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Boys Basketball

Staunton Clinches District Crown; Fort, Wilson Also Win

Hubert F. Grim III

2/11/2025


WAYNESBORO
– Staunton gift-wrapped a Shenandoah District boys basketball regular-season threepeat Monday night after the Storm routed the Waynesboro Little Giants 71-33.

Storm first-year head coach Kevin Madden is accustomed to district titles from his McDonald's All-America playing days with the Fighting Leemen in the 1980s and as a Staunton assistant the last few years, but this is a first sitting in the big chair that was occupied for 43 years by the legendary Paul Hatcher.

“I got a lot of catching up to do,” he said. “But seriously it means more to the players. I am just along for the ride.”

Besides winning another title, the Storm are 34-1 in district play over the last three years with one more game left. Staunton (19-2, 11-0) is scheduled to finish the regular season Thursday at home against Riverheads if the weather cooperates.

Staunton does have a makeup game in limbo against Harrisonburg from Saturday, but at this point, it is unlikely to be played.

If the Storm do get the Riverheads game in by the weekend and doesn't play Harrisonburg, that leaves the dilemma of not being on the court again until Feb. 24 when they would have their first Region 3C tournament game. That is a long down period when facing a win-or-go-home playoff game upon hitting the court again, especially when the opponent will have just played a first-round game Feb. 21.

But Madden isn't concerned if the team does have an extended period between games.

“I think it's more important getting the guys some rest and then going hard in practice,” he said. “My practices are hard. They are harder than the games.”

The win over intercity rival Waynesboro extended Staunton's winning streak to 14 straight. The Storm haven't lost in 2025, last falling Dec. 28 against John Handley 75-58 in the Twila Showalter Classic at Spotswood.

Staunton unleashed its relentless defense that the program has been known for decades, starting with Hatcher. The Storm held Waynesboro to 11 second-half points after the Giants were within reasonable striking distance at halftime down 34-22.

“We preach defense all the time,” said Madden, who is a product of the system from his playing days under Hatcher. “If you don't play elite defense, your chances of winning go way down. I expect a lot out of my guys.”

The Storm never trailed or were tied after Ky'Ree Scott started the game with a deep 3 before turning a steal into a driving layup.

Jackson Darden's second bomb of the first quarter pulled the Giants within 12-9, but that was as close as they came because Staunton reeled off the final nine points of the period, five coming from Joaqin Bell, including a 3, for a 21-9 advantage.

Staunton extended its margin to 31-14 behind a pair of 3s from Anthony Renne before the Giants finished the first half on an 8-2 run that Haden Morris started and capped with field goals to keep his team in touch at 34-22.

All hope for the massive upset quickly vanished when the Storm ripped off the first nine points of the second half, while outscoring Waynesboro 21-9 in the quarter as Bell and Renne combined for 19 of the 21. Bell had 10, including a pair of long-range bombs, and Renne scored nine.

Staunton's defense, mostly the reserves, held the Giants to one field goal in the final eight minutes.

Bell and Renne each finished 17 to spark the offense, while Scott chipped in 16.

Darden was the lone Giant in double figures with 11, including a trio of 3s, and Morris added eight.

Waynesboro (3-18, 1-9) is playing out the string on a disappointing campaign.

“It's been a learning experience,” said Waynesboro head coach John Spears, whose roster has five freshmen. “We have been playing hard, staying with the system and being patient. I am a bit disappointed that we haven't gotten better results as the season went along, but with so many freshmen the inconsistency will happen.”

The Giants travel to Buffalo Gap on Friday to face the only team they have beaten in district competition. They close out the season and start prepping for spring sports next Monday at home against Fort Defiance.

Staunton escaped the jayvee game with a 51-47 victory. Legend Reed led the way with 22 points, while Kijani Hines added nine. For the Giants, Jacob Haney tallied 13.

STAUNTON (71) – Bell 6 3-3 17, McCauley 0 2-2 2, Scott 7 0-0 16, Renne 6 2-2 17, Veney 2 0-0 4, Chisley 0 1-2 1, Wilson 1 1-3 3, Peyton 4 0-1 8, Crawford, Brown, TOTALS 26 9-12 71.

WAYNESBORO (33) – Darden 4 0-0 11, Washington 1 0-0 2, Nowell 3 3-3 10, Martin 1 0-0 2, Morris 3 2-4 8, Goldsmith, Brown, Powell, Maxey, TOTALS 12 5-7 33.

Wilson 65, Buffalo Gap 37
FISHERSVILLE
– Wilson Memorial pulled away from Buffalo Gap in the second half Monday night to secure a 65-37 victory in Shenandoah District boys hoops action.

The Bison led 14-12 after the first quarter, but Wilson forged ahead in the second quarter to lead 33-22 at halftime. The Hornets continued to pull away in the second half.

Mason McWhorter led the Hornets with 19 points and Chase Snyder scored 18. Keyvon Jones and Isaiah Scott came off the Wilson bench and each finished with eight points.

Aiden Astarb led the Bison with 16 points and Isaac Goff added nine.

Fort Defiance 66, Stuarts Draft 61
STUARTS DRAFT
– Fort Defiance held off a Fort Defiance comeback effort in the fourth-quarter Monday night to take an important 66-61 victory over the Cougars.

The Indians jumped out early to lead 18-6 after one quarter and the Indians led 28-17 at halftime.

Fort poured in 24 points in the third quarter to increase its lead to 52-37. Gio Armendariz Cruz and Jasigh Ransome each scored eight points in the third period.

Derrick Moore led a fourth-quarter comeback as the Cougars trimmed the margin to single digits. Moore scored 11 points in the final quarter and the Cougars made six 3-pointers but their rally came up just short.

Cruz led the Indians with 18 points and Ransome knocked down three 3-pointers to finish with 16 points. Tripp Hanger made four 3-pointers and scored 13 points.

Moore led Draft with 20 points and Landon Graber scored 13. 

Charlie Obaugh 2
Western Virginia Sport Show

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