A staple in Loudoun Valley High School’s run to the top of the AA Dulles District boys basketball standings this season has been its defensive play. Through 15 games, the Vikings (13-2) are holding opponents to less than 47 points per game on average.

So when Valley gave up 10 points to visiting Loudoun County in less than five minutes to start a Jan. 13 game, Viking coach Chad Dawson called a timeout.

“Defensively, we were a step slow in the beginning,” Dawson said. “We just wanted to reiterate that we have to hang our hat on being a good defensive team.”

Trailing 10-5 with 3:18 left in the first, Valley limited County to just two points during the next 11-plus minutes of play and built a commanding 31-12 advantage at halftime.

“They stepped it up and played very well,” Dawson said of his team’s play after the timeout.

The Vikings pushed the lead to 47-25 after three quarters before the Raiders’ impressive guard duo of Stephen Veschi and Mike Anderson found their scoring touch in the fourth quarter to close the final margin to 59-43.

Junior Josh Grimard paced Valley with 19 points and senior John Yoxthimer added 18. Junior Jovon Miller and sophomore Paul Rowley scored eight points each in the win, and senior Nick Robinson netted six.

Veschi and Anderson combined for 28 points. Veschi connected on five 3-pointers, including three in the final quarter, while Anderson scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth. The Raiders slipped to 8-8 overall, 4-6 in district play.

Valley improved to 9-1 in district play, three games ahead of Briar Woods (6-1) in the win column for first place in the Dulles. Briar Woods handed the Vikings their lone district loss this season. Two-time defending AA state champion Potomac Falls (7-2) and second-year Woodgrove (6-3) are also in the mix.

The Vikings returned to the AA Dulles District this school year after competing for six seasons in the larger Group AAA classification.

“We felt we could do some good things this year, especially after the summer that we had,” Dawson said. “We’ve definitely been building for this. These guys just share the ball so well. They are very unselfish and they work really hard.”

Loudoun Valley senior John Yoxthimer was honored prior to the start of a Jan. 13 game against Loudoun County for scoring 1,000-plus points in his varsity career. Yoxthimer is joined, from left, by his parents, Deanna and James, along with Vikings coach Chad Dawson.—Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Carl Lukat

1,000 and going for Yoxthimer

Loudoun Valley honored senior John Yoxthimer prior to the start of Friday’s game for surpassing 1,000 career points. Yoxthimer reached the milestone on his first field goal in a Jan. 6 win at Tuscarora. 

“One of my teammates called me up and said I was only one [point] away,” Yoxthimer said. “I didn’t realize that. When it happened, I was just excited. It was a good feeling, good to know my teammates have my back. I couldn’t do it without them.”

Coach Dawson relayed a story of an official coming up to him after the Tuscarora game. “As soon as the game was over, he comes over and shakes my hand and says ‘I just want to let you know I love that kid, he’s a great player and he’s one of my favorites.’ He’s a well recognized official and I think that meant a lot to John and his family. That’s the kind of kid he is.”

Yoxthimer, a 6-foot-6 guard/forward combo, is in his fourth varsity season with the Vikings. After being Valley’s dominant scorer the last two years, Yoxthimer said he’s enjoying the more balanced attack this winter. 

“This is my favorite year out of all four years,” he said. “I love my teammates and I love the coaches. We have a great coaching staff. We all push each other in practice.”

Loudoun Valley 59, Loudoun County 43

LC: Veschi 15, Anderson 13, Turnage 6, Herring 5, Stinger 4

LV: Grimard 19, Yoxthimer 18, Miller 8, Rowley 8, Robinson 6

Halftime: Valley, 31-12

3-pointers: LV 6 (Grimard 3, Yoxthimer 2, Rowley); LC 6 (Veschi 5, Turnage)

Free throws: LC (9 of 14); LV (3 of 7)

-All photos by Carl Lukat