Sports
UPCOMING EVENTS
02
11 2022
Prep swimming: Region 4B champs at SwimRVA 6:00 p.m.
02
12 2022
Prep track & field: Region 4B champs at Glen Allen 11:00 a.m.
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Berry’s double-double nets win for PH By Dave Lawrence Sports Editor MECHANICSVILLE — For a while, it looked as if Hanover’s girls and boys basketball teams would sweep their visitors from Ashland, Patrick Henry, in a pair of games with consequences for the forthcoming Region 4B tournament. The Hawk girls opened the night by holding off the stubborn Patriots with a 44-35 win. The Hawk boys hoped to keep the trend alive, and looked as if they might succeed after a 26-16 first quarter. But this time, the recent history wouldn’t repeat itself. Patrick Henry’s boys regrouped and outscored Hanover 16-8 in the second quarter and went on to close within two points at halftime and pull ahead in the second half for a 64-55 win. “I’m so proud of these guys,” said Patrick Henry boys basketball head coach Randy Anderson. “I feel like we’re gelling, connecting as a unit. I think they all believe now. “I think the first half of the season, it was kind of like a scrimmage. We had so many guys we weren’t used to starter roles. It took us the first half of the season to get right, get our rotations right, see who our main guys are.” One of the Patriots’ main guys is Christian Berry, the only four-year varsity player on the team. Berry did not disappoint, scoring 25 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. “He’s a football guy. He’s going to play at Davidson. But
game. I thought we needed to be a little bit mentally tougher. I thought we broke too many times. “But we still have time to improve. I still believe we will get to where we are trying to go.” The Hawks began the evening on the attack and controlled the fast tempo through the first quarter. But Rice said Patrick Henry made adjustments and managed to knock Hanover off balance. “They did a good job of constantly changing things to make our guys think. And when you think, you’re slow,” Rice said of the Patriots’ defensive adjustments. “We want our defense to dictate our offense, but tonight our offense dictated our defense. When we weren’t shooting well or getting the shots we wanted, our defense was not as good. And that’s a bad recipe for a basketball team.” Berry had plenty of help in the offense department for the Patriots. Landon Peterson scored 14 points and Micah Dabney added 10. Beau Sahnow led Hanover with 17 points, with Owen DeShazo adding 10. In the girls game that opened the doubleheader, the Hawks stayed a few steps ahead of the Patriots throughout, but most of the time, not by much. Dave Lawrence/The Local “Patrick Henry’s a great Patrick Henry’s Christian Berry (5) battles through to the basket despite the defensive efforts of Hanover’s Charlie Rohr (2) and team. They’re well coached. Owen DeShazo (12) in the Patriots’ 64-55 victory over the host Hawks Friday. Berry finished with 25 points and 17 rebounds. They’ve got great players,” said Hanover head girls basketball winded. But he kept sucking a battle. we told him, we said, ‘Big dog, happy for him. “We knew that they were coach Dave Butler. “I’m pretty “At one point I thought it up.” you have a skill set that you can Hanover head boys basket- going to always fight,” he said. “I get big on this basketball court. he wasn’t going to survive the Don’t settle for anything.’ I’m so whole game. He was getting ball coach Rob Rice expected knew it was going to be a tough see BERRY, pg. 19
The Mechanicsville Local
February 9, 2022
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