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1. Holmes Sweet Holmes 2010-09-06 WINCHESTER - After being stuffed at the line of scrimmage in what seemed like a recurring instant replay, Harrisonburg High School running back Michael Holmes flipped the football with a little extra zing to the referee and then shook his head. 2. Streaks Beat Handley, 14-7 2010-09-04 WINCHESTER -- After being stuffed at the line of scrimmage in what seemed like an instant replay of his first eight carries, Harrisonburg High School running back Michael Holmes flipped the football with a little extra zing to the referee and shook his head. 3. Voice? Check. Arm? Check. 2010-09-02 BRIDGEWATER - Almost as if he's been mis-dubbed, Trent Hart's appearance and cadence don't seem to match. 4. Caplinger Sticking 2010-09-01 HARRISONBURG - Two of freshman Adam Caplinger's favorite spots on the University of Virginia campus are the McCue Center weight room and the John Paul Jones Athletic Dining Room. Both are good hang-outs for a formerly sub-200-pounder who is hoping to soon become a contributor at linebacker for an Atlantic Coast Conference football program. 5. Silky Goal: More Goals 2010-09-01 BRIDGEWATER - Bridgewater College soccer coach Matt O'Toole has a simple request of his top attacker this season. 6. Sapong Best In CAA 2010-08-30 HARRISONBURG - CJ Sapong has never had what he considers a "real job," and the James Madison senior doesn't wish to acquire one anytime soon. 7. Brady Remakes Dukes 2010-08-30 HARRISONBURG - It was Feb. 1 when James Madison basketball coach Matt Brady's aggravation appeared to peak. In the middle of another sluggish workout, Brady threw his team out of practice and chucked a chair against the wall at the Convocation Center. 8. Liberty Runs Over BHS 2010-08-28 BEDFORD - Broadway couldn't prevent Liberty-Bedford High School running back Anthony Reynolds from taking big plays to the end zone, while its own home-run threat never found the open space to apply much damage. 9. Foltz Enjoys Road Life 2010-08-27 HARRISONBURG - This summer, Alex Foltz has been a baseball nomad, the truest form of a diamond drifter. 10. EMU's Chico Back Home 2010-08-26 HARRISONBURG - From the near sideline, Kevin Chico sat - legs extended, occasionally dribbling a ball - and watched the Eastern Mennonite University soccer team during its first day of practice this week. 11. HHS Lining Up 2010-08-21 HARRISONBURG - Salim Charles can vividly recall an instance in football practice last year when Harrisonburg High School teammate and left tackle Landon Turner battered him into a pancake. 12. JMU Fan? Read This 2010-08-19 HARRISONBURG - Working from his parents' den a month after graduating from James Madison University in 2006, James Irwin ambitiously began jotting down an outline for a book. At the time, the longest paper he had ever written was roughly 10 pages. 13. Shank Making His Case 2010-08-18 BRIDGEWATER - Adjacent to Turner Ashby High School's gymnasium, a three-tiered octagonal glass case stands beside a replica of knights armor. Championship trophies from various sports populate the bottom two shelves of the container. The top shelf is reserved for six footballs, each with the accomplishments of star players painted on them. 14. Why The Bucks? 2010-08-17 CLOVER HILL - Except for a stint in the Valley League, Christian Simmers has played for Clover Hill since 1994, when he was just 15 years old. In that time, his life has developed - he now has a 4-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son whom he brings to games - and so too has the success of the Bucks. 15. Bucks ... Again 2010-08-16 CLOVER HILL - Addison Bowman picked an appropriate time - Game 7 of the Rockingham County Baseball League championship series - to demonstrate why he was the league's MVP this summer. 16. On To Game 7 2010-08-14 STUARTS DRAFT - The left side of Clover Hill's defense has long been a source of productivity and consistency. 17. Bucks One Win Away 2010-08-13 CLOVER HILL - James Lucas really wants his Clover Hill Bucks to close out the Rockingham County Baseball League championship series tonight, because on Saturday he'll be driving back to school at Clemson, meaning he wouldn't be around to see a Game 7 on Sunday. 18. Bucks Even Series 2010-08-11 STUARTS DRAFT - Chris Harpine hadn't hit a home run since early March, and although he adopted a new outlook on baseball - "No worries. No strings attached. Just don't care. Just go play." - the drought was certainly wearing on him. 19. Draft Takes Series Lead 2010-08-10 CLOVER HILL - With a depleted roster, Tinker Kiser's Game 3 plan was to pitch lefties Tim Brust and Jason Tate about four innings apiece and see where it got him. When Tate broke a rib playing basketball over the weekend, the skipper's plan changed to this: 20. Dimitt Fuels Draft 2010-08-09 STUARTS DRAFT - As Stuarts Draft players scattered outside their first-base dugout post-game Saturday night, a young fan ran over to Wes Dimitt and asked the Diamondbacks' catcher to sign a red replica mini-bat. 21. Judge: Talk To Marist 2010-08-06 HARRISONBURG - James Madison University will have four more months to reach a settlement with Marist College - or else. 22. Bucks Get Backs 2010-08-05 STUARTS DRAFT - What seemed like a foregone conclusion at times this season is now official: Stuarts Draft will get another crack at Clover Hill for the Rockingham County Baseball League title. 23. Rookie: RCBL Tough 2010-08-04 HARRISONBURG - John Terlesky had no idea what kind of competition he'd see in his rookie year in the Rockingham County Baseball League. So after striking out 10 in a shutout victory over eventual last-place Broadway in his first start, Elkton's new left-hander figured the summer would not provide much of a challenge. 24. Bridgewater Places 2010-08-03 LURAY - Georgia had too much speed in too many areas for the Bridgewater 9-10 softball team to keep up. 25. Subs Fare Well 2010-08-02 LURAY - Batter after batter came up in the fourth inning for the Bridgewater 9- and 10-year-old softball team, slapping base hits every which way and creating a procession of hits and runs. 26. Shank's Moments Of Pride Loom 2010-08-02 BRIDGEWATER - Justin Shank's aspirations seem to be motivated by a simple desire: pride. Going to college would make him proud, and playing well for the Turner Ashby High School football team would make him proud. 27. Bridgewater 9-10's Win 2010-07-31 LURAY - Sarah Propst did a little of everything in the third inning in the Bridgewater 9-10 softball team's first game at the Southeastern Regional tournament. 28. Can Bruins Upset Draft? 2010-07-28 HARRISONBURG - While Stuarts Draft enters the Rockingham County Baseball League playoffs with the second-best record (16-8) and Broadway comes in with the worst (5-19), you wouldn't know it from talking to the teams' managers. 29. LITTLE LEAGUE ALL STAR UPDATES 2010-07-27 11-12s head to Georgia 30. JMU Put On Hold 2010-07-27 HARRISONBURG - James Madison will have to wait a bit longer to learn its penalty. 31. TJ All The Way 2010-07-24 HARRISONBURG - After throwing nine innings, Terrance Jackson, energetically bobbing outside the Turks' home dugout, looked like he was ready to go nine more. 32. Bridgewater Little Leaguers Win 2010-07-23 STRASBURG - After pitcher Olivia Cook squeezed a low popup to close a Bridgewater win Thursday afternoon, she dropped the ball onto the mound almost so quickly that the catch could be questioned. 33. RCBL vs. VBL: Take Your Pick 2010-07-22 HARRISONBURG - A ball sails foul, children at Eagle Field scurry toward it as if chasing a runaway puppy, and a voice booms on the stadium speakers. 34. What's The Damage? 2010-07-21 HARRISONBURG - One of the many intriguing questions in Marist's courtroom victory over James Madison University is perhaps the most basic: How much will the ruling cost JMU? 35. Bucks or Backs? 2010-07-20 HARRISONBURG - Heading into the final week of the Rockingham County Baseball League regular season, we know this much: One of the two preseason favorites - the Clover Hill Bucks or Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks - will win the pennant and get a first-round bye. 36. JMU Loses Marist Case, But Court Hasn't Ruled On Brady Yet 2010-07-20 HARRISONBURG - James Madison University has lost a lawsuit involving former Marist College basketball coach Matt Brady - but, in a twist, Brady's portion of the case is still pending. 37. Marist Wins Case Against JMU 2010-07-19 HARRISONBURG — James Madison has lost its lawsuit against Marist College, but Dukes basketball coach Matt Brady’s portion of the case is still pending. 38. Rapids Wash Away Turks 2010-07-19 HARRISONBURG - With eight strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings, Harrisonburg Turks starter Zach Brewster was tough to hit Sunday. Problem was, all too often his pitches were too far out of the strike zone to even try. 39. Bucks Blank Elkton 2010-07-17 CLOVER HILL - It's no surprise that Clover Hill keeps winning, but it's the way its doing it that should put the rest of the Rockingham County Baseball League on notice. 