Pope, Northside Win First State Championship

RICHMOND — Bill Pope and the Northside Vikings won their first state title here Thursday afternoon.
Kasey Draper made two free throws with 3.8 seconds left, lifting the long-time Blue Ridge District power past Phoebus, 60-58, in the Class 3 championship game at the Siegel Center in Richmond.
Viking Julien Wooden, a 6-foot-7 senior who will play at James Madison University next year, led all scorers with 22 points, while pulling in nine rebounds.
Northside ended their season with a record of 28-1 with their only loss coming to Radford, who plays for the Class 2 title tonight in Richmond.
The win was career victory number 538 in 33 years of coaching for Pope.
This morning’s opener at VCU — the Class 1 girls state title game — pits Pioneer District champion Parry McCluer against Surry County.
The Fighting Blues, 25-4 on the year, are seeking their third straight state championship. Parry McCluer’s only losses this year were to William Fleming, a Class 5 state tournament participant, Lord Botetourt, a Class 3 state tournament semifinalist, and two to Spotswood, who Thursday afternoon won the Class 3 state championship.