8-0 second-quarter spurt that takes control of the game. Despite the intimations of greatness, coach Dom Starsia is far from satisfied. "We still have a ways to go, and I'm sure it won't be hard to get the team's attention today in practice," Starsia told the Progress.
Smoothest Sweep: Cavalier baseball plays near perfection with a three game weekend sweep of Bucknell (0-3). The Cavs (5-1) outscore the Bison a combined 22-5, without a single defensive error in the entire series.
The Week Ahead:
BASKETBALL
UVA WOMEN
vs. WAKE FOREST (13-11, 2-9)
Sunday, February 27 @ 2pm
Ladies look to bolster their season resume heading into conference tournament play. $6 Adult, $4 Youth/Senior.
UVA MEN
vs. N.C. STATE (15-10, 5-7)
Wednesday, March 2 @ 9pm
Expect plenty of Wahoo emotions to flare on this senior night. Only scalp tickets available.
UVA MEN'S LACROSSE
vs. MANHATTAN
Saturday February 26 @ 1pm
vs. DENVER
Monday, February 28 @ 3pm vs. Denver
Pretend it's almost spring! Enjoy some afternoon lacrosse at Klockner. $6 Adult, $4 Youth/Senior.
UVA BASEBALL
vs. FORDHAM
Friday, February 25 @ 3pm
Saturday, February 26 @ 1pm
Sunday, February 27 @ 1pm
Red-hot Cavs take aim at Fordham– three times! $6 Adult, $4 Youth/Senior
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