Congratulations to everyone who participated in our 2018-19 winter sports season. At our ceremony yesterday in the Leonard M. Cowherd Auditorium, Mr. Costello and coaches recognized our seniors, shared remarks, and presented awards.
Middle School Girls Basketball
Coach Nicole Wyant returned to lead the middle school girls basketball team. The girls competed in several games but ended with a 0-7 record. The Owls had great effort, and even though they were most often facing older and more experienced teams, every single player improved as the season progressed. The team lost by four points to Fresta Valley and then fell to Randolph-Macon Academy, 38-17, in the VMSC quarterfinals to end their season. Congratulations to Coach Wyant and the team for their season filled with challenge and improvement.
Middle School Girls Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Ava Lubkemann
Coaches’ Award: Alexis Cross
Co-Most Improved Player: Carmen O’Neill and Arielle Shepard
Middle School Boys Basketball
The middle school boys basketball team won two games in VMSC play, beating Fresta Valley Christian by the score of 29-20 and Front Royal Christian by the score of 25-21. The boys also defeated Legacy Christian Academy twice in non-conference play. The Owls were knocked out of the VMSC tournament in the first round at #4 St. Joseph’s 37-16. The team’s final record was 4-6. All the players on the roster made improvement in their basketball IQ. Congratulations to Coach Costello and the team for a good season of improvement.
The B Team went 2-0 on the season with two wins over Legacy Christian, with Coach Costello and Martin O’Heir officiating the B Team games.
Middle School Boys Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Sean Regan
Most Improved Player: Jacob DiDomenico
Coaches’ Award: Owen Schuster
Varsity Boys Basketball
Coach Mike Costello was assisted by Coach Mark Dick again this season. Inability to finish around the basket and at the foul line led to several close losses. Illnesses, injuries, and absences impacted games in January and February. The team swept the DAC Division II Regular Season championship, however, with two double-digit wins over both Quantico and Chelsea Academy. It was the first outright DAC DII regular season title in school history in boys basketball. The team went 5-5 in non-conference play. They earned non-conference wins over Saint Michael’s, Fresta Valley Christian, Virginia School of the Deaf and Blind, and Eukarya Academy twice.
The JV boys finished 2-2 with big wins over the Front Royal Flames and Randolph-Macon Academy. The team finished the month of February with a 5-4 record including one JV game. The boys scored over 50 points six times in varsity games. The season high scoring mark was 57 points in a non-conference win over Eukarya Christian on 2/18/19. With the departure of over 80% of the previous year’s offense, John Mullins stepped up his scoring, finishing the season with 387 points.
As the number one seed, the team advanced to the DAC championship game on 2/23/19. Poor shooting from the floor in the first half and an injury to Hank Lin led to a tough 50-38 loss to Quantico, but the Owls finished 2-1 against Quantico on the season. The team’s final varsity record was 9-6. Congratulations to Coach Dick, Coach Costello, and the team for a good championship season. Lone Senior Kevin He will be missed next year.
Varsity Boys Basketball
Most Valuable Player: John Mullins
Most Improved Player: Ben Kelsey
Co-Coaches’ Award: Martin O’Heir and James Gao
2018-19 First Team ALL-DAC Division II Boys Basketball
John Mullins
Ben Kelsey
Martin O’Heir
Ben Kelsey, First Team All-DAC; John Mullins, First Team All-DAC and Tri-Player of the Year; Mike Costello, Coach of the Year; and Martin O-Heir, First Team All-DAC
2018-19 Delaney Athletic Conference Division II Boys Basketball
Tri-Player of the Year
John Mullins
2018-19 Delaney Athletic Conference Division II Boys Basketball
Coach of the Year
Mike Costello, CAA
Varsity Girls Basketball
Due to weather cancellations the girls varsity basketball team only played five games, going 0-5. Anna Schuster and Jill Chiu served as captains for the girls team. The roster contained seven players, but they worked hard and responded to tough coaching by Coach Costello and Coach Dick. All of the girls improved in skill and knowledge of the game. The girls had one very winnable game against the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind canceled due to roster issues for the Cardinal. Due to struggling at the foul line, the girls dropped two competitive games to St. Michael’s by the scores of 26-23 and 28-24.
Varsity Girls Basketball
Most Valuable Player: Jill Chiu
Coach’s Award: Anna Schuster
Most Improved Player: Emma O’Neill
Quote from Mike Costello, CAA Athletic Director: “Success came in many forms this season. John Mullins, Ben Kelsey, and Martin O’Heir were named First Team All-DAC. The Varsity boys won the DAC Division II regular season title. John Mullins was the DAC DII Tri-Player of the Year. Coach Costello was the Coach of the Year in DAC DII Boys Basketball. The three boys basketball teams combined for 15 victories on the season. Success does not come without hard work and dedication on the part of student athletes, coaches, staff, and administration or without parent participation. A lot of hard work went in to pulling off the winter season. I want to thank all in our community who pitched in for a successful winter season. GO OWLS!”