40. Junior Leaguers Out 2010-07-15 HARRISONBURG - The players' chatter was almost constant throughout the game. One hit could lead to another, and if they could string enough of those together, maybe the Broadway Junior League all-stars could come from behind with their baseball season on the line. 41. CAA Football: If North Teams Can't Keep Up... 2010-07-14 HARRISONBURG - To commissioner Tom Yeager, the Colonial Athletic Association's current issues - both big and small - are products of the conference's own achievements. 42. Building Blocks 2010-07-13 HARRISONBURG - The sun rose at 5:58 a.m., and already Justin Shank had been at work for almost a half-hour. 43. Keydet Key For North 2010-07-12 HARRISONBURG - Cory Spangenberg looked at his just-received MVP plaque and shrugged his shoulders at its significance. 44. A Nice Audition For Next Season 2010-07-10 HARRISONBURG - Patrick Savage said the best advice he's received came from one of his Auburn baseball coaches telling him to 45. Softball Translates To Baseball For Veney 2010-07-09 HARRISONBURG - With a husky frame and a distinctive batting stance in which his left foot starts perpendicular to his right, New Market third baseman Josh Veney resembles one of those touring Long Haul Bombers softball players who smash prodigious home runs for awestruck fans. 46. Bruins Get Snowed Out 2010-07-07 MONTEZUMA - His once-white pants now caked with brown dirt appeared to belong to a catcher - which is a position Devon Snow sometimes plays, except not last night. 47. Hot Times On The Court 2010-07-05 HARRISONBURG - When James Madison University center Denzel Bowles was invited to the Amare Stoudemire Skills Academy last month, one thing that excited him was the prospect of facing quality competition for a change. 48. Tropic Toughness 2010-07-03 HARRISONBURG - After graduating from James Madison in 1996, Sam LeBeau was on a mission to quench his curiosity. The former Dukes baseball player wanted to learn why so many major league stars at the time - guys like Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa - were coming from a small nation: the Dominican Republic. 49. The Ohio 7 2010-07-02 HARRISONBURG - When Matt Brady took over as James Madison's basketball coach in 2008, he knew that recruiting top talent from Virginia - and nearby areas - to a team that had finished below .500 for eight consecutive years would be a somewhat fruitless endeavor. 50. Dukes Promote Rowe 2010-07-01 HARRISONBURG - James Madison athletic director Jeff Bourne confirmed Wednesday that the men's basketball team will promote Louis Rowe to assistant coach. 51. Bowles Shopping 2010-07-01 HARRISONBURG - Denzel Bowles wants to become an NBA player. While that goal is rarely attained by players from James Madison or the rest of the Colonial Athletic Association, recent developments are stoking Bowles' desire. 52. Turks Nip Luray, 3-2 2010-06-30 HARRISONBURG - Stephen Kohlscheen has been a Harrisonburg resident for just a week, and already he's recorded two wins for the Turks. 53. McFarland Wins HR Derby 2010-06-28 NEW MARKET - Seeing pitches from his father and future coach, Spanky McFarland, Tyler McFarland of the Bridgewater Reds won the RCBL home run derby, which preceded the all-star game Saturday. 54. Big, Early Hit 2010-06-28 NEW MARKET - Jason Butterworth has never smashed a grand slam, but the Stuarts Draft second baseman did hit a grand single Saturday night. 55. A Slugging Duke 2010-06-26 HARRISONBURG - After sitting out from baseball for two years, the toughest readjustments Elkton outfielder Chad Byers has had to make are batting against left-handers and hitting breaking balls. 56. Bailey Wins Fourth Straight 2010-06-25 HARRISONBURG - Often in sports, the greatest champions have a killer instinct. Not Annie Bailey. 57. Former Duke Gets To Final 2010-06-25 HARRISONBURG - Though the details were hazy, Mike Hendricksen and Chris Stambaugh recalled splitting a pair of summer tournament matches with one another in 1999 and 2001. 58. Let's Do It Again 2010-06-24 HARRISONBURG - Katy Bergey and Kelsey Westwood aren't entirely sure how many times they've played one another or what the series standings are, but they do know enough to expect a tight match when they see their foil on the opposite end of the court. 59. Stars Ready To Shine In RCBL 2010-06-23 HARRISONBURG - New Market designated hitter Jeremy Hafer wanted to "go out with a bang." 60. The Bristol Stomp 2010-06-22 HARRISONBURG - The HTP Tennis Open is like a town block party. Familiar faces show up each year for the affable atmosphere, and while there are always some newcomers, those participants are generally recognized by their peers. 61. Shockers Aren't Bad 2010-06-21 HARRISONBURG - Heading into this past weekend, the New Market Shockers' recent losses had given them as much reason for optimism as their wins. 62. Youth Served On Day 1 Of HTP 2010-06-21 HARRISONBURG - At 39 years old, sturdy paint contractor Steve Hurst lumbers around a tennis court, his ponytail flopping and his lungs leaving a trail of grunts. 63. JMU Suddenly Transfer-U 2010-06-18 HARRISONBURG - Matt Brady has expressed a strong desire to have a roster rich in experience - and James Madison's third-year basketball coach appears to be getting it. 64. Lifting Himself Up 2010-06-18 BRIDGEWATER - The clanging of metal and the screech of hard rock music - turned up a few levels past loud -indicates that something is going on downstairs. 65. ‘Brainiac' A Pro 2010-06-17 HARRISONBURG - Mike Fabiaschi might still be a long way from the majors but he's already had his "I can't believe I'm here" moment. 66. Draft Serves Notice 2010-06-15 HARRISONBURG - Coming into this season, Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks manager Tinker Kiser was concerned that his roster of mostly older players would be a bit out of form because many didn't have high school or college games to keep them in the baseball groove during the spring. 67. In Rebuilding Mode, Elkton Starts Slowly 2010-06-14 HARRISONBURG - John Terlesky had never thrown a nine-inning complete game in his life, but making his first ever Rockingham County Baseball League appearance recently, he toed the rubber at home against Broadway and hurled a 10-strikeout, two-hit shutout for the Elkton Blue Sox. 68. Streak Over 2010-06-09 HARRISONBURG - Trailing 2-1 with less than two minutes remaining in a Group AA quarterfinal on Tuesday, the Harrisonburg High School boys' soccer team saw its season slipping away. But with comebacks in three of their last four wins, even the smallest amount of sand in the hourglass has indicated life for the Blue Streaks. 69. Passion, Skill, Goallllll 2010-06-08 HARRISONBURG - "Passion" is a word that bursts off Adrian Zamora's tongue like a 25-yard shot from his right foot. 70. ‘Made My Life' 2010-06-07 HARRISONBURG - They insisted all year that, above all else, one event mattered most to them: the girls' 4x100-meter relay. So while Spotswood High School seniors Dorrie Matthews and Kala Young won medals in other events, nothing came close to their exuberance after helping the Trailblazers capture the 4x100 relay at the Group AA state track-and-field meet Saturday. 71. Spotswood Relay Team Wins State 2010-06-05 HARRISONBURG — Members of the Spotswood High School girls’ 4x100-meter relay team have insisted all year that, above all else, their result in that one event mattered most. 72. Four Locals Among Best 2010-06-05 HARRISONBURG - Corey Moats doesn't seem like a funnyman at first glance. The Spotswood High School senior has a serious look fixed to his face during track meets, and when talking about his performances, he doesn't say much more than 10 words at a time. 73. Giants Swat Aside TA, 2-1 2010-06-04 LYNCHBURG - Turner Ashby High School had been a prolific shot-taking team all season, and the abundance of opportunities led to plenty of goals. 74. Streaks Rally Past Glass In OT 2010-06-04 LYNCHBURG - As his team hugged and screamed behind one of the nets, Harrisonburg High School senior forward Kyle Bourne asked a pertinent question that quickly became rhetorical when fellow players chose not to pause their celebration to ponder it. 75. Fort Tops SHS, 1-0, On HR 2010-06-02 FORT DEFIANCE - Kendra Cash can thank her mother for the souvenir. She can thank one sweet swing for the moment. 76. 3 Golds For ‘Mass' 2010-06-01 LYNCHBURG - With state standardized testing all last week - and his prom looming - Turner Ashby High School junior Andrew Crumley wasn't totally focused going into the Region III track and field meet Saturday. 