Varina boys advance to state semis with win
It was just a matter of time.
Sooner or later, either Varina or Denbigh would make the break.
Which would it be, though? And when?
That depended on heart, motivation, desire, and, when the Class 4 quarterfinal matchup between the Region B champ Blue Devils and Region A runner-up Patriots was on the line Tuesday night, experience in trial-by-fire, there’s-no-tomorrow moments.
Score this one, then, for Coach Kenneth “Boom” Randolph’s guys from down off Route 5.
Though the visitors from Newport News played them even for three tense quarters, the Blue Devils pulled away in the fourth to claim a 62-51 victory and earn the opportunity to host John Handley (Winchester) in the state semifinal Friday on the Coach George B. Lancaster Court at Highland Springs, which was the site of their latest conquest.
“We needed to get warmed up,” said DaMari Carter, a 6-3 senior guard and UVA wide receiver signee of his team’s slower-than-usual start.
“Once we get warmed up and get going down the court, we can run anybody out of the gym.”
Denbigh (20-6) rode 3-pointers over Varina’s 2-3 zone by Callen Morrison, Nasir Johnson, and Jamaal Jones to an 11-9 lead after a quarter.
The Blue Devils (20-2) responded with renewed energy, finally took the lead (20-19) 3:30 before halftime on Carter’s rim-rattling dunk off Duke Atkins’ assist, and went into the break with a too-close-for-comfort 26-25 advantage.
On the strength of three more treys (two by Kevin Parker, o- by Johnson), the Patriots battled Varina possession-by-possession in the third quarter.
Consequently, neither team could gain an advantage, and they went into the fourth tied at 39.
“We watched enough film that we knew that zone was the isolator for them,” said Randolph. “It slowed them down during their season, but it made us play slow too.
“We switched to a man-to-man, which gave us some intensity down the stretch. The kids were the ones who wanted to go man. Once we did, we ballooned the lead from there.”
The Blue Devils went up 41-39 at 7:30 of the final quarter when Jayden Walker scored easily off an inbounds pass from Kaleb Wyche (11 points).
They never trailed again to the delight of the large, boisterous crowd of Varina faithful who filled much of the Springers’ Airport Drive gym.
“It’s one possession at a time,” said Carter (11 points). “On defense, you have to talk. On offense, you have to execute.”
At 5:35, Carter drove through traffic and banked in a layup for a 43-39 lead, which caused the Patriots to call time to stop the Blue Devils’ intensifying momentum.
With 6-6 senior Caleb Straughter pulling yeoman’s duty inside, Varina used a 10-4 run over the next three minutes to build a 53-43 lead.
“I’m definitely a go-to guy,” said Straughter (22 points including eight in the final period). “When I have the ball in my hands, I can create for others and also get my team going.”
Now trailing by double digits, the Patriots amplified their man-to-man pressure.
As they did, Wyche, the Blue Devils’ 5-10 junior point guard, responded with poise and confidence, attributes that he displayed when he quarterbacked Varina to the Class 4 state football championship in December.
Twice in the final two minutes, Denbigh cut its deficit to eight points. Each time, the Blue Devils used their defensive intensity to thwart the Patriots’ comeback hopes and, ultimately, seal the victory.
“We really wanted to go man the whole game,” said Straughter, “but we always get in foul trouble when we go man. It worked out in our favor today.”
The Blue Devils’ defensive adjustment created a faster game, one more to their liking, and also prevented the Patriots from adding to the eight strikes from behind the arc they delivered in the first three quarters.
“Just hoop,” said Carter of the Blue Devils’ mindset before they broke the game open. “Don’t worry about all that outside stuff. Just play basketball. You’ll be all right.”
Varina shot 21-for-49 from the field, outrebounded Denbigh 34-28, forced 11 turnovers, committed just five, and pestered the Patriots into 18-for-41 shooting.
Last year, the Blue Devils, who won the state title in 2018, 2022, and 2023, reached the Class 4 championship game before dropping a 66-44 decision to Atlee.
Now, they’re one win away for a return trip to the Siegel Center, the site of the tournament, and two away from their ultimate goal.
“We’re always in big moments,” Carter said. “When anybody steps on the court or field with us, they’re going to give us the best they got. It’s like we have a chip on our shoulder because we’re used to winning, and everybody wants to beat us.”
