Martinsville Boys, Magna Vista Girls Advance to State Finals

RICHMOND (WSLS 10 SPORTS)- The Martinsville Bulldog boys and the Magna Vista Warrior girls both punched tickets to their respective state finals on Saturday.

Group 1A Boys: Martinsville v. Gate City

The Bulldogs came out of the gate on fire against Gate City, off the pass Aaron Martin knocks down the corner three. Even the big man Devonnte Holland gets in on the action from downtown. Martinsville  shot forty-six percent from beyond the arc and opened up an eighteen point lead including this Cameron Bradley drive to the rim. Second half...more of the same as Holland takes it to the rack this time. The  Bulldogs take down the Blue Devils 78-39 and advance to the Group 2A Championship Saturday at 4pm.

"Our offense was great too our passes were real crisp we made some great skip passes. We hit our threes and that's a tough formula to beat when we hit our threes," says Martinsville Coach Jeff Adkins.

Group 3A Girls:  Magna Vista v. Hidden Valley

In a rematch of the regional semifinal the Warriors Taisha DeShazo dominated. She knocks down the three pointer. She had 17 at the half. The Titans were still in the game in the 2nd quarter as Drew Freeland hits the three. But down the stretch the Warriors were just too much to handle as Magna Vista gets the 61-47 victory over Hidden Valley. They advance to the Group 3A Championship Saturday at 6pm.

"Never been so proud of a group of kids in my life. They took what we did on the practice floor and executed it to the inth degree on that court. It's the Warrior pride to the inth degree guys," says a proud Vicky Hayes, Magna Vista girls Coach.

Group 3A Boys: Northside v. Hopewell

Both teams evenly matched in this one. Late 4th quarter game with the game tied at 55 when Vikings Kendrick Tucker knocks down the three. Hopewell's Johnnie Harrison aka Humble Beast comes up big... gets the steal and hits the three to force OT  In OT the the Blue Devils were tough to stop. On the break Harrison to Deonte Jones who finishes at the rim. In the end Northside had a chance at a three to cut into the lead but it was simply too late as Basham misses the three. Northside loses to Hopewell 71-67 in a heartbreaker.

"We needed one or two more plays somewhere along the line not just at the end. They were able to make them and that's about it," says Northside Coach Bill Pope.

Group 3A Girls: Brookville v. Spotswood

Brookville trying to stay in it early as Megan Dray knocks down the three pointer. For the Trail Blazers Chelsie Moran knocks down the jumper. Brookville only down seven at the break.  But the Bees didn't have much to buzz about in the second half as Spotswood shot seventy percent from the field. Jordan Miller knocked down a late three and Spotswood beats Brookville 58-33.

"I feel like Spotswood outplayed us from basically beginning of the game on. We held in their the first half we got it down to seven. Then things just snowballed from their in the second half. We didn't shoot it very well and had a little trouble taking care of the basketball," says Bees Head Coach Warner Dyke.

Action Saturday in Richmond begins at 10am with the Group 1A Girls title, and finishes with the Group 3A Boys title game at 8 pm.