77. Iago Nets Hat Trick 2010-06-01 BRIDGEWATER - Last week in the district tournament, Iago Cardoso had hoped to get his first-ever hat trick, but after scoring twice, he found himself on the sideline because his Turner Ashby High School soccer team already had the win in hand. 78. TA's Crumley, Hartt Win Titles At Regionals 2010-05-30 LYNCHBURG — With state standardized testing all week, and his school’s prom the same night, Turner Ashby High School junior Andrew Crumley didn’t have complete focus going into Saturday’s Region III outdoor track and field meet Saturday. 79. ‘Bragging Rights' For Knights 2010-05-29 HARRISONBURG - After the Massanutten District boys' soccer tournament championship was postponed at halftime Thursday because of lightning, coaches and officials discussed the possibility of calling the 0-0 match a draw because of the possibility of more rough weather on Friday. 80. It's A Mass ‘Ppd.' 2010-05-28 BROADWAY - In the Massanutten District tournament boys' soccer final, No. 1 Harrisonburg High School and No. 2 Turner Ashby played a crisp, scoreless first half Thursday evening before lightning prompted officials to postpone the second half to today at 3:30 p.m. 81. Brady Aide Leaving JMU 2010-05-27 HARRISONBURG - After a year at James Madison University, assistant basketball coach Carlin Hartman is leaving Matt Brady's staff to become an associate head coach at Columbia University. 82. HHS, TA Advance To Soccer Final 2010-05-26 BROADWAY - With two of its best players sidelined with nagging injuries, the Harrisonburg High School boys' soccer team got a big boost from someone who recently returned from some injuries. 83. JUCO Recruit Opts Out 2010-05-26 HARRISONBURG - After asking out of his commitment with James Madison last week, Dukes basketball recruit Ahyaro Phillips has signed with Southern Mississippi. 84. Blazers Upset HHS 2010-05-25 BRIDGEWATER - Forgive senior Gina Lucatorto for being a bit selfish during what could have been the final soccer game of her high school career. 85. Braves Look To BC For Boost 2010-05-22 HARRISONBURG - After absorbing the loss in the Bridgewater College baseball team's elimination game in the NCAA Division III tournament on Thursday, senior starting pitcher Casey Hartman was back from Fayetteville, N.C., cleaning out his locker Friday and getting ready for practice. 86. Calm Knupp Wins Title 2010-05-21 PENN LAIRD - The Massanutten District boys' singles tennis title wasn't won with aces and backhands so much as with poise and composure. 87. JUCO PF Picks Dukes 2010-05-20 HARRISONBURG - Minutes after finishing a phone interview Wednesday, the James Madison basketball team's newest signee called back a reporter to reiterate a point he made earlier and clearly in the initial conversation. 88. Holmes MASSive 2010-05-20 BROADWAY - After his team won the 4x100-meter relay Wednesday, Harrisonburg High School junior Michael Holmes trotted over to the high jump area, looked at the mark he had to beat, and turned to a coach and said while breathing heavily, "Man, I'm tired." 89. SHS Team To Beat 2010-05-19 PENN LAIRD - Spotswood High School senior Dorrie Matthews says she's "not exactly the most coordinated person." 90. Trickle-Down Effect? 2010-05-17 HARRISONBURG - While 91. BHS Wins Mass Title 2010-05-15 HARRISONBURG - The Broadway High School softball team had gone 11 years without a Massanutten District regular-season title, so waiting out a half-hour lightning delay and then needing 10 innings to seal a win was merely a mild inconvenience. 92. SHS Boys Heat Up 2010-05-14 PENN LAIRD - A half hour into Spotswood High School's boys' tennis match Wednesday for the Massanutten District tournament championship, the team trailed Harrisonburg in five of six singles matches and looked like it needed a timeout to regroup. 93. The Dynasty Continues 2010-05-14 PENN LAIRD - Maybe the joy on Broadway High School coach Neil Summers' face after losing 5-0 to Spotswood in the Massanutten District tournament girls' tennis title game Thursday, best displays just how dominant the Trailblazers have been, not only this year, but in the past decade. 94. Be Like... Kobe 2010-05-13 HARRISONBURG - Kyle Knupp is only 5 feet, 9 inches tall, yet he can dunk a basketball. An avid NBA fan, his favorite athlete is Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. 95. Focused EMHS Rolls, 3-0 2010-05-12 HARRISONBURG - With about 20 minutes still remaining on the scoreboard, Eastern Mennonite High School sophomore forward Emily Myers merrily progressed through a line of teammates on the bench, doling out double high-fives to each, as if the Flames had already won the Virginia Independent Schools Division II quarterfinal game. 96. Digging Deep 2010-05-11 HARRISONBURG - As second-seeded Harrisonburg High School played third-seeded Broadway in a Massanutten District semifinal tennis match Monday, most spectators and idle teammates sat near the left end of HHS's row of courts for the best view of the first and second singles matches. 97. Just Stop It 2010-05-07 HARRISONBURG - Harrisonburg High School boys' soccer coach Ted Erickson said the one thing he most worried about before this season was his defense. After losing speedy center-back Alex Ramos to graduation, the Blue Streaks would have to rely on inexperienced players to man the back line. 98. No One-Trick Pony: Morra Excels for EMHS 2010-05-06 HARRISONBURG - Practically heckling, Nathaniel Morra's teammates wanted to see some trick shots. It didn't matter that Morra was in the midst of an official match - a first-round conference tournament match, no less. The Eastern Mennonite High School tennis star was filleting his No. 1 singles opponent from Carlisle far too easily Tuesday, and the Flames watching from the sideline expected to see some flair. 99. The Winner: VCU 2010-05-05 HARRISONBURG - Last offseason, Virginia Commonwealth lost point guard Eric Maynor, a two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, as well as head coach Anthony Grant. This offseason, all-league player Larry Sanders announced he would declare for the NBA draft. 100. 166% More 2010-05-04 HARRISONBURG - With a 15-3 record at Eagle Field, the James Madison baseball team's numbers were good at home. And not just on the playing field. 101. Yee-Ha: Gnarly, Chill 2010-05-03 McGAHEYSVILLE - In a practice run Saturday morning for the 2010 Yee-Ha downhill cycling race at Massanutten Resort, Geritt Beytagh struggled with the rocky beginning of the 1.2-mile course, so he observed 17-year old dynamo Neko Mulally's path and took mental notes. 102. A New Reality 2010-05-01 HARRISONBURG - The hardest thing for James Madison freshman Eric Beard was not being able to contribute this year - not only on the court but also in the conversation. 103. Blazers' Ace 2010-04-29 PENN LAIRD - Sometimes, rejection has its benefits. After playing the sport throughout childhood, Sam Churchill tried out for the baseball team at Harrisonburg High School as a freshman 104. JMU: Beard Can't Play 2010-04-29 HARRISONBURG - Eric Beard, a freshman forward at James Madison who was deemed ineligible to play basketball this past season because of an irregular heartbeat, was released from the Dukes Tuesday after team doctors decided not to clear him for future action. 105. Monster Year 2010-04-27 HARRISONBURG - When Kevin Munson joined the James Madison baseball team as an invited walk-on three years ago, coach Spanky McFarland didn't view the Roanoke native for what he was - a catcher with limited pitching experience - McFarland rather saw Munson as a science project. 106. BC Golfer's Key: Keep Cool 2010-04-24 HARRISONBURG - Bridgewater College golfer Mike Redwood's voice tone never seems to change, whether he's talking about his emotions following the biggest win of his career this week - "It was pretty cool" - or the frustrating pace of play on Monday - "Way too slow." 107. HOF Honors Carrier 2010-04-23 HARRISONBURG - Ronald E. Carrier, who helped expand James Madison's athletic program from 16 to 28 intercollegiate teams as the university's president from 1971-98, will be honored Saturday at the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in Portsmouth. 108. Wanted: RCBL Team 2010-04-22 HARRISONBURG - David Comer, 22, has played in the Rockingham County Baseball League since he was 17 years old. In 2008, he was selected to the league's All-Star Game and even won its home run derby. 109. JUCO Guard Officially Signs 2010-04-22 HARRISONBURG - The James Madison basketball team officially added one of its verbal commitments Wednesday when combo guard James Millen - a junior college transfer from Cincinnati State - signed with the Dukes. 110. TA's Hartt Motivated....And Motivating 2010-04-21 HARRISONBURG - Turner Ashby junior pole-vaulter Caleb Helmuth looks up to senior Cayse Hartt as a leader. For one, Hartt is "always uplifting," according to Helmuth, and she rallies around her teammates in times of need. 111. Devon's Cousin Coming 2010-04-20 HARRISONBURG - In the past, multiple James Madison basketball recruits have mentioned point guard Devon Moore when listing reasons why they were interested in the school. 