RICHMOND – Despite a slow start full of unforced errors and poor fouls, the Freedom Eagles survived to advance in their quest to hang their second state championship banner in as many years.

Freedom pulled away from Turner Ashby in the fourth quarter for a 44-27 victory in the Virginia Division 4 girls’ basketball semifinals March 9 at the Siegel Center. 

Turner Ashby (22-3) endured a mid-game scoring drought of two points in 12 minutes. The Knights’ 17.5 field goal percentage produced 27 points, easily their lowest output on the year.

“Over the course of four quarters, our size and speed is tough to deal with,” Freedom coach Jason Eldredge said. “We just wore them down.”

The lid finally came off both baskets late in the third, but Freedom’s lead didn’t creep above five until 5:25 remained in regulation, when Kim Koditek put in a runner off glass and hit the subsequent foul shot.

At that point, the Eagles commenced a 13-0 run to go up 37-21, continuing Kelsey Buchanan’s high school career for another game.

“It means everything,” Buchanan said of being one game away from another championship. “It’s like a good ending for this story.”

Buchanan, who scored the Eagles’ first 10 points, finished with 22 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks and countless shot-alterations despite playing most of the game with two fouls.

The 6-foot-3 senior battled down low with the Knights’ own star center, senior Kirby Burkholder. Both will play in college for Colonial Athletic Association schools.

“She’s a shot-blocker like I am,” Buchanan noted. “It was good to go against her, because she’s such a good player.”

Burkholder matched her counterpart with five blocks, but was well below her average with six points. Younger sister Cassidy contributed 10.

Freedom’s senior point guard, Jessica Escorza, found Buchanan for scores on several occasions. She ended with four assists and seven points.

“Coming out of the halftime, we knew we had to play our game,” Escorza said. “We got Kelsey going, we got Dee [Dionna Scott] going, and we finally settled down.”

Freedom (20-5) returns to the Siegel Center March 13 to play Spotswood for the state championship. Title game tips at 7 p.m.

Freedom 44, Turner Ashby 27

F: Buchanan 22, Escorza 7, Koditek 5, Scott 4, Mayo 2, Merritt 2, Poindexter 2

TA: C. Burkholder 10, Estes 7, K. Burkholder 6, Detamore 2, Groseclose 2

Halftime: Freedom 17-12

Free throws: Freedom (9 of 19); Turner Ashby (4 of 4)

3-pointers: F 1 (Escorza); TA 3 (C. Burkholder 2, Estes)

Potomac Falls sophomore Greg Graves produced a triple-double in his team’s 66-57 win over Spotswood in the Virginia Division 4 boys’ basketball semifinals March 9 at the Siegel Center.—Times-Mirror File Photo/Carl Lukat

Boys: Potomac Falls 66, Spotswood 57

The Panthers will play in their first state championship game following their nine-point win March 9 in the Virginia Division 4 boys’ basketball semifinals.

A 21-4 mid-game run lifted Potomac Falls to a comeback win against the Trailblazers, keyed by a triple-double from Panther sophomore Greg Graves.

The tallest player on the court at 6-foot-6, Graves burst out to score seven straight heading into halftime amid several huge defensive swats.

“A star is being born with this kid,” said Potomac Falls coach Jeff Hawes, pointing his thumb at Graves, who broke into a broad smile. “He picked a good game to do it.”

Hawes’ counterpart said that his team was unaccustomed to facing a player of Graves’ physical stature.

“First time this year we encountered such a presence inside,” Spotswood coach Chad Edwards said. “They use that size well. They funneled everything to him.”

Graves finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocks. Lukas Mihailovich produced a team-high 23 points.

The game began ominously for Potomac Falls, who committed 18 turnovers in the first half while permitting 15 points to Spotswood’s star senior guard Marlon Organ, on his way to a game-high 26.

But Mihailovich’s offense grew to match Organ’s. A Spotswood 8-0 run early in the fourth was immediately answered by a 9-0 Panther run, prompting Hawes to pump his fist wildly at the jubilant Panther faithful in attendance.

The Trailblazers (21-5) would not get back within seven of the Panthers the rest of the way.

Potomac Falls (24-2) looks to take home its first ever state basketball title Saturday at 9 p.m., matching up against Broadway. The Panthers defeated Broadway 63-50 in the regular season.

Potomac Falls 66, Spotswood 57

PF: Mihailovich 25, Graves 15, Chesson 9, Curran 9, Simoneau 4, Kress 2, Wagenhoffer 2

S: Organ 26, Lantz 16, Hobbie 5, Mitchell 3, Sipe 2, Kesterson 2, Erbaugh 2, Jones 1

Halftime: Potomac Falls 26-21

Free throws: Potomac Falls (27 of 30); Spotswood (12 of 19)

3-pointers: PF 3 (Curran, Mihailovich, Chesson); S 5 (Organ 3, Mitchell, Lantz)