LC Bird boys and girls basketball teams have historic 2021
CHESTERFIELD, Va. (BVM) — It is not easy for a school to have one highly competitive basketball team, let alone two, but that鈥檚 exactly what LC Bird High School had this past season as both their boys and girls basketball teams were able to go deep in the state playoffs while also earning a number of accolades on the way.
For the first time in school history, both programs won the regional championships solidifying the programs鈥� place near the top of the state. The regional victory marked the first for the girls program since 2008 while marking the boys first regional championship since 2017. Though both teams would fall in their respective state semifinal matchups, the history the Skyhawks made will still make the season a memorable one for both squads and their players and coaches.
鈥淭o win the region was a breath of fresh air for us, it hadn鈥檛 happened for a while. To do it in this day and age, along with losing five critical seniors, it was a big accomplishment for LC Bird,鈥� Girls basketball head coach Chevette Waller said. 鈥淚t is definitely a family-oriented basketball program. [The boys and girls teams] work together. We鈥檙e definitely a team effort and it’s great. We鈥檙e not only competitive, but we like to support each other.鈥�
The Bird head coaches, Waller and boys coach Troy Manns, would both achieve individual career milestones over the course of their campaigns. Manns was first to earn the career recognition following a 73-39 Skyhawks victory over Cosby High School. The win gave Manns the 200th of his career which includes the 2017 Virginia High School League Class 5 state championship the team won in 2017.
Waller鈥檚 accomplishment was also reaching a significant coaching milestone. A 38-35 win over Manchester on Jan. 30 earned Waller her 300th victory of her career. As the head coach of the Bird program for the past 16 years, Waller鈥檚 record shows the consistent success the team has had during her time at the helm as she holds a career record of 304-111 following the campaign.
鈥淚t was kind of unexpected. I don鈥檛 really keep count of those wins,鈥� Waller said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a credit to all the great athletes that came through Bird. They鈥檙e the ones who did the hard work. I was kind of a sideline player. It鈥檚 significant in that way, but again most of those wins I credit to the players that have come through Bird and kept the winning tradition alive.鈥�
On top of the coaching success during the year, the teams also had a number of players be recognized for their strong campaigns. On the boys side, three Skyhawks starters earned all-state honors with juniors Jaden Daughtry and Brycen Blaine earning first team honors while senior Promyse Ferguson took home second team honors.
The girls also had a number of players earn season honors. Senior forward Ta’Nya Outten and freshman guard Trinity Dale led the team with first team all-region honors. Fellow freshman guard Aliyah Elliott earned second team honors while fellow senior Alexis Miller earned third team honors for the Skyhawks. With four players earning region honors, including two freshmen, the Bird team has potential to continue its success moving forward.
鈥淭o look at some of the pieces we have, if we just stick together, I believe our future is pretty bright,鈥� Waller said. 鈥淥ur young girls got to experience [state champion] Princess Anne [High School] 鈥� hopefully it will be a learning lesson, a measuring stick of where they鈥檙e at and where they need to be later down the road as they become seniors, juniors and sophomores.鈥�
Being able to continue success has been the trend of late for both the LC Bird basketball programs. With well-established coaches and coming off of great 2021 seasons, it doesn鈥檛 appear the two teams will slow down anytime soon. Get used to LC Bird basketball VHSL opponents because these two teams aren鈥檛 going anywhere.
鈥淭he goal is to continue the winning tradition, not only with the girls, but with the guys and vice versa,鈥� Waller said.