112. JMU Loses Guard 2010-04-20 HARRISONBURG - When Andre Winston verbally committed to play for the James Madison basketball team in August 2009, JoJo Rodriguez, his coach at Lakes High School in Tacoma, Wash., joked, \\\ 113. Nevada Castoff To JMU? 2010-04-17 HARRISONBURG - The James Madison basketball team might soon sign a talented transfer big man. The catch: The player still has a pending legal issue. 114. TA's Mr. Goal (x15) 2010-04-16 BRIDGEWATER - When there are no open teammates on the field, Daniel Showalter - a senior responsible for throw-ins for the Turner Ashby High School soccer team - resorts to the most simplistic tactic: He lofts the ball in the air toward fellow captain Robert Blackwell, and trusts that his longtime friend will retrieve it. 115. JMU Gets Wyoming Transfer 2010-04-15 HARRISONBURG - On the first day of the spring signing period, the James Madison basketball team inked one player who will likely contribute immediately and one who will be forced to wait. 116. Billy Madison Can Vault 2010-04-12 BRIDGEWATER - After Billy Madison splashed on the mat from 13 feet in the air - his highest successful pole-vault ever - the Spotswood High School senior pumped his fist while flashing a spacious, braces-filled smile, and then joyously doled out hugs to a friend and his coach. 117. JMU Likes Expan$ion 2010-04-09 HARRISONBURG - While the seemingly inevitable expansion of the NCAA men's basketball tournament has drawn scowls from many fans and commentators, the idea appears to be gaining popularity among dollar-strapped colleges. 118. High-Flier 2010-04-08 PENN LAIRD- The quest to find something that Michael Holmes isn't good at remains. 119. JMU Jumper Spikes 2010-04-07 HARRISONBURG -Danyelle Kent-Robinson was about a half-hour early to practice Tuesday. But then the James Madison track-and-field athlete had to go halfway across campus to dig up her forgotten high-jump spikes. 120. Would White Have Been A Star? 2010-04-05 HARRISONBURG - Three weeks ago, James Madison freshman Darren White was essentially released from the team by coach Matt Brady - despite the Danville native's selection this season to the Colonial Athletic Association's all-rookie team. 121. WVU Run ‘Pretty Wild,' Says Ex-PCHS Star 2010-04-03 HARRISONBURG - In 1992, West Virginia played Missouri in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament, and with the Mountaineers leading, lightning apparently struck the Greensboro Coliseum twice. 122. Pendleton Co. The Hits Beach 2010-04-02 HARRISONBURG - Pendleton County softball second baseman Kayla May says that you just can't get good seafood in West Virginia - at least not the same quality as the stuff near the beaches down south. 123. Backup Boosts BC 2010-04-01 BRIDGEWATER -Bridgewater College's backup catcher, Jake Wade, makes plate appearances so infrequently that he didn't even bother to take pre-game swings before the baseball team played Washington & Lee on Wednesday. 124. Freshman Sparking JMU 2010-03-31 HARRISONBURG - Johnny Bladel started the bottom of the first inning with a routine single up the middle Tuesday night. The start of the James Madison freshman's career, however, has been anything but routine. 125. Convo Likes Michigan State 2010-03-30 HARRISONBURG -Michigan State has a couple of fans at the Convocation Center. 126. 'Cats Nip HHS, 14-13 2010-03-24 HARRISONBURG - The Harrisonburg High School baseball team walked 10 Rockbridge County batters and allowed nine of them to score Tuesday. The Wildcats, meanwhile, committed seven errors, leading to seven unearned runs for the Blue Streaks. 127. JUCO Picks Dukes 2010-03-24 HARRISONBURG - Last week, the James Madison men's basketball team released two players - including highly regarded rookie guard Darren White, who by his own admission did not have a good relationship with coach Matt Brady. 128. Bocock's Bat Under Scrutiny 2010-03-20 HARRISONBURG - If there's any sort of baseball osmosis to be acquired from hanging around high-level players, Brian Bocock is in the right place. 129. Chandler Surprises Royals 2010-03-18 BRIDGEWATER - Standing 6 feet, 5 inches tall, Bridgewater College pitcher Kevin Chandler has the look of a fireballer. So imagine the surprise of Eastern Mennonite baseball players when the stretchy right-hander continually pounded the outside edge of the plate with change-ups. 130. Brady Sheds Two Players 2010-03-18 HARRISONBURG - The ever-shrinking James Madison basketball team's roster continues to get smaller. 131. White, Brown Released From Dukes 2010-03-17 HARRISONBURG — The ever-shrinking James Madison basketball team’s roster continues to get smaller. 132. Bonner Boosting Gonzaga Again 2010-03-17 HARRISONBURG - To anyone filling out brackets with only No. 1 and No. 2 seeds advancing deep, Dan Bonner thinks you are a "wiener." 133. It's In The Blood 2010-03-16 HARRISONBURG - Most kids don't train in a homemade baseball 134. ODU Beats Hens, Advances To Title 2010-03-13 HARRISONBURG — At times it seems as if Colonial Athletic Association Player and Rookie of the Year Elena Della Donne can win games all by herself. Saturday, in a CAA Tournament semifinal game at the Convocation Center, she got that chance. 135. Dukes Championship Bound 2010-03-13 HARRISONBURG — Virginia Commonwealth senior D’Andra Moss noted that the difference between this year’s James Madison women’s basketball team and the Dukes of the past, is that it’s not just about Dawn Evans anymore. 136. Not 54 This Time, But ... Delaware Gets Better Result: A Win In Tourney 2010-03-12 HARRISONBURG - The last time Delaware's Elena Della Donne played at the Convocation Center, she scored 54 points in an overtime loss to James Madison on Feb. 18. 137. Long Trip Worth It 2010-03-10 HARRISONBURG - In a 10-2 win over Washington & Lee on Tuesday afternoon, the Eastern Mennonite University baseball team's defense appeared to be in fine form. Just by watching it, one would think the group had been completing drills with army-like efficiency for months. 138. ‘Got To Be Different' 2010-03-09 RICHMOND - About a half hour after the James Madison basketball team's season ended with a 70-65 loss to William & Mary in the second round of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament, the Dukes sat on their team bus, ready to head back to their hotel. 139. W&M Rallies Past JMU 2010-03-08 RICHMOND - Slamming down a roaring dunk, Denzel Bowles gave James Madison a 14-point second-half lead against third-seeded William & Mary and it appeared that this maligned MASH unit of an 11th seed was going to collect its second victory in the Colonial Athletic Association basketball tournament - something the Dukes haven't done since 1997. 140. Bowles Put On 2nd Team 2010-03-05 RICHMOND - Denzel Bowles had the gaudiest numbers of any big man in the CAA - but it wasn't enough to garner him first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors. 141. Third time the charm vs Drexel? 2010-03-05 RICHMOND - After losing twice this year to Drexel - most recently, 67-64 last Saturday at the Convocation Center - 11th-seeded James Madison gets another shot at the sixth-seeded Dragons, this time in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball tournament. 142. Jenkins CAA's Best Player? 2010-03-03 HARRISONBURG - After Hofstra beat James Madison at the Convocation Center in February, Pride coach Tom Pecora praised Dukes center Denzel Bowles, noting that the 6-foot-10 scoring machine would probably be a preseason conference Player of the Year candidate next season, along with the man to Pecora's left: Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins. 143. ‘JMU's Son': Madison Molds Curtis 2010-03-02 HARRISONBURG - After parking himself in a chair on the Convocation Center floor following a recent practice, Pierre Curtis scanned the cube-shaped arena and pondered his basketball career. 144. ‘Remarkably Frustrating' 2010-03-01 HARRISONBURG - It had all the makings for a perfect senior night for James Madison. 145. Dukes Get Ky. Guard 2010-03-01 HARRISONBURG - When representatives from Clemson University went to Georgetown, Ky., to watch Chad Jackson practice, Scott County High School assistant basketball coach Tim Glenn thought his star player would wait until all offers were on the table before deciding on a college. 146. Dukes Can't Close For Seniors 2010-02-27 It had all the makings for a perfect senior night for James Madison. 147. Dukes Look To Inch Up A Spot 2010-02-27 HARRISONBURG - If you miss today's basketball game between Drexel and James Madison at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center - or if you're craving an encore - you might be in luck. 148. Rams Run Past Dukes 2010-02-25 RICHMOND - Leading up to Wednesday's game at Virginia Commonwealth, James Madison basketball coach Matt Brady said he thought his team could win if it did the following three things: keep the Rams from scoring 70-plus points, limit turnovers and control tempo. 