By Mark Sawyer
Special to The Winchester Star

Winchester — Just over three weeks ago, the James Wood High School boys’ basketball team scored only 49 points in an 11-point loss at Fauquier.

The Colonels have done some growing up in the time in between, which showed in their 63-57 non-district win over the Falcons Friday night at Donald H. Shirley Gymnasium.

“I’m happy and a little frustrated also,” James Wood coach Al Smith said. “We played well, but there were times where we were just too much in a hurry. Fortunately, we came out with a win and to me, that’s a quality win and I’m very happy with that.”

Warrenton — Fauquier junior Christian Jolley scored 14 points, including a pair of free throws in the closing minute to seal the Falcons’ 64-62 non-district victory over James Wood Friday night.

The Falcons led 38-14 at the half, but James Wood (5-12) rallied with a 31-point third quarter to pull ahead 45-44 heading into the fourth.

Jolley’s late free throws helped spoil James Wood senior Heather Armel’s game-high 30 points. Armel, who sank three 3-pointers, shot 13 of 17 from the free-throw line and had seven rebounds.

Shannan Thorne scored 10 points and led the Colonels with 14 rebounds. Whitney Dennis added 12 points and eight rebounds for James Wood.

Junior Brianna Brizzi added 11 for the Falcons.

By David Selig
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — Inside the folder he brought to Thursday’s Winchester Rotary Club meeting, Virginia High School League Executive Director Ken Tilley had a brochure emblazoned with the slogan “Winning in life.”

It wasn’t completely a coincidence that Walter Barr, one of three local athletic icons Tilley honored at the event at the Travelodge, has become associated with the same phrase.

“That dovetails exactly what we’re all about,” Tilley said following his presentation. “For somebody to separately say that’s what [Barr] was all about, that’s the best example of why we value all that he’s done and wanted to recognize him today.”

Barr — the legendary former football coach at James Wood High School, Sherando High School and Shenandoah University — was honored along with former Handley coach and athletic director Jimmy Omps and former James Wood athlete, teacher and principal Wendell Dick.

From Star Staff Reports

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.Va. — Trae Tinsman had 24 points and 20 rebounds as the James Wood High School boys’ basketball team won 77-64 at Jefferson (W.Va.) on Tuesday night.

Mason Smith added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Colonels (7-10). Brock Lockhart also scored 11, and Chad Potter chipped in 10.

Wood led 63-34 before Jefferson outscored the Colonels 30-14 in the fourth quarter.

Garrett Grantham led the Cougars with 14 points.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Shannan Thorne had eight points, 13 rebounds and eight steals to lead James Wood to a non-district win over Washington (W.Va.) Saturday.

The Colonels (5-10) outscored the Patriots 31-20 in the second half to break a 26-26 tie.

For James Wood, Heather Armel had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Tori Eaton had 11 points, and Whitney Dennis had nine points and five assists.

By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star

Stephens City — After an attempted exchange to James Bowens was fumbled out of bounds near the perimeter with 2:47 remaining, the 6-foot-7 center who tried to give it to him put his hands on his head.

Frustrated and away from the basket — that’s just how James Wood wanted Sherando center Terry Wood Friday night.

The Colonels’ boys’ basketball team handed host Sherando its first Northwestern District loss of the season with a 59-55 victory, and much of the credit can be assessed to a James Wood zone defense that limited Wood and the Warriors.

Sherando (7-7, 4-1 Northwestern), which now leads Handley and James Wood (6-9, 3-2) by just one game in the district standings, shot just 18 of 51 (35.2 percent) from the field. And while Wood scored a game-high 16 points, he took just seven shots and made three, as the Colonels swarmed him any chance they got.

By Michael L. Misfeldt
Special to The Winchester Star

Stephens City — Heather Armel realizes the number of games left in her high school career is dwindling, and when a rival like Sherando shows up on the schedule, the game becomes that much more important to the James Wood girls’ basketball star.

Armel poured in 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds Friday night, as the Colonels notched a 66-55 Northwestern District victory in the Warriors’ home gym.

“This was a district game, so we came out wanting to beat Sherando,” Armel said. “With this maybe being the last time I get to play Sherando, as a senior, I wanted to win.”

The Colonels (4-10, 3-2 Northwestern) got off to a strong start, hitting some quick shots and jumping out to a 15-7 lead through one quarter.

“We came out ready to play tonight,” James Wood coach Rhonda Slider said. “We were able to press some, and we got to the line a lot and were able to convert. When you are able to hit your foul shots and limit your turnovers you can win the game, and tonight we did that.”