With this weekend marking the end of the high school winter sports season with the VHSL State Basketball Championships, and with spring sports being officially underway on Monday, it’s about time we took some time to reflect on Centreville Basketball this past season. It has been mostly fruitful, with a lot of stuff to reflect on; the best season that boys basketball has had in 5 years, and a better performance compared to last season for girls basketball, including another trophy in the cabinet. Below is a summarized version of these teams’ seasons.

Centreville Boys (14-14, 8-4)

This season, the Wildcats had to look for various options as they moved on from their seniors, most notably Jaxson Davis to Roanoke College as well as LJ Person to Salisbury University. Even though the Wildcats suffered losing records for the last four years, players like them were still genuine studs, and so the Wildcats needed some good help. Jaxson’s younger brother Maddox Davis largely took the helm of the team’s scoring, while they looked for other help in the forms of the likes of Timothy Girguis, Kobe Clement, and others. All individual honors that the Wildcat Boys had won had all left for college, and so it would be no surprise that it would take some time for the team to gain traction.

Initially, the team was indeed struggling to find their identity. It wasn’t necessarily the best look for the boys after losing by 8 to John Champe (a team that would eventually go 6-18), losing by 37 to George C. Marshall, and losing by 17 to Langley. It also wasn’t nice to have key senior Kobe Clement out with an injury for a very good amount of the season. Before district play began, the Wildcats stood at a record at 7 wins and 5 losses, with a good amount of uncertainty still looming upon them. Luckily, South Lakes was 6-7, Chantilly was 3-12, and James Madison was 5-8. Oakton and Westfield were totally different matters, but there was a good chance to bounce back.

And bounce back they did. Centreville established themselves as the best of the rest, placing 3rd in the Concorde standings by the end of the regular season with a district record of 6-4 and an overall regular season record of 11-12. The Wildcats didn’t have too much trouble dismantling South Lakes, James Madison, and Chantilly, and they even went band for band with Westfield in their first meeting on January 16, just losing 70-67. Their second meeting wasn’t too pretty in comparison, however, where they lost by 18. Meanwhile, the Wildcats lost both of their meetings against Oakton.

Come tournament time, and the Wildcats were ready. First up, it was districts. A gritty but entertaining 74-64 overtime win against last-place James Madison got them to the semifinals, making them automatically qualify for the Northern Region Tournament. But then, they pulled off a shocking win against Oakton, the only team other than Westfield in the Concorde with an overall regular season record above .500, by beating them 48-46, giving them the last laugh of their three meetings this season. They did falter to Westfield though in the district final and were dealt a humiliating 74-46 loss, where although they actually led Westfield 14-13 at the end of the first quarter, Westfield took the wheel with a 24-5 scoring run in the second quarter. And despite Maddox Davis and crew outscoring Westfield in the third quarter, the Bulldogs put the game to bed, with sophomore star Malachi Lee dropping 23 on the Wildcats. But, Centreville did secure enough to secure a two-seed at regionals.

Now comes the Northern Region Tournament. First up was the rematch with Langley in the regional quarterfinals. After falling behind by 10 in the first half, the Wildcats went on a 12-0 scoring run during the third quarter to take control of the game, with Will Shields having his best game of the season dropping 19 points. Despite Langley’s freshman phenom Dominic Laws dropping 20 including four key three-pointers, the Wildcats held on when they needed to in the final moments; Timothy Girguis and Maddox Davis had two key steals leading to two scoring plays, sealing an 11-point win for the Wildcats, by a score of 64-53.

Then came the rematch with George C. Marshall, the champions of the Liberty District, in the regional semifinals. The game was riddled with plenty of foul trouble; plenty of personnel, a couple techs, and even a scuffle. The Wildcats’ shot consistency and cover defense were not enough for their own liking, and Marshall took advantage of it all; most notably Jackson Fraser, who exploded in the 2nd and 3rd quarter by putting up 15 points. The Wildcats weren’t able to keep up with Marshall’s better team chemistry, and thus lost to the Statesmen by a score of 59-45.

Since they didn’t make the regional final, they couldn’t go to states, and thus the season was over.

Some may say the season ended too soon, whilst others may say it ended later than they expected, but if there’s anything regarding this Wildcat team, it’s that it has been the best season under Coach Person; the best season since the 2021 state title. Below are the individual honors the Wildcat Boys received for their performances.

Maddox Davis: Second Team All-Region, First Team All-District
Will Shields: Second Team All-District, All-Defensive Team
Timothy Girguis: Honorable Mention All-District, All-Defensive Team
Kobe Clement: Honorable Mention All-District
Henry Porter: Honorable Mention All-District

Centreville Girls (22-6, 11-2)

It would be pretty difficult to fill in the shoes of current Colgate Red Raider Kennedy Parrott’s historic tenure at Centreville, as well as the loss of Claire Kang to Virginia Academy. But another Virginia Academy player, and future UMES Hawk Aliza Murray would do her best to fill them in, paired with the help of another college hawk: future IUP Crimson Hawk Malia Siriwardene. Other key roleplayers like Dani Cuellar, Molly Veley, Aidan Kownacki, sophomore Clara Stauffer, and freshman Kaylee Anne Wimmer would start to emerge as the season went by, and for the most part, it went to plan.

Despite in-season tournament losses to high quality teams like Gainesville and Poly (MD), as well as a two-point defeat at Langley, the Wildcats’ season passed on comfortably over the month of December with wins all over; most notably beating Robinson by 14 as well as George C. Marshall by 27. 

A loss of rhythm in a 9-day break at the turn of the new year affected a 9 point loss in the first game of district play against Oakton, but since then they went on a ten game winning streak, capping off the regular season with a direct record of 9-1, and clinching the top seed in the Concorde District Tournament. They had already clinched a first-round bye with a 42-37 victory in the rematch over Oakton, and clinched the top seed with a dominant 55-43 handling of Chantilly at home. Then came tournament time.