149. TA Romps, 62-35 2010-02-24 BRIDGEWATER - Kirby Burkholder needed 12 points Tuesday night to set the girls' basketball career scoring mark at Turner Ashby High School. But in the Knights' Region III, Division 4 quarterfinal against Jefferson Forest, the senior struggled with her offense and fell eight points shy of history. 150. VCU Has Incentive 2010-02-24 HARRISONBURG - Much will be on the line when Virginia Commonwealth's basketball team hosts James Madison today, most notably a chance at a possible Colonial Athletic Association tournament bye. It's also Senior Night at the Siegel Center, and VCU has a chance to avenge a loss to JMU a week and a half ago. 151. Curtis Lifts JMU, 96-86 2010-02-23 HARRISONBURG - With just over three minutes remaining and James Madison leading by 10 points in its eventual win against Longwood, Pierre Curtis galloped upcourt in transition, and instead of passing to a teammate on the wing, he uncharacteristically levitated for a dunk over a defender. 152. Book's Out On Bowles? 2010-02-22 HARRISONBURG - Despite featuring the smallest front line of any James Madison opponent, Canisius used frequent double-teams to hold center Denzel Bowles to a season-low 11 points Saturday in Buffalo, N.Y. 153. Short Hurdle For Dukes 2010-02-20 HARRISONBURG - After coaching in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference for four seasons with Marist, James Madison's Matt Brady has plenty of experience facing Canisius. 154. Ailing Dukes Doing Fine 2010-02-19 HARRISONBURG - With the James Madison men's basketball team having no realistic shot at playing in the postseason, the Dukes' future might be more intriguing than the present. 155. Who's Dancing? 2010-02-18 HARRISONBURG - Heading into the final few weeks before conference tournaments begin, three teams from Virginia are in legitimate positions to earn at-large bids to the NCAA men's basketball playoffs. 156. VHSL Pulls Plug On Swimmers 2010-02-16 HARRISONBURG - After Spotswood High School swimmer Austin Folsom qualified for the state meet in four events last weekend, he and other successful teammates celebrated their accomplishments by going to Buffalo Wild Wings. 157. Bowles Likes Tests 2010-02-16 HARRISONBURG - When James Madison's Denzel Bowles talks about competing against another bona fide center, there's an extra twinkle in his eyes. 158. JMU Gets Big Win 2010-02-15 HARRISONBURG -Denzel Bowles did everything he could to lug the James Madison basketball team to a second-half lead over Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday night at the Convocation Center. But when the junior center fouled out with 7:56 left in the game, the conventional wisdom was obvious: Surely, the Dukes wouldn't have the guns to maintain their three-point advantage over the defending Colonial Athletic Association champion. 159. JMU Upsets VCU 76-71 2010-02-13 HARRISONBURG —Denzel Bowles did everything he could to lug the James Madison basketball team to a second half lead over Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday night at the Convocation Center. 160. Smart Choice? Looks Like It 2010-02-13 HARRISONBURG - Virginia Commonwealth basketball coach Shaka Smart is named after an early-19th century Zulu king, Shaka, who was credited with uniting much of southern Africa. The Rams' coach believes it is just coincidence, rather than pre-destiny, that he too became an influential leader of sorts. 161. This Time, Not Close 2010-02-11 HARRISONBURG - While few people other than the most purple of James Madison basketball fans actually expected the Dukes to defeat Old Dominion on Wednesday, JMU made it clear very early that it was absolutely no match for its opponent, at least not on this cold night at the Convocation Center. 162. Brady: Knight Still On Team 2010-02-10 HARRISONBURG - Ryan Knight, a walk-on guard who played 12 games for James Madison last year and just one this season before suffering a season-ending leg injury, was charged with a felony for throwing snow at cars last weekend. 163. ODU Vulnerable? 2010-02-10 HARRISONBURG - In losing all seven of its conference road games this season, the James Madison men's basketball team might take solace in this fact: Beating league opponents in their arenas has not come easily even for the Colonial Athletic Association's upper-echelon teams. 164. Throwing Snow? 2010-02-09 Ryan Knight, a walk-on guard who played 12 games for James Madison last year, and just one this season before suffering a season-ending leg injury, was charged with a felony for throwing snowballs at cars last weekend. 165. Dukes Throw It Away 2010-02-09 TOWSON, Md. - Late in Monday night's game at Towson Center Arena, James Madison forward Julius Wells threw an inbounds pass intended for Denzel Bowles, but the pass sailed too far, eventually stolen by Towson's Jarrel Smith. 166. Louis Simply Gets It 2010-02-08 HARRISONBURG - Ben Louis is remarkably unremarkable - at first glance. But in a year when many of his Dukes teammates have been consistently inconsistent, the reserve guard's typical, full-throttle, go-go playing style sticks out. 167. Storm Disrupts JMU Schedule 2010-02-05 HARRISONBURG - With heavy snow forecast for the weekend, coaches and athletic directors at James Madison and Towson decided Thursday to postpone the teams' upcoming men's basketball game until Monday. 168. Wanted: A Leader 2010-02-05 HARRISONBURG - Second-year coach Matt Brady says his James Madison basketball team is without a leader. 169. Dukes Not 'Into It'? 2010-02-04 James Madison basketball coach Matt Brady threw his team out of practice on Monday, hoping to send it a message: that the Dukes must play harder at all times to be successful. 170. ‘Soul' Of The Pride 2010-02-03 HARRISONBURG - George Mason basketball coach Jim Larranaga called him "a tornado," and James Madison coach Matt Brady compared him to former NFL running back Earl Campbell. 171. Brady Turns To JUCOs 2010-02-02 HARRISONBURG — Lacking both depth and experience this year, James Madison’s basketball team plans to have both next season – in part by signing junior-college players. 172. JMU Gets Griffins 2010-02-02 HARRISONBURG - Since before this season began, members of the James Madison basketball team knew they would play somewhere on the road in late February as part of the ESPN Bracketbusters series against another mid-major school. 173. Dukes Fall At Mason, 70-68 2010-02-01 FAIRFAX - So close, yet so far. James Madison was a shot away from beating George Mason University in front of 7,813 fans who braved a snowstorm for an afternoon of basketball Saturday afternoon at the Patriot Center. 174. Dukes Drop Close One At Mason 2010-01-30 So close, yet so far. James Madison was a shot away from upsetting George Mason in front of 7,813 who braved a snowstorm for Saturday afternoon basketball at the Patriot Center. 175. Patriots Rolling 2010-01-30 HARRISONBURG - With his team struggling near the midpoint of the season, George Mason coach Jim Larranaga resorted to a type of lineup change that helped spark his team in 2005 - the season the Patriots reached the NCAA Tournament Final Four. 176. JMU Nips W&M 2010-01-28 HARRISONBURG - The James Madison men's basketball team has had legitimate chances to beat good teams this season. Until this week, though, it had defeated nobody of note. 177. JMU Gets Another Shot At W&M 2010-01-27 HARRISONBURG - When James Madison first played William & Mary this season, on Jan. 14, the Dukes were aware of how good the upstart Tribe was, and they were determined to not let W&M sneak up on them. 178. Dukes Stop Skid 2010-01-26 HARRISONBURG - With James Madison's potluck defense, coach Matt Brady never knows what kind of effort he'll get on a certain night. Monday, in a 67-63 non-conference victory over Radford at the Convocation Center, he seemed to get every kind at once. 179. NBA Prospect Visits Convo Today 2010-01-25 HARRISONBURG - Having lost four in a row, the James Madison basketball team has a chance to break out of its rut tonight when a smaller Virginia school - Radford - comes to town for a non-conference makeup game. 180. Bowles Falters In Dukes' Loss 2010-01-25 WILMINGTON, N.C. - James Madison center and Colonial Athletic Association leading scorer Denzel Bowles wasn't the best big man on the court - at least on Saturday night at North Carolina-Wilmington - and he was the first to admit it. 181. Dukes' Defense Keeps Leaking 2010-01-23 HARRISONBURG - During mid-December, when transfer center Denzel Bowles became eligible to play for the James Madison basketball team, the Dukes' offense instantly transformed from anemic and short-on-options to more standard and diverse. 182. JMU Falls Hard 2010-01-21 PHILADELPHIA - It was a rare sight: Workhorses Denzel Bowles, Pierre Curtis, Darren White and Julius Wells sat in a row, left to right on the Dukes' bench late in the game, with towels draped along the necks of the first three. 