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Fairfax County’s top senior girls basketball players closed their high school careers with two victories at the 20th annual Northern Virginia Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Suburban Classic.
The March 16 showcase at Oakton High School featured two all-star games, a three-point contest and season-ending awards before a sizable crowd.
Oakton head coach Fred Priester, who organized the event and serves as NVWBCA president, said the afternoon celebrated players and coaches while bringing together an extensive collection of local talent.
In the first game, seniors from Fairfax and Arlington schools in the 6D North Region defeated Loudoun County 55-39.
Chantilly head coach Josh Regan led a North Region roster that included Centreville’s Kennedy Parrott; Chantilly’s Emerson Mustard and Anjali Borra; Langley’s Anya Rahman; Madison’s Sara Becker; McLean’s Alyssa Evans, Allyson Hodder and Tatum Olsen; and South Lakes’ Kaila Ketelhut.
Washington-Liberty’s Frances Shapiro earned North Region Most Valuable Player honors. Woodgrove’s Val Blankenship was selected as Loudoun’s MVP.
Fairfax’s Occoquan Region completed the sweep with a 46-37 victory over Prince William County.
Coached by West Potomac’s Joe Petrucelli, the Occoquan team featured Edison’s Sarah Chawki and Shannon Heiner; Falls Church’s Ainsley Phillips; Thomas Jefferson’s Kaiden Kerkulah; Mount Vernon’s Natalie Turner; Robinson’s Georgia Simonsen; South County’s Juelle Lisenby and Savannah Simmons; West Potomac’s Olivia Jones; and C.G. Woodson’s Valli Swaminathan.
Phillips was named Occoquan’s MVP, while Patriot’s Cheyenne Sweeney received the honor for Prince William.
Between the games, the NVWBCA recognized its top players and coaches from the winter season.
Parrott was named Concorde District Player of the Year, and Regan received Coach of the Year. Rahman and Olsen shared Liberty District Player of the Year honors, while Langley’s Amanda Baker was selected as the district’s top coach.
Kerkulah earned National District Player of the Year, with Hayfield’s Jason Kirby taking Coach of the Year. Simonsen and South County’s Laila Tull shared Patriot District Player of the Year honors, and Robinson’s T.J. Dade was named Coach of the Year.
The association also awarded $500 scholarships to Lisenby, South Lakes’ Kaila Ketelhut, South County’s Gabrielle Woodham and Oakton’s Bailey Zimmerman.
Parrott added another honor by winning the three-point shootout that opened the event. The competition included 27 players, and she received a plaque for finishing first.
Priester called the showcase a success both on and off the court, saying the Class of 2025 ended its Northern Virginia run with performances befitting its decorated high school careers.