High school notebook: North Cross Raiders aim to challenge Grace Christian School
By Robert Anderson | The Roanoke Times
Heather Donaho won a Virginia Independent Schools state championship as a volleyball player for North Cross.
Now she wants one as a coach.
Donaho, a member of the North Cross team that won the first VIS title in 1994, has the Raiders two victories away from a VIS Division III crown.
North Cross plays Southampton Academy in Friday's semifinals at Liberty Christian Academy.
A victory would put the Raiders in Saturday's final, likely against a familiar foe: six-time defending champion Grace Christian of Staunton.
Grace ousted North Cross 3-0 in last year's semifinals and beat the Raiders 3-0 in three straight finals from 2003-05.
"Here we go again," Donaho said.
North Cross hasn't beaten Grace since 1988, but the Raiders came close on Sept. 25, losing at home 3-2 after winning the first two games 25-22 and 32-30.
"We took those first two games and I thought, 'Hmmm, this might be our year,'" Donaho said.
The North Cross coach said her players walked off the floor confident they could take down the VIS power next time.
"I don't think there's any doubt they believe they can do it," she said.
North Cross has been led this season by two first-team All-Blue Ridge Conference selections -- setter Sarah Jessee and outside hitter Marli Dabareiner. Jessee, a junior, is the younger sister of Patrick Henry standout Laura Jessee.
PH's Woodford commits to Tech
Patrick Henry senior Natalie Woodford has made an oral commitment to Virginia Tech for track and field and cross country.
PH coach Chad Cox said Woodford was offered a 40 percent scholarship by the Hokies.
Woodford ran the fastest times in Timesland in the 400 meters each of the last two years, clocking 56.84 seconds in 2007 and 57.21 last spring.
She placed fourth in the 500 meters at the VHSL Group AAA indoor meet in 2007 and was sixth in the 400 in the 2007 outdoor state meet.
Woodford placed third in the Western Valley District cross country meet last month and was 58th in the Northwest Region meet.
Official sanctioned after Rockbridge loss
The commissioner of the Piedmont-Valley Officials Association said Wednesday that an official who made a call that went against Rockbridge County will not be assigned any further playoff games this year involving Southern Valley District schools.
Commissioner Ralph Law said he made the decision after determining that official Roger Norrell made an incorrect judgment call late in Rockbridge's 33-32 three-overtime loss to Stuarts Draft .
Norrell ruled that Rockbridge quarterback Blake Coffey did not break the plane of the end zone on a two-point conversion run to begin the second overtime, Law said.
"I've looked at the film a couple of times," Law said. "I would have called it [a score]."
The loss left Rockbridge with the No. 6 seeding and a trip to Jefferson Forest this Friday in the first round of the Region III Division 4 playoffs. Had Rockbridge beaten Stuarts Draft, the Wildcats would have been seeded No. 4 and would be hosting William Byrd this week.
Stuarts Draft plays at Northside in a Region III Division 3 first-round game.
Timesland athletes finalists for award
Five Timesland athletes are among the 20 Virginia finalists for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award.
Bunge Okeyo and Charles Blevins of Roanoke Catholic, Kate Norbo of Patrick Henry, Mackenzie Tyree of Lord Botetourt and Kyle O'Connor of William Byrd are eligible for the state award, which will be announced Monday.
Virginia's male and female winners will be eligible for the national award, which will be announced Dec. 12.
The award recognizes achievement in athletics, academics and community service.
Twelve national finalists will be selected and featured in a televised ceremony on ESPN2. The male and female national winners will receive a High School Heisman trophy, and their respective schools will receive $10,000 from Wendy's.
Region IV semifinals moved to Pulaski Co.
Tonight's Region IV volleyball semifinals pitting Hidden Valley vs. Cave Spring, and Salem vs. Carroll County have been moved from Bassett to Pulaski County High School.
If Salem wins its semifinal, Saturday's championship match will be played either at Cave Spring or Hidden Valley.
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