183. A Quick Learner 2010-01-20 HARRISONBURG - During a 5-on-5 drill at practice Tuesday morning, Alioune Diouf secured a rebound and then nonchalantly scooped an errant, no-look pass to a teammate behind him. 184. Did Hot Dog Alter Game? 2010-01-18 HARRISONBURG - With the biggest home crowd of the season behind them, players on the James Madison basketball team thought they could overcome a 15-point deficit against George Mason, and they were just four points away from doing so, with center Denzel Bowles at the free-throw line. 185. Not Enough Mustard 2010-01-16 With a season-largest home crowd behind them, players on the James Madison basketball team thought they could overcome a 15-point deficit against George Mason, and they were just four points away from doing so, with center Denzel Bowles at the free-throw line. 186. Mason In Gear? 2010-01-16 HARRISONBURG - Even though the James Madison men's basketball team has focused more on self-improvement than worrying about its opponents, the Dukes' fate today may largely depend on which George Mason team shows up at the Convocation Center for the 2 p.m. tipoff. 187. Dukes Can't Catch Tribe 2010-01-15 WILLIAMSBURG - All season, James Madison basketball coach Matt Brady has stressed that the Dukes must fight for 40 minutes to contend with the quality teams in the Colonial Athletic Association. 188. W&M Surprising Everyone 2010-01-14 HARRISONBURG - William & Mary basketball coach Tony Shaver joked that after achieving victories at Wake Forest and Maryland, as well as being 3-0 in league road games so far this season, he wanted to take his players on a bus ride around Williamsburg this morning to makes today's date with James Madison seem like an away game. 189. Dazz Done: JMU's Basketball Roster Losing Depth 2010-01-12 HARRISONBURG - With an already depleted roster, the James Madison basketball team could barely afford to lose another player to injury. Instead, it lost one due to poor grades. 190. Thornton Academically Ineligible 2010-01-11 Forward Dazzmond Thornton has been ruled academically ineligible after failing a class, according to James Madison coach Matt Brady. That means Thornton, a redshirt senior, who averaged 4.5 points this season, has played his last college basketball game. 191. ‘Big Shot Ben' 2010-01-11 HARRISONBURG - Junior guard Ben Louis' James Madison basketball career has been predicated on doing the little things: He plays relentless on-ball defense, he cuts to the hoop for layups, he grabs rebounds when need be, and occasionally he'll knock down an open 3-pointer. 192. Louis Shot Wins It For Dukes 2010-01-09 Junior guard Ben Louis' James Madison basketball career has been predicated on doing the little things. 193. Road-Weary Dukes Back At Home 2010-01-09 HARRISONBURG - Adrenaline carried James Madison sophomore Julius Wells through 39 proficient minutes of basketball Wednesday night at Old Dominion, but by the time he sat down to address the media, the forward was spent. 194. ODU Nips JMU 2010-01-07 NORFOLK - Julius Wells had one of those nights when it seemed like every shot he attempted followed the same arc in an undeviating path through the net. 195. No Room For Bowles 2010-01-06 HARRISONBURG - When the James Madison men's basketball team plays Old Dominion at the Ted Constant Convocation Center at 7 p.m. today, the game will present what might be a clash between the Colonial Athletic Association's best frontcourt and its best big man. 196. Semenov Out For Year 2010-01-05 HARRISONBURG - Andrey Semenov's ailing back isn't getting any better, so the James Madison sophomore will sit out the rest of this season and seek a medical redshirt, which would allow him to play for three more seasons. This decision was not unexpected, but made official Monday. 197. Dukes Prevail, 71-65 2010-01-05 HARRISONBURG - With less than a minute remaining and a five-point lead over Delaware on Monday night, James Madison guard Pierre Curtis rocked the basketball back and forth from one hand to another, all the while keeping his eyes fixated on the shot clock. 198. Clear Lane For Knight 2010-01-04 HARRISONBURG - Nathan Moran has heard stories both gruesome and glorious from his father, who served as a Navy officer in war-torn Beirut, Lebanon, during the early 1980s. The Turner Ashby High School senior swimmer has decided that he, too, would like to serve in America's military. 199. Bowles Back Today 2010-01-04 HARRISONBURG - The James Madison men's basketball team received a cruel reminder Saturday of its early-season struggles without a premier center. 200. Colonial Builds Case 2010-01-02 HARRISONBURG - Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball teams got a taste of conference play on the first Saturday in December, but now, a month later, the main entrée is set to arrive. 201. Moral Victory? Nope 2009-12-31 HARRISONBURG - James Madison's 80-76 loss to Stanford might have closer than many predicted, but Dukes basketball coach Matt Brady was determined in debunking any notion that the defeat could be considered a moral victory. 202. Big Game For JMU 2009-12-29 HARRISONBURG - This isn't your older brother's Stanford. Recent All-Americans and NBA-bound players like Casey Jacobsen, Josh Childress and Robin Lopez won't be gracing the Maples Pavilion court when the James Madison men's basketball team visits the Cardinal at 10 p.m. today. 203. Of Course, He Skis 2009-12-28 HARRISONBURG - Geography can dictate a lifestyle. People who live on a farm often become farmers. People who live by the ocean often become surfers 204. A New Man 2009-12-26 Senior Matt Parker has played a total of one minute in James Madison's last two basketball games. He is not injured; the 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward just hasn't been needed. 205. Bowles Again Boosts Dukes 2009-12-24 HARRISONBURG - James Madison coach Matt Brady had to tell Denzel Bowles to stop feeling sorry for himself Wednesday night after the center's shots couldn't seem to locate the net in the first half. 206. Fordham Starts Year In Turmoil 2009-12-23 HARRISONBURG - Jared Grasso served as an assistant coach at Fordham under Dereck Whittenburg for 3½ years. But the day Whittenburg was fired this month, Grasso, the Rams' interim replacement, decided that a mere coaching change wouldn't be enough to shake up his team from the Bronx. 207. White Under The Radar 2009-12-22 HARRISONBURG - The sidekick rarely gets the proper respect. When junior Denzel Bowles scored 37 points against Gardner-Webb last week, the James Madison center's performance was rightfully praised. 208. A Break For The Dukes? 2009-12-19 HARRISONBURG - A travel-weary James Madison men's basketball team may have caught a break when today's home game against Radford was postponed because of heavy snow in the forecast. 209. Big Guy Nets 37 And 15 2009-12-18 BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - In basketball, maybe more so than any other team sport, the addition of a singular player can make a world of difference. He can be the difference between scoring 48 and 78, the difference between fluidity and stagnation, the difference between winning and losing. 210. Not Runnin' So Well 2009-12-17 BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Count Gardner-Webb as one of the few college basketball teams that has a nickname so perfectly befitting its style of play. The Runnin' Bulldogs truly love "runnin,'" not to mention that 14th-year coach Rick Scruggs has the type of Georgia accent that would probably drop the word -ending "g" even if it was there. 211. ‘Rock' On Court 2009-12-15 HARRISONBURG - With injuries ravaging the JMU basketball team, the Dukes only had nine active players available to practice Monday. 212. Wanted: More Passion 2009-12-15 HARRISONBURG - Denzel Bowles talks about leadership as if it is an uncontrollable attribute akin to eye color or shoe size. 213. Dukes' Foe Has Solid RPI Ranking 2009-12-12 HARRISONBURG - Trivia question: What Division I college basketball team from the state of Michigan has the best Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) right now? 214. Big Week For JMU 2009-12-11 HARRISONBURG - James Madison's basketball team practices a drill called "Consecutive Stops" in which the starting unit must play defense and prevent the second-team from scoring five times in a row, no matter how long it takes. 215. A Tough Guy With A Soft Side 2009-12-10 HARRISONBURG - Blood dribbled from a cut about 3 inches long across the left side of Justin Carpenter's face, but the Turner Ashby High School senior kept wrestling until there was a stoppage in practice Wednesday. 216. Brady Prodding Wells 2009-12-09 HARRISONBURG - James Madison coach Matt Brady has publicly professed that he does not think forward Julius Wells is a "good basketball player" - at the moment. 217. New Plan: JMU To Go Inside-Out 2009-12-08 HARRISONBURG - It's finals week at James Madison, so students are taking exams and effectively purging information from their minds before the start of the next semester. 