Northern Region Basketball: Marshall Plays Monday

While some will take Monday off for Presidents' Day the Marshall High School boys basketball team will be taking the court in the first round of the Northern Region playoffs.

The Statesmen are coming into Monday's games with some significant momentum, winning the Liberty District championship game on Friday.

The victory — in which Marshall easily outpaced McLean 60-45 — was their first Liberty District crown in the program's history.

On Monday, the Warhawks (17-8, 10-4 Liberty) will face Robinson (7-16, 1-9 Concorde) at 7:30 p.m. on Madison's home turf.4

It's been almost a fairy-tale season for the Marshall Statesmen, who in previous years, often saw early tournament losses or no bid at all.

But under third-year Coach Dan Hale this season, Marshall blazed through the Liberty District looking for a fight. The Statesmen (17-7, 9-5 Liberty) not only handily won the district title for the first time in the school's history, it also upset longtime cross-town rival Madison High by a point in the semifinals.

The team has won eight of its past 10 games. 

It faces off against Chantilly (17-7, 5-5), who lost to Herndon in the Concorde District semifinals, at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Marshall High School.

In an email to students, parents and staff on Sunday, Marshall Principal Jay Pearson said he "could not be more proud of Coach Hale and the boys for their success."

"I know our crowd made a difference on Friday night so we need to fill the gym to show our support for the team," he wrote.