10 Best: Varina vs. LC Bird
In a highly anticipated matchup, the reigning two Class 5 state champions met at Varina High School for what was considered by many a matchup of the two best Class 5, if not all of public school, programs in the…
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Continue ReadingIn a highly anticipated matchup, the reigning two Class 5 state champions met at Varina High School for what was considered by many a matchup of the two best Class 5, if not all of public school, programs in the state. The atmosphere was intense from the beginning, and for about three quarters the game lived up to it’s hype.
With Varina returning all but one guy from their top seven of last year, the Blue Devils were determined to show the Skyhawks who was boss of the area. The game was neck and neck throughout the first quarter, with LC Bird senior Corbin Slayton getting a three-point play late in the quarter to give them a 16-13 lead at the end of one. However, Varina weathered the storm and got into a groove in the second quarter, and took advantage of some LC Bird mistakes late, ending the quarter on a 6-0 run to give them a 42-36 lead at halftime.
The third quarter was back-and-forth as well, with both teams trading blows like heavyweight fighters. Much like the second quarter, Varina got stronger as it went on and forced some LC Bird mistakes late. They went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter after Bird cut the deficit to 2, and headed into the fourth up 58-48. The Blue Devils never let their foot off the gas at that point, and a Skyhawks group that’s experienced but hasn’t played in as many big games started to fall apart late. Varina was able to pull away late, winning 77-58 in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.
Varina moved to 5-0 on the season while LC Bird dropped their first game of the season and sit at 4-1. Here’s a more thorough breakdown of the game and some takeaways as well.
MVP: Kenard Richardson | Varina 2020
Richardson sometimes gets forgotten in a stacked Varina lineup, but he showed that he belongs in the conversation as one of the top two way wings in Richmond. He did a little bit of everything, especially stepping up and making shots when his team needed him to. He also played great perimeter defense and helped on the glass. More on his standout performance later.
Play of the Game: Mack Burgett | LC Bird 2019
There were a number of plays that were impressive from great passes, defense and a number of high flying dunks. However, LC Bird’s 6’6” senior Mack Burgett gets the nod for his poster dunk in the second quarter. With things getting chippy, Burgett dropped a pass in front of the Varina bench and everyone started going crazy. He proceeded to gather the ball, take two dribbles, palm it with one hand and throw it down over two Varina defenders. The place went crazy!
Best Offensive Performer: Kenard Richardson | Varina 2020
Richardson was the game high scorer with 20 points, and it’s good to see the way his offensive game has developed. He’s a strong kid who can use his body to create space from defenders and finish in contact, but the way his game has rounded out is impressive. He hit a number of midrange pull-ups in isolation situations, something he didn’t do well a few years ago, and he gave them an extra body on the glass as well as he pitched in eight rebounds as well.
Best Defensive Performer: Jordan Hernandez | Varina 2019
Hernandez had a terrific game on both ends of the floor, finishing with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, but it’s defensively where he really shines. In the back of the press he’s perfect as a guy who can get off his feet and protect the rim, but he also rotates well and is always around the basketball. He can rotate over in the half court well, and at 6’7” he has great length and leaping ability to protect the rim. He finished with three blocks and two steals on the defensive end.
Best Guy off the Bench: Corbin Slayton | LC Bird 2019
Slayton could easily start for the Skyhawks and there’s a good chance he will start a lot of games this year, but he’s the perfect guy as a sixth man off the bench. He’s a guy who can create and make shots off the bounce, score at all three levels and he gets hot quickly. He doesn’t always take the best shots, but you have to live with some bad ones because he makes some tough ones. He finished with 11 points and four rebounds off the bench.
Best Intangibles: Jason Nelson | Varina 2021
At about 5’8” with three pairs of socks on, Nelson is the smallest guy on Varina’s team but he’s possibly the most essential guy because he sets the tone and makes everyone else better. With weapons all around him, Nelson is a one man press break that sees the floor well and is always one step ahead of the defense. He’s a pest defensively, shows a ton of heart on both ends and is the straw that stirs the drink. He finished with six points, six assists and four steals on the game.
Best Under the Radar Performer: Jamon Battle | LC Bird 2019
He isn’t really under the radar since he’s ranked in the Prep Hoops VA Top 10 in the 2019 class, but Battle is under the radar as far as from a college standpoint. At 6’5”, he has a college ready physique already, he’s a high level athlete with good speed who jumps out the gym and he’s a guy who can create his own shot off the bounce. While he didn’t shoot it great, he did make a three and got a lot of his points in one-on-one half court situations. He’s a guy who will likely be a better college player than he is a high school player, and that’s saying something because he’s often the best player on the court now. He finished with 18 points and five rebounds in the loss.
Best Underclassman: AJ Williams | Varina 2021
While Williams didn’t have his best game that we’ve seen, he was an important part of the win despite only scoring 12 points. One of the best shooters in the state and one of their top players last year as just a freshman, Williams commanded a lot of attention from the Skyhawks defense and created open driving lanes for his teammates.
Best X-Factor Moving Forward: Lance Monteiro | LC Bird 2019
Monteiro was a standout in Huguenot’s state semifinal last year, and now that he’s at Bird he could be the thing they were missing from last year’s team. A 6’5” wing that can knock it down from deep, he has good size to play all over the floor and he’s a better ball handler and distributor than I gave him credit for before. He handled the basketball at times for the Skyhawks, creating shots for himself and others, and he wasn’t afraid to use his size to hit the glass either. He dealt with foul trouble throughout the game, but he still finished with 10 points 8 rebounds and four assists.
Best Thing to Look Forward To: Possible Rematches
All roads in Class 5 look like they’re going through these two Richmond teams, and that means we’re looking at a possibility of multiple rematches moving forward. Both teams play in Region B, meaning they’ll have a chance to meet each other in the conference and the regional tournament championships. If that happens, that also means they’ll have a chance to meet in the state semifinals or finals. I don’t think there’s anyone in the area that would mind watching these two teams duke it out a few more times this year.