Coaches often preach the importance of players stepping up.

Who is the best boys basketball team in the city/county and why?

Dwight Walton shook his head as he walked off the court.

As one of only two seniors on the Eastern Mennonite women’s basketball roster this season, Chrissy Delawder said she knows how important her role is for the Royals.

While many expected a big scoring number from East Rockingham sophomore Tyler Nickel in the Eagles’ season-opening win over Turner Ashby, it wasn’t needed — Nickel did still lead the way with 23 — as East Rock showed off its depth in the blowout victory.

Long before Perry Ellis roamed Allen Fieldhouse for Kansas or Cassius Winston hit big shot after big shot for Michigan State, D’Shawn Fields strolled the halls of Harrisonburg.

Since the beginning of training camp, Spotswood coach Chad Edwards has heaped praise on sophomore guard Carmelo Pacheco’s ability.

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Something changed in recent weeks for Grant Swinehart.

For most of last week, Spotswood senior Rob Smith spent his evenings in the gym.

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During last year’s run to the Virginia High School League Class 2 state championship, Carey Keyes said he started to use a zone defense more because of the Eagles length with the duo of Dalton Jefferson and Tyler Nickel at the forward spots.

As players stood inside James Madison’s indoor practice facility on Thursday, players exchanged laughs and high-fives as they waited to have their picture taken by media.

East Rockingham middle hitter Sage Fox was named to the Virginia High School League Class 2 all-state volleyball first team Thursday, the league announced.

Winning builds confidence, but Turner Ashby coach Rob Lovell said he saw belief in his players before they ever even stepped foot on the court this season.

When Chad Seibert accepted the boys basketball head coaching job at Eastern Mennonite last year, he made it clear from the start that he wanted to build a program.

HARRISONBURG — Aviwe Mahlong scored 29 points as Eastern Mennonite used an up-tempo attack to push past Virginia Academy for a big 81-70 non-conference boys basketball win to open up its season on Monday in Harrisonburg.

MacKenzie Freeze doesn’t want last year being brought up at all.

Standing in front of his players, Dale Shifflett acknowledged that there wasn’t a whole lot he could say in that moment that would ease the pain they felt.

East Rockingham's quest to run the gauntlet in the Region 2B playoffs came up just short Friday evening as Stuarts Draft, the No. 1 seed, held off the Eagles 14-7 to claim the Region 2B title and advance to the state semifinals.

One could argue that East Rockingham is no longer an underdog.

According to Brad Bradley, experience on the big stage isn’t important.

There was an abundance of youth around the area last year, but Spotswood’s combination of experience and talent helped the Trailblazers capture their fifth state championship in program history.

There was no shortage of talent around the city/county gyms last season.

It’s not totally clear whether East Rockingham just peaked at the right time or what exactly is going on with the Eagles.

It took less than five minutes for Spotswood to flex its muscles Friday.

What does Rockbridge County have to do to have a chance against Spotswood?

There’s certainly a lot on the line for the Spotswood football team.

Playing a team for the first time presents some challenges.

After one week of the postseason, there are only two city/county teams remaining.

Coaches preach the importance of players doing the “little things.”

Just over a year ago, after receiving a call from James Madison cross country coach Dave Rinker to wish her luck at the Virginia High School League Class 3 cross country championships, Jessica Cantrell decided that was the moment she wanted to commit.

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Standing in a room full of coaches from around the Bull Run District, Donnie Coleman said he struggled to explain the role Trenton Morris plays.

After reaching the state tournament as a freshman and then finishing third as a sophomore, Jessie Knight said that his future became clear.

For Mary Milby and Emily Rees, it was about experiencing the moment.

After embracing family members with tears streaming down their face just beyond the finish line, George Austin III put his hands above his head and let out a grin that stretched across his face and brought out dimples on both sides too big to hide.