George Washington-Danville is a traditional basketball power in the Northwest Region. On Saturday at Churchland in the state quarterfinals, King’s Fork will be facing a team making its fourth straight appearance in the state tournament.

The Eagles were state runners-up in 2007 and have state champion banners from 1996 and 1998. Only Cave Spring in 2002 has won the state title from the Northwest Region since the Eagles’ two titles.

This season, GW-Danville is 23-4. The Eagles are 22-0 against schools other than William Fleming, the Northwest Region champion.

GW-Danville lost to Fleming twice in the regular season, beat Fleming 49-46 in a tie-breaker for the regular season championship of the Western Valley District, then lost twice to Fleming in the postseason: 48-45 in the final of the district tournament and 42-41 in the final of the Northwest Region Tournament.

In the five contests against William Fleming, the Eagles have averaged 46.3 points per game. In the other 22 games this season, the Eagles are averaging 74.1 points per game.

GW-Danville is led by two All-Region first-teamers, 6-foot-6 senior Stephen Coles and 6-foot-7 sophomore C. J. Barksdale.

Barksdale already has a scholarship offer from Virginia Tech and according to rivals.com, Barksdale is receiving recruiting interest from the likes of North Carolina, Wake Forest and Georgetown.

The Eagles are coached by Bobby Martin, who’s in his eighth season at the school.

Despite the excellent regular season record, the Eagles’ postseason nearly came to a halt in the regional quarterfinals. The Eagles had to rally from a 10-point deficit in the last three minutes of the fourth period against Mountain View.

GW-Danville put together a 13-0 run in a span of 1:50 to take the lead. The game went to overtime, in which the Eagles outscored Mountain View 11-2 to win 67-58.

The Eagles proceeded to rout C.D. Hylton in the semifinals, 84-60, to earn the state tournament spot. Barksdale had 28 points and 14 rebounds and Coles scored 15 points. GW-Danville outrebounded Hylton 34-13.

GW-Danville 2008-09 schedule (23-4)

Date Opponent Score

Nov. 26 CARLISLE W 78-64

Nov. 28 at Martinsville W 85-26

Dec. 2 at Smith (N.C.) W 82-64

Dec. 4 PARK VIEW W 107-21

Dec. 9 SMITH (N.C.) W 83-56

Dec. 15 at Park View W 100-60

Dec. 18 CHATHAM W 92-43

Dec. 26 vs. Gretna W 85-48

Dec. 27 vs. Liberty Christian W 45-35

Dec. 29 vs. Dan River W 62-59

Jan. 6 at William Fleming L 57-50

Jan. 9 at Halifax Co. W 58-53

Jan. 16 PATRICK HENRY W 68-48

Jan. 21 at Chatham W 96-65

Jan. 23 FRANKLIN CO. W 79-67

Jan. 28 at E. C. Glass W 71-55

Jan. 30 WILLIAM FLEMING L 50-41

Feb. 4 HALIFAX CO. W 68-47

Feb. 6 at Patrick Henry W 44-38

Feb. 10 at Franklin Co. W 69-66

Feb. 13 E.C. GLASS W 71-46

Feb. 16 vs. William Fleming W 49-46

Feb. 18 FRANKLIN CO. W 74-49

Feb. 20 WILLIAM FLEMING L 48-45

Feb. 24 MOUNTAIN VIEW W 67-58

Feb. 26 HYLTON W 84-60

Feb. 28 WILLIAM FLEMING L 42-41