Since they had a first round bye, the Wildcats’ postseason campaign would begin in the second round of the Concorde District Tournament, and they had already qualified for regionals by being among the top four teams in the Concorde. Nevertheless, there was hardware to be won, and James Madison was the Wildcats’ second round opponent after ending Chantilly’s season in the first round of the tournament, but the Warhawks were destroyed by the Wildcats in the second round 54-19, with pure domination all over the court all throughout the game.

In the district final against Oakton, they were outscored 32-22 in the first half due to a lack of shot consistency as well as attempting to contain one of, if not the most lethal backcourt combinations in the region led by Brooke Chang and Concorde District Player of the Year Sophie Toole. But found their way back with a 14-4 scoring run at the end of the 4th quarter to send it to overtime tied at 36. But Oakton’s Jocoelyn Kinlaw had other ideas, scoring the game-winning and-1 layup to cap off an 18 point performance to give Oakton yet another District title. The Wildcats came up short in the Concorde, but there was still an even more valuable second chance.

Then came the Northern Region Tournament. First up, the regional quarterfinal gainst Yorktown. It wasn’t so much of a difficulty for the Wildcats, as they dominated pretty much every aspect of the game. The Patriots were known for their defense-centered tactics, but the Wildcats were able to penetrate through it, and not get in as much foul trouble as they usually did in big games. It wasn’t really close, and they comfortably put away the Patriots in a 64-53 win. 

Then came in the regional semifinal, of all teams, James Madison. The Warhawks surprisingly upset the Liberty District Champion Langley Saxons, and got yet another date with the Wildcats. Like last time, it was not close, as the Wildcats outclassed them on both sides of the floor, and drew as much as 7 personal fouls in the fourth quarter. They put the Warhawks away 41-29, and punched another ticket, this time to states. But there was still some more hardware to be won before that too.

And once again, they faced Oakton in another final; this one bigger than the last. The Wildcats took control of the game by outscoring Oakton 18-10 in the first quarter. Oakton bounced back in the second quarter however, outscoring Centreville by 16, and the Wildcats trailed 31-23 at the half, with Malia Siriwardene scoring all five of Centreville’s second quarter points. But after halftime, the Wildcats came out of the locker room with newfound resolve; a 17-6 scoring run in the third quarter to take a 40-37 lead coming into the 4th. Oakton began to step up and keep up with Centreville 4th quarter run, with Brooke Chang dropping two three-pointers and Natalie Sheehan of all people scoring all four of her points in the fourth quarter alone, just to keep up with the Wildcats for a memorable finish; except one thing: they got into far too much foul trouble. In absolutely no time, Centreville were in the bonus due to Oakton fouling left and right. Eight of nine free throw attempts were made by the Wildcats, five of which were made by Aliza Murray who capped off a 19 point performance, and Centreville sealed a 50-49 win over Oakton; the sweetest revenge. They won their second regional title in the last three years, and returned to the throne as Queens of the North.

For the second time in the last three years, the Wildcats were champions of the Northern Region Tournament.

Then came the last eight of the Class 6 pack, in The State Tournament. 

Now, it’s the state quarterfinals, against the runner-up in the Occoquan Region Tournament, West Potomac. The Wolverines set the tone early in the first quarter by putting up four unanswered points, setting the tone for an 11-10 lead at the end of the quarter. Come the second, and the Wildcats go take the lead as high as 20-13 before ending the half up 27-24. Then came the third quarter, and it was phenomenal; field goals being hit left and right, seven three-pointers made in the quarter alone, and the Charles E. Martin Gymnasium was absolutely quite literally rocking. At the end of it all, the Wildcats led 45-38. But then, the fourth quarter happened. The Wildcats kept on turning the ball over in their own half with multiple turnovers occurring from throw-ins, making West Potomac start scoring more consistently. 

And then, in the final two minutes of the game, with Centreville at that point still leading by four, the Wildcats committed three personal fouls leading to three trips to the free throw line, the last of which included an and-1 mid-range jumper by West Potomac’s Lina Hashimi to give West Potomac their first lead since the 6:46 mark of the second quarter. Aidan Kownacki answered with her only basket of the day: a lay-up which gave Centreville the lead back by one point. Then came West Potomac’s final play: Dawn Houston, who went off with 21 points, provided a crucial assist to Delores Harkless, who had a wide open near the right-wing corner look for three. And hit it. The Wildcats weren’t able to produce a miracle shot from beyond half court.

The Wildcats lost 56-54 against the West Potomac Panthers, cutting the memorable season short. 

Despite this heartbreak which came just a bit too early at a time that was certainly not preferable, the Wildcat Girls produced yet another season of success; a memorable one, capped off by another trophy in the cabinet. But the honors didn’t end there. Below are the individual honors the Wildcat Girls received.

Aliza Murray: First Team All-Region, First Team All-District
Malia Siriwardene: First Team All-Region, First Team All-District
Dani Cuellar: Second Team All-Concorde
Clara Stauffer: Second Team-All Concorde
Molly Veley: Honorable Mention All-District
Aidan Kownacki: Honorable Mention All-District
Kaylee Anne Wimmer: Honorable Mention All-District

It was a year to remember for both Centreville Boys and Girls Basketball. The boys had their best season since their state title-winning season in 2021, and the girls once again solidified their standing as one of the best programs in Northern Virginia. It’s been full of ups and downs, elation and heartbreak, of success and failure. But however you want to put it, we can all agree on one thing.

This was what all that went down in the 2025/26 Wildcat Basketball Season.

Wildcat Nation, Let’s Ride.