Boys

1. Loudoun Valley (12-3)

Last ranking: 1st

Last week: Defeated Heritage, 51-39; Defeated Battlefield, 51-48 OT; Defeated SB, 68-46

Valley staked its firm claim on first by holding Heritage to nine points in the first half. When Valley held Stonewall to four points in the first half, the Cedar Run District sent out a CSI team to investigate the width of the baskets. (CSI Nokesville to be exact). This week it’s all Willie Nelson for Valley as they are “On the Road Again” … and again … and again. Hey, the life they love is makin’ baskets with their friends … sorry Willie.

This week: tonight @ Osbourn Park; tomorrow @ Liberty; Friday @ Fauquier

2. Heritage (8-7)

Last Ranking: 4th

Last week: Lost to Valley, 39-51; Defeated Potomac Falls, 66-53.

Most people would put Park View ahead of Heritage heading into tonight’s big match-up in Sterling. Yes and most people wouldn’t wake up their college roommate for three consecutive months with a Chuck Barris impression … but we found it funny. Here’s the deal, no team has hard a tougher out-of-district schedule than the Pride. We are betting it pays off in the postseason. Either way, we will be back with more STUFF! (yes, that was a Gong Show reference)

This week: @ Park View tonight; @ Broad Run Friday.

3. Park View (10-4)

Last ranking: 2nd

Last week: Defeated Loudoun County, 73-67; Defeated Fauquier, 58-57.

The Patriots are like a box of … sure, you thought we were going to pull out that old Forest Gump cliche … OK, try this on: The Patriots are like a trip thru the drive-thru in Ashburn … you never know what you are going to get … Will it be the PV team that has won four straight including a nice win over County last week or the team that blew a big lead in the second half vs. PF and was out of synch the entire game against BR? Thomas Mulabah is a force inside but Marcus Freeman might the key to this talented team.

This week: vs. Heritage tonight; vs. Potomac Falls Friday; @ Washington-Lee Saturday.

4. Loudoun County (12-4)

Last ranking: 3rd

Last week: Lost to Park View, 73-67.

We would say the Raiders are in a big game tonight at PF … but then again, with the Crowded House that is the Dulles District standings … all the games from here on out are big. Speaking of Crowded House … did we mention that tonight’s game is in the Panther Pit?!?

This week: @ Potomac Falls tonight; @ Dominion Friday.

5. Potomac Falls (9-6)

Last ranking: 5th

Last week: Lost to Heritage, 66-53.

First the Panther Pit tonight for PF and then the Panthers are off to the snake pit … facing Single A power Clarke County on the road and then over to Eastern rival Park View. We think Alex Hogue of PF does the best Kobe Bryant, coming off a screen, falling backwards, dead center 3-point shot in the area.

This week: vs. County tonight; @ Clarke County Wednesday; @ Park View Friday.

On the Bubble: Dominion (on the rise!) and Broad Run (hot and cold).

Girls

1. Loudoun County (14-2)

Last ranking: 1st

Last week: Defeated Park View, 73-67 .

We are very proud of the fact we stuck County with the Runnin’ Raiders moniker back when they were about 6-2 and they haven’t lost since! We also came up with these other monikers that didn’t stick: Briar Woods Patch Kids … LoCo Raiders … Valley Green Giants … Stone Cold Bridge … Legends of the PFalls …

This week: Potomac Falls tonight; Dominion Friday.

2. Freedom (11-5)

Last ranking: 4th

Last week: Defeated Dominion, 58-39.

Don’t look now but the Eagles have won seven of eight with the only loss to County and they were in that contest. Kelsey Buchanan isn’t just tall … she is tall and can run the court like a guard. Broad Run will need to stop her tonight is a big, big game for both teams.

This week: @ Broad Run tonight; Briar Woods Friday.

3. Broad Run (9-6)

Last ranking: 2nd

Last week: Lost to Briar Woods, 46-26

This may be the biggest game the Spartans play all year when they host Freedom tonight. It comes on the heels of BR’s shocking fourth quarter against Briar Woods last week when they were held to two points. BR needs this game, especially with next week’s trio of County, Park View and Stone Bridge waiting. BR’s Alexis Campbell will provide the leadership tonight.

This week: Freedom tonight; @ Heritage Friday.

4. Park View (9-6)

Last ranking: 3rd

Last week: Lost to County, 72-58; Defeated Seton, 56-47.

If County’s offense is in a league of its own right now … then the Patriots offense surely has its own division … defense is the key for PV as they have given up 58 or more points in seven games this year, going 2-5 in those contests. Otherwise, they are 7-1.

This week: @ Heritage tonight; @ Potomac Falls Friday.

5. Briar Woods (9-6)

Last ranking: not ranked

Last week: Defeated Broad Run, 46-26; Defeated Thomas Johnson, 45-38.

Falcons pull off biggest upset in several seasons in the Dulles District with last Thursday’s win over the Spartans. Kim Bell is a rebounding machine and Krysta Gardner has more fight in her than just about any other player in the district but when the other players started knocking down outside shots … watch out for the Falcons. Tonight, however, is a trap game for BW as the Falcons surely are looking forward to Friday’s meeting with rival Freedom.

This week: @ Dominion tonight; @ Freedom Friday.