Winter sports season kicks off

The winter sports season has begun for some Stafford County schools.

The North Stafford High School boys’ basketball team has opened the season with two straight wins. Monday night Fabian Beard scored with six seconds left to lift the Wolverines to a narrow 47-46 win at Freedom High School.

North Stafford, which rallied from a three-point halftime deficit, was led by senior Matt Darnell who pumped in 19 points. Last season North Stafford advanced to the Northwest Region playoffs. They fell to Mountain View High School in the Commonwealth District tournament final.
The Wildcats should once again be competitive as they return one of their top scorers in senior Derek Mosley.

You may recall that last season’s race in the district came right down to the final games of the regular season. One of the challenges for Rick Butler’s Brooke Point High School girls’ basketball team is to find a replacement for Chay Shegog who is now helping the University of North Carolina.

The Black-Hawks opened their season at George Washington-Danville last Friday and Saturday. Brooke Point fell to GW Danville in the first game 51-43. Senior Torie Fox-Moles led the Black-Hawks with 11 points and Lynee Pina added 10 points. Last Saturday Brooke Point dropped a 40-33 decision to Patrick Henry-Roanoke. Pina, a senior, led the Black-Hawks with 14 points.

The Colonial Forge High School wrestling team, the defending Group AAA state champs, traveled to Skyline High School in Front Royal last Saturday and reeled off four straight wins.

The Eagles topped Fauquier High School, ranked second in Group AAA behind the Eagles, Cave Spring High School, the top ranked team in Group AA, as well as Louisa and Skyline high schools. Shane Gentry and Nick Emison posted 5-0 records while Michael Garofalo and Christian Kagarise were 4-0. Brett Garrison also went unbeaten, finishing 3-0 — once again another strong team for Eagles coach Bill Swink.

Mike Neville is a contributing writer at the Stafford County Sun. Reach him at .