Loudoun Valley High School exploded for 32 points in the third quarter of its home boys basketball game against Tuscarora Feb. 10 to pull away for a 78-42 victory on Senior Night in Purcellville. The victory clinches the AA Dulles District season championship for the Vikings.

Valley completed the regular season with a 14-2 district record, one-game ahead of Briar Woods at 13-3. The Vikings (19-3 overall) earned top seed in this week’s Dulles District tournament. Valley also secured a spot in the Region II playoffs as district champion.

“The kids were very deserving,” Viking coach Chad Dawson said of his team that returned to the Dulles District this season after six years in AAA.

“They worked really, really hard. They are a great group of kids, they are very unselfish and they play a great brand of team basketball. I think that has allowed us to have a lot of success this season.”

Senior John Yoxthimer, a four-year varsity player, has enjoyed the Vikings return to the Group AA classification. Valley’s student population declined with the opening of nearby Woodgrove in 2010.

“We were kind of pushed around in AAA by Osbourn, Battlefield and those teams,” Yoxthimer said. “I’ve been in it my freshman, sophomore and junior years. I was so excited for my senior year because I knew we had something good going for us.”

Dawson added that many of his returning players circled this season on their calendars. “At the beginning of the year, not a lot of people mentioned us. I think they took that to heart and kind of wanted to prove something.”

The Vikings started their five seniors - Harrison Jackson, Nick Robinson, Kyle Fulton, Justyn Miller and Yoxthimer - against Tuscarora in the final regular-season home game of their varsity careers.

“I think the most special thing was that Josh [Grimard], Javon [Miller] and Cameron [Kiani] knew they weren’t starting tonight but I think this is the most excited they have been for the starting lineups to be announced,” Dawson complimented. “They were high-fiving the other seniors. That’s just what these kids are about.”

Tuscarora - with a starting lineup of all underclassmen - played even with Valley into the second quarter Friday. The second-year Huskies (1-15, 2-20) were tied with the Vikings at 15-15 before the hosts closed the half on a 13-4 run.

Junior forward Sury Avasarala drained three baseline 3-pointers in the first half to keep Tuscarora close. The Huskies will play Dominion in a one-game playoff Saturday to determine which school earns the final spot in the Dulles District tournament.

The Vikings - known for their defensive prowess - lit up the scoreboard for 32 points in the third quarter. Grimard had the hot hand for Valley, scoring 19 points in the quarter, including a trio of 3-pointers.

“When he’s shooting the ball like that, he makes us really tough to defend,” Dawson said of Grimard. “He can put it in the basket.”

The strong third quarter allowed the Vikings to turn a nine-point halftime advantage into a 60-30 lead going into the fourth. Dawson also credited Robinson.

“Nick said at halftime ‘Coach, we are not playing Viking basketball.’ He comes out in the second half and just plays great,” Dawson said. “He’s trapping, defending, running all over the floor. He’s so fast and athletic. He’s really the spark plug of our team.”

The Vikings extended their lead a bit more in the fourth quarter to close out the 78-42 victory.

Grimard finished with a game-high 24 points for Valley, while Yoxthimer scored 12 and Jackson - recently signed to play football on scholarship at Boston College - added nine points.

Overall, 10 different players scored for the Vikings. The Huskies also received balanced scoring with 10 players factoring in the box score.

Loudoun Valley 78, Tuscarora 42

T: Avasarala 11, Keenan 6, Welti 6, Johnson 4, Hayes 3, Momon 3, Robinson 3, Aird 2, Green 2, Werts 2

LV: Grimard 24, Yoxthimer 15, Jackson 9, Robinson 6, Frazier 5, Rowley 5, Kiani 4, Jo. Miller 4, Watts 4, Ju. Miller 2

Halftime: Loudoun Valley, 28-19

3-pointers: T 8 (Avasarala 3, Keenan 2, Hayes, Momon, Robinson); LV 5 (Grimard 3, Rowley, Yoxthimer)

Free throws: Valley (14 of 17); Tuscarora (4 of 5)

Friday, Feb. 10

Boys Basketball
Loudoun Valley 78, Tuscaroroa 42
Loudoun County 54, Woodgrove 44
Potomac Falls 65, Park View 56
South Lakes 58, Stone Bridge 52
Briar Woods 71, Dominion 45

-Cedar Run Consolation Final
Broad Run 65, Battlefield 63

Girls Basketball
Tuscarora 41, Loudoun Valley 34
Woodgrove 51, Loudoun County 44
Potomac Falls 51, Park View 46
South Lakes 74, Stone Bridge 42
Dominion 54, Briar Woods 45

-Cedar Run Consolation Final
Osbourn 39, Freedom 34