Dan River plays for state title today

RICHMOND — As Dan River prepares for its first appearance in the Group A Division 2 state championship game, several Wildcats are looking to add an extra element to their shoes, something that started back in mid-February.

After Dan River defeated Chatham to secure the Dogwood District regular season title, several players added to their shoes part of the net that they cut down in celebration, intertwining the clippings with their shoelaces. Following the Dogwood District tournament victory over Appomattox, those same players did the same.

Dan River (24-4) is 32 minutes away from collecting a third net. The Wildcats face Radford (25-4) today in the Group A Division 2 championship game at 5 p.m. at the Siegel Center on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

“I take pride because Dan River hasn’t been like this in a long time,” senior guard Dantony Dickerson said. “So every day I get up to practice, I take pride in what we have accomplished.”

The Wildcats have accomplished more this year than any team in school history. In 1977, Dan River, led by Clarence Dickerson, advanced to the Group AA semifinals before losing to Blacksburg.

The links of the net in the shoelace, which started in the locker room and where the trophies from the season sit, act as motivation for the team. The trophies are, as coach Jacob Gruse puts it, part of the journey, not the ultimate goal.

“I just think it’s a great thing for the kids to put it there. It just shows how much they care about our season and what we’ve accomplished,” Gruse said. “I thought it was a great idea and every time your guys get down, that’s a reminder of them cutting down the nets and just reminding them that if they want to do it again, gives them that extra little push in the back to pull through.”

On two occasions since the Wildcats’ last net collection, a play or two could have derailed the team’s chances of fulfilling the fourth goal — a state championship.

Against Goochland in the Region B semifinals on Feb. 27, the smaller Bulldogs gave the Wildcats fits, but a solid third quarter helped put the game away and secured Dan River a spot in the state quarterfinals.

In the Wildcats’ state quarterfinal game on March 7, Lancaster kept Dan River down for the entire third quarter — despite the Wildcats closing the gap to three points or less on five different occasions. It took a 15-2 run for Dan River to take and keep the lead and put the Wildcats in position to hand Madison County its first loss of the season.

“Knowing that you beat that team and cut down that net tells you that you can do that in the whole district and whole state at any time,” junior guard K.J. Jones said.

WHAT: Group A Division 2 state championship game
WHEN: 5 p.m. today
WHERE: Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond
RECORDS: Dan River 24-4; Radford 25-4
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Dan River defeated previously unbeaten Madison County 57-54 Thursday in the first Group A Division 2 state semifinal game. Radford scored five points in the final 31 seconds to defeat James River 54-52 in the second semifinal game on Thursday. The Bobcats were champions of the Three Rivers District regular season and tournament titles. Radford was runner-up in Region C to James River. The Bobcats played William Fleming twice, losing at home 53-52 on a Fleming last-second 3-pointer.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Radford – Scotty Hendricks, G, 5-9 Sr., 6.25 assists per game; Allen Dickerson, G, 6-2 Sr., 13.1 points per game; DeAndre Thompson, F, 6-1 Sr., 14.5 points per game; Jon Thompson, F, 6-2 Sr., 16.8 points per game; Jake Giesen, C, 6-3 Sr., 6 points per game. Dan River – Dantony Dickerson, G, 5-9 Sr., 2.2 assists per game; Reggie Stone, G, 6-0 Jr., 3.5 points per game; Darren White, G, 6-4 Sr., 18.8 points per game; Trey Edmunds, G, 6-0 Fr., 6.5 points per game; Darell Adams, F, 6-4 Sr., 4.2 rebounds per game.
SCOUTING REPORT: Dan River looks to dictate the tempo with speed and quickness on the perimeter. Radford also displays solid team speed and athletic ability, however the Wildcats’ big men could exploit a lack of depth on the post. Both teams like to pressure the ball on defense and win the battle of fast break points. The Bobcats typically use a seven-man rotation, and if the pace picks up considerably, could play into the hands of the Wildcats, who go nine to 10 men deep.
HISTORY IN THE STATE TOURNAMENT: This marks the first appearance for Dan River in a state championship game. This is the fifth trip to the state championship game for Radford and third since 2001. The Bobcats won the Group II state championship in 1949.
QUOTABLE: “You know what, we haven’t been here, it’s all new to us. I don’t want them to come off cloud nine,” Dan River coach Jacob Gruse said. “Love it, this is what you dream about as a little kid. These kids deserve all the credit in the world and they’re the pride of Ringgold. I want them to enjoy it, I really do.”