DATE: Monday, February 2, 2026
LOCATION: Fork Union, VA | Thomas Gymnasium
SCORE: Middle School Basketball 34, St. Anne's-Belfield 24
RECORD: 3-2 overall
SHORT STORY: Fork Union Military Academy's Middle School basketball team earned a strong 34–24 home victory over St. Anne's-Belfield on Monday afternoon at Thomas Gymnasium, overcoming a halftime deficit to secure its second straight win.
After trailing at the break, the squad made key adjustments and elevated their defensive intensity in the second half. Improved communication and a renewed belief on the floor helped shift the momentum, as Fork Union turned defensive stops into fast-break opportunities and built a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter.
QUOTE: "We were down at halftime, but there were a lot of positives to build on," said head coach. "With some small adjustments, better communication, especially on defense, and a stronger belief in ourselves, we were able to turn the game around. I'm proud of the team's resilience and hustle. Cadet Gakio set the tone with full-court pressure that created turnovers and fast-break points, and Cadets Li and Cook did an excellent job boxing out, securing rebounds, and moving the ball to help start our offense. Cadets Tighe, Guo, and Jerry all contributed in ways that don't always show up in the scorebook. We're playing great team basketball right now, and the results are showing with two wins in a row."
KEY PERFORMANCES:
- Nathan Gakio sparked the defense with full-court pressure, creating steals and deflections that led to transition points.
- Haoxi Li and Devin Cook controlled the boards, boxed out effectively, and delivered smart outlet passes to jump-start the offense.
- Liam Tighe, Ethan Guo, and Jerry Arciniega made important contributions through effort, defense, and teamwork throughout the game.
UP NEXT: Fork Union returns to action on Thursday, February 12 at 4 p.m. when the squad hosts Keswick School at Thomas Gymnasium.