218. Dukes Starting To ‘Unnerve' Brady 2009-12-07 HARRISONBURG - Matt Brady briefly glanced at the box score and shook his head in disgust. What he saw on the piece of paper - and on the court, minutes earlier - could not have been pretty to any observer, let alone the second-year James Madison basketball coach. 219. JMU's Offense Falters 2009-12-05 Matt Brady briefly glanced at the box score and shook his head in disgust. What he saw on the piece of paper -- and on the court, minutes earlier -- could not have been pretty to any observer, let alone the second-year James Madison basketball coach. 220. JMU Wins Again 2009-12-03 HARRISONBURG - Here we go again. That's what James Madison basketball coach Matt Brady was thinking as Andrey Semenov - who returned to the Dukes on Tuesday after missing 3? games due to back pain - again fell awkwardly to the ground, wincing in pain after trying to grab a rebound. 221. Key Dukes Get Weary 2009-12-02 HARRISONBURG - Forty minutes seemed to age Pierre Curtis 40 years. After playing the entirety of James Madison's 53-51 win over Maryland-Baltimore County on Saturday, the 22-year-old guard cringed as he slowly sat down to address questions from the media in a dimly lit Convocation Center room. 222. JMU's Curtis Schools Refs 2009-11-30 HARRISONBURG - Late in the first half of James Madison's basketball game against Maryland-Baltimore County on Saturday, Pierre Curtis fouled Retrievers guard Chauncey Gilliam, and the referees awarded Gilliam three free throws. 223. Dukes Hang On In Home Opener 2009-11-28 Late in the first half of James Madison’s basketball game against UMBC on Saturday, Pierre Curtis fouled Retrievers guard Chauncey Gilliam, and the referees awarded Gilliam three free throws. 224. Rookies Come Home 2009-11-28 HARRISONBURG - The James Madison basketball team will open its home schedule at 7 p.m. today against Maryland-Baltimore County, which means it will be the first official game experience at the Convocation Center for a trio of contributing freshmen. 225. Dukes Thick And Thin 2009-11-27 HARRISONBURG - If there were some type of experimental procedure where one human being could transfer body mass to another, the James Madison basketball team's two active centers might be inclined to give it a whirl. 226. 4=2 In NCAA Math 2009-11-25 MIAMI - Turns out that beyond the beaches and beautiful weather, there's an appeal to traveling to Miami for a basketball series. 227. Dukes Control Central, 79-66 2009-11-24 MIAMI - Toward the end of the first half Monday evening, Matt Parker ball-faked from the left wing, and then looked almost confused by how open his lane to the hoop was. 228. Wells Finally Gets Hot 2009-11-23 MIAMI - In its first two games this season, the James Madison men's basketball team had a dysfunctional relationship with the 3-point line. 229. Semenov Doubtful For Tournament 2009-11-21 With a break in the 2K Sports Classic Tournament, the James Madison men's basketball team practiced Sunday morning before heading off to South Beach for the afternoon. 230. Murray Routs Madison, 71-43 2009-11-21 MIAMI - The opponent and stage were very different. The result was eerily similar. 231. Little Tests Await 2009-11-20 MIAMI - The James Madison men's basketball team has played only at No. 15 Ohio State so far this season. Its opponents in Miami this weekend have had similarly difficult games: Murray State played No. 12 California on the road, while both North Carolina Central and Florida International faced No. 6 North Carolina in Chapel Hill. 232. In Year 1, NCAA Berth 2009-11-17 HARRISONBURG - Richy Bikko's mind and body were arguing with one another, and the body was making a compelling case. It wanted to stop. It had been programmed to run for only 400 meters - 800 maximum - at a time. 233. Athletic SHS Eighth In State 2009-11-16 RICHMOND - Jordan Spitler had been practicing gymnastics since she was 3 years old, but even at that early age, she was doing the exercises with a separate end-game in mind. 234. Without Moore, Dukes Suffer 2009-11-14 COLUMBUS, OHIO - Matt Brady does not want to talk about it the rest of the season. And that's probably a good thing because the James Madison basketball team will need to quickly get over the fact that the problem exists, a problem that can be healed only with surgery and months of time. 235. OSU Rips JMU 2009-11-13 COLUMBUS, OHIO - Even as James Madison strives to establish itself as an up-and-coming basketball program in an on-the-rise conference, the Dukes' season-opening game Thursday night at Ohio State only reinforced conventional college hoops hierarchy. 236. A Major Opener 2009-11-12 HARRISONBURG - James Madison's basketball game tonight at Ohio State isn't only the Dukes' season opener. 237. Big Blow For Dukes 2009-11-10 HARRISONBURG - Thursday was supposed to be point guard Devon Moore's homecoming, with the Columbus native and his James Madison basketball team opening the 2009-10 season at Ohio State. But Moore tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a closed scrimmage at the Convocation Center on Sunday, meaning he almost certainly will be sidelined for the entire season. 238. Blazers Move Into States 2009-11-09 PENN LAIRD - Call it home-court advantage, even in a sport where pretty much everybody cheers for everybody else. 239. SHS Storms Back 2009-11-09 HARRISONBURG - When Spotswood High School fell behind two-games-to-none against Turner Ashby in the Massanutten District volleyball tournament final Saturday, the Trailblazers not only believed they could win three straight games to take the match, but had evidence to back up the notion. 240. SHS Rolls, 28-13 2009-11-07 PENN LAIRD - Spotswood High School senior Chad Williams had the quarterback's equivalent of a perfect game Friday night against Broadway. 241. Jarrels Leads Blazers 2009-11-05 GREENFIELD - Last time the Spotswood High School boys' cross country team ran at the Lord Botetourt Sports Complex, the runners' times disappeared. 242. The Missing Piece? 2009-11-04 HARRISONBURG - If there was one obvious component missing from James Madison's offense when the Dukes played an exhibition game against Division II Philadelphia last weekend, it was a true center who could post up defenders and score from close to the basket. 243. SHS Takes No. 1 Seed 2009-11-03 HARRISONBURG - It would have been fitting if - after splitting the season series and finishing the Massanutten District regular season with 5-1 records - Spotswood and Turner Ashby High School went a full five games in their one-match playoff to determine the league champion. 244. Dukes Pursue JUCO Players 2009-11-03 HARRISONBURG - The James Madison basketball team entertained a pair of junior-college recruits from Cincinnati State last weekend, including one whose college coach dubbed him "the best big man on the [JUCO] Division II level - hands down." 245. Dukes Sharp From Outside 2009-11-02 HARRISONBURG - Forward Matt Parker stood outside the James Madison locker room shaking his head in amazement as he stared at the box score from his basketball team's just-completed exhibition game against Division II Philadelphia University. 246. Holmes Rushes To Greatness 2009-10-31 BROADWAY - A 297-yard, four-touchdown game, in and of itself, was as a pretty ordinary Friday night for Harrisonburg High School's Michael Holmes, who entered this week averaging more than 270 yards and close to four touchdowns per game. 247. Jacobs Aces Volleyball 2009-10-28 HARRISONBURG - With top-end speed, agility and jumping ability to complement a long-limbed 5-foot-8 frame, it appears as if Leah Jacobs would make an ideal small forward for a girls' basketball team. 248. Shots Don't Equal Goals 2009-10-28 HARRISONBURG - It didn't matter that the Eastern Mennonite High School soccer team dominated possession for a full two halves, or that the Flames peppered Covenant's goalkeeper with near-fires all game while the Eagles mustered their first shot on goal in the 72nd minute. 249. Win Cheers Blazers 2009-10-27 HARRISONBURG - When the Spotswood High School football team plays, its cheerleaders - like its band members - are merely extras, adding to the atmosphere under the Friday night lights. 250. A Speedy Victory 2009-10-24 BROADWAY - Earlier this week, just before complimenting Turner Ashby High School prowess at various facets of football, Broadway senior Kristian Moore mentioned that the Knights "don't have a lot of speed." 251. ‘Rocky' Season For Pankey 2009-10-23 PENN LAIRD - Before the Spotswood High School cross country team's Old Valley Challenge invitational on Oct. 8, team members gathered at senior Will Canter's house to watch the pulse-pounding movie "300" and maybe get fired up for their forthcoming race. Unfortunately, "300" had been deleted from Canter's TiVo, so he scrambled to find another film for the group to view. 252. NBA May Like Trio 2009-10-22 WASHINGTON - Former Virginia Commonwealth point guard Eric Maynor is possibly the most decorated player to come through the Colonial Athletic Association in the past decade. But even though the two-time CAA Player of the Year has graduated to the NBA, the conference he leaves behind doesn't lack star power. 