Arts, Leisure and Sports
Virginia has won the first men’s basketball championship in school history, getting a career-high 27 points from De’Andre Hunter and clutch play from Kyle Guy to beat Texas Tech 85-77 in overtime.
The first No. 1 seed out a year ago is the last one standing this year.
Hunter drained a 3-pointer with 12.9 seconds left to force the first overtime since 2008, when Mario Chalmers’ miracle helped Kansas top Memphis in San Antonio. The big forward continued to make plays in the extra session, including another 3 during an 11-0 run that put the game away.Go ahead, Virginia fans: Time to yell “Wahoo!”
Guy finished with 24 points and Ty Jerome had 16 for the Cavaliers, who like the Red Raiders were appearing in the title game for the first time. Braxton Key added six points and 10 boards.Brandone Francis had 17 points to lead five players in double-figures scoring for Texas Tech. Jarrett Culver and Davide Moretti scored 15 apiece and Kyler Edwards had 12.The teams matched a championship game record with 21 combined 3-pointers.
(Rail Yard Dawgs release )For the second consecutive season, the Peoria Rivermen have challenged the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. Roanoke and Peoria will play a best-of-three playoff series in the Challenge Round of the SPHL’s President’s Cup Playoffs, presented by Haley Toyota. Game one of the series will take place on Wednesday, April 9 at 7:05 PM at Berglund Center.
The Rail Yard Dawgs finished the season as the fifth seed with a record of 28-24-4 while Peoria went 40-7-9 and won the William B. Coffey Trophy for the second consecutive season. Roanoke went 0-2-1 in three games against the Rivermen this season, all of which took place in Peoria. Playoff packages are available for purchase via the Rail Yard Dawgs office until 6 PM on Monday. Single game postseason tickets will go on sale on Tuesday and can be purchased at the Berglund Center box office.
Mike Young Va Tech photo
(from Hokiesports.com) Virginia Tech President Dr. Tim Sands and Director of Athletics Whit Babcock announced on Sunday that Mike Young has accepted the men’s basketball head coaching position at Virginia Tech. The Radford, Virginia native joins the Hokies after a record-setting 17-year tenure at Wofford. The Terriers posted a 30-5 overall record in 2018-19, including a perfect 18-0 mark in Southern Conference play and registered a convincing 84-68 win over Seton Hall in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
“We are fortunate to have been able to recruit Mike Young to Virginia Tech, not only because of his proven leadership and coaching ability, but because Coach Young is home in Southwest Virginia and leads his life in the true Hokie tradition of integrity and commitment to service,” Dr. Sands said.
