A run of five straight appearances in the Class 6 state tournament, including winning the last four championships, ended for the Madison Warhawks this season with an overtime loss in the semifinals of 6D North Region girls basketball tournament.
The region’s top two teams earn Virginia High School League state-tourney berths. Madison (12-13) lost in the region semis to the Centreville Wildcats, 55-51. Madison led 16-8 at the end of the first quarter and had a chance to win late but missed an open shot.
First-team all-region senior Stella Gougoufkas led Madison in the loss with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. She will play in college at the University of Holy Cross.
Senior second-team all-region player Avery Griepentrog had 10 points and six boards, Ava Wu scored eight and Lillian Perkins had seven points, eight rebounds and four assists.
“We had injuries this season and a lot of inexperience,” Madison coach Kirsten Stone said. “But I thought we got better as the season went on, and they worked hard.”
Madison was 1-1 in the region tourney, defeating the host McLean Highlanders, 47-29, in the first round. Gougoufkas also scored 22 points in that win and had six rebounds. Griepentrog scored 12 with six boards, Sara Becker had six points and five rebounds and Wu scored five.
Madison was the three-time defending region champion and had won 10 straight region-tourney playoff games until the loss to Centreville.