253. JMU Picked 5th 2009-10-21 WASHINGTON - James Madison's success a year ago has bred some conference-wide props heading into the 2009-10 men's basketball season. 254. New Toys For Eagles' Coach 2009-10-20 HARRISONBURG - Don Burgess had been waiting and waiting. The Bridgewater College basketball coach saw presents under the tree and had an idea of what they could be, but he could not begin to examine or play with them until Oct. 15. 255. Freshman Takes Big Leap 2009-10-19 HARRISONBURG - Darren White has been officially practicing with the James Madison basketball team for a scant weekend, and already his vertical leap is something of urban legend. 256. Cold? BHS Heats Up 2009-10-17 WAYNESBORO - Conventional football wisdom typically steers a team to rely on its running game in less-than-ideal weather conditions. But on a bitter, cold night in Waynesboro, Broadway High School's offense flew down the field through the air. 257. Royals Extend Eagles' Misery 2009-10-15 BRIDGEWATER - At halftime of its soccer game against Eastern Mennonite University, Bridgewater was in a position it had experienced only twice this season. After capitalizing on a free kick 18 seconds before the break, the Eagles were actually leading. 258. Leap = Goals 2009-10-13 HARRISONBURG - Mitchell Leap isn't ashamed of it, no matter how much grief his friends or Eastern Mennonite University soccer teammates give him. Leap is proud to be an unabashed fan of Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo. 259. TA Blanks Wildcats 2009-10-10 LEXINGTON - There is nothing spectacular about Turner Ashby High School football - no eye-popping statistics, no breath-taking athletes. 260. WEB ONLY: Knights Turn To Offense For Defense 2009-10-09 BRIDGEWATER - If Turner Ashby High School volleyball coach Gina Troyer was given the option, she would choose to have a defensive-minded, mistake-free team that could create opportunities for its front row, rather than a squad that just had strong hitters. 261. UR: Small Better 2009-10-09 HARRISONBURG - Expect about 16,000 fans Saturday at Bridgeforth Stadium for James Madison's Colonial Athletic Association football game against Richmond. But next year, no matter how good the teams or how anticipated the battle, only about half as many people will be able to attend the 2010 matchup between the Dukes and Spiders in the state capital. 262. Shot After Shot After.... 2009-10-08 BRIDGEWATER - Bridgewater College sophomore goalkeeper Travis Morris ranks second in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference with 6.89 saves per game, which is admirable, but along with another statistic, emphasizes a problem. 263. White Runs Over BHS 2009-10-03 STAUNTON - Ahead by 5 points and facing a fourth-and-goal midway through the fourth quarter, R.E. Lee High School's dynamic quarterback Devante White collected every bit of oomph he had remaining in his tired and ill body. 264. Blazers Multi-Task 2009-10-02 PENN LAIRD - Spotswood High School football coach Eric Phillips does not believe his team has one set identity. 265. Running Buddies 1st, 3rd 2009-10-01 HARRISONBURG - When a Harrisonburg High School cross country runner teasingly suggested Wednesday that teammates Tabea Zimmermann and Maria Rose cross the finish-line of their upcoming meet together, in first place, while holding hands, the idea didn't seem that far-fetched. 266. TA Drops HHS To 0-9 2009-09-30 BRIDGEWATER - The Harrisonburg High School volleyball team hasn't won a match all season, and that didn't change Tuesday night at Turner Ashby. But HHS coach Andy Thompson saw something in his team's gritty effort that makes him believe that better times are ahead for the Blue Streaks. 267. Dukes Pursue Two Recruits 2009-09-29 HARRISONBURG - A pair of 2010 basketball recruits, including one who generated interest from West Virginia and Xavier, visited James Madison last weekend on official visits, their coaches said Monday. 268. Spotswood Blanks Cougars, 35-0 2009-09-26 PENN LAIRD - Spotswood High School announced its inaugural Hall of Fame class at halftime of its football game against Stuarts Draft on Friday. The Trailblazers' players - who book-ended that presentation with a dominating display - are doing everything to make sure their 2009 squad is remembered years from now as well. 269. Credit The ‘Old Man' 2009-09-25 HARRISONBURG - With no previous construction experience, Bridgewater College cross-country runner Jordan White, along with two other builders, erected a house from scratch last summer. 270. Kid QB Motors Along 2009-09-24 West Virginia state law says East Hardy High School quarterback Kollin Foltz - just like any other teenager - can't obtain a driver's license until he turns 16 on Nov. 6. 271. Wanting ‘O' Dukes Get ‘D' 2009-09-22 HARRISONBURG - Trying to boost an offense that scored just 1.28 goals per game last season, JMU soccer coach Tom Martin tinkered with new formations until he found one he liked - one that he had never used in his 33 years of coaching. 272. BHS's Phillips Does It All 2009-09-19 WOODSTOCK - After the Central Falcons opened their game Friday by marching 54 yards in five minutes for a touchdown against Broadway, the team's pursuit of an extra point lasted seemingly just as long. 273. TA's Required Reading 2009-09-18 BRIDGEWATER - Turner Ashby senior Kyle Lindsey considers his school schedule undemanding this semester, but he does consider a certain freshly minted booklet required reading each week. 274. Who's Got a Win? 2009-09-16 HARRISONBURG - The Broadway High School volleyball team hardly consists of a bunch of imposing girls. 275. Flame Excels at ‘Work Rate' 2009-09-15 HARRISONBURG - When it's not soccer season and Eastern Mennonite High School senior defender Matt Blauch is looking for an activity to keep himself occupied, video games and television aren't his go-to selections. 276. Dudzik Emerges 2009-09-13 Following James Madison\\\'s 38-35 near-upset of Maryland, coach Mickey Matthews would not impart any profound thoughts regarding the Dukes\\\' two quarterbacks-junior Drew Dudzik and freshman Justin Thorpe- or their ongoing battle for the starting spot. 277. HHS's Holmes Notches 273 2009-09-12 LEXINGTON - If this running back job doesn't work out, maybe Harrisonburg High School's Michael Holmes can become some sort of a publicist. Every time one of his Blue Streak teammates made a potentially damaging miscue, Holmes was there to cover it up. 278. No Room For App St At JMU? 2009-09-10 HARRISONBURG - Although two of the James Madison University football program's most memorable recent games - for better or worse - came against Appalachian State, another regular season meeting between the teams is unlikely in the near future. 279. Warriors Stick It To TA 2009-09-05 CROZET - As Western Albemarle wide receiver Dom Losco raced up field, searching for a pasture of uninhabited green ahead of him, Warriors wideout Tyler Ward, charged in the opposite direction. 280. Jarrels Favored To Follow Ott 2009-09-04 PENN LAIRD - Spotswood High School's Jay Jarrels has been literally following in Alex Ott's footsteps for his entire high school cross-country career. 281. Walk-Ons Soon Gone? 2009-09-03 HARRISONBURG - Dukes men's soccer coach Tom Martin envisions the next great player in his program's history: Like a scene out of a movie, he's a 6-foot-5 gazelle of an athlete, a striker on the Nigerian national team, who just-so-happens to want a try-out for James Madison because his father teaches in the school's sociology department. 282. James Heads To Ireland 2009-09-02 HARRISONBURG - It didn't take Juwann James long to find the first job of what he hopes to be a long and profitable career. 283. Dukes' Big Guys Still A Mystery 2009-08-29 HARRISONBURG - Dukes basketball coach Matt Brady has little idea what his starting frontcourt will look like two and a half months from now when James Madison begins its season. 284. It's Motivation 101 2009-08-28 HARRISONBURG - James Madison men's soccer coach Tom Martin has found that in his 33-year career, the most rewarding players to coach are the PHDs. 285. JMU's Wide Blockers 2009-08-27 HARRISONBURG - With their cleats rhythmically clapping against the cement road, James Madison receivers Rockeed McCarter and Kerby Long discussed their personal goals for the upcoming season as they strolled from the practice field to the team locker room this week. 286. Brunk Swaggers Into '09 2009-08-26 HARRISONBURG - Eastern Mennonite University's soccer team will enter the 2009 season without half of last year's roster-perhaps the most notable loss being Jackson Maust, the All-ODAC goalkeeper as a senior.