Justin Brake has been appointed as the new girls basketball coach at Riverheads, taking over a young team with only one senior. Brake, a Riverheads graduate and experienced coach, aims to build on the team's potential.
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Riverheads girls basketball had one of the youngest teams in the Shenandoah District a year ago with just one senior and seven players who were either sophomores or freshmen.
That's good news for the program's new coach, Justin Brake. The Riverheads graduate and current physical education teacher at Riverheads Middle School was named girls basketball coach recently.
A 2007 graduate of Riverheads High School, Brake played on three basketball district championship teams and, in 2020, was part of the Riverheads coaching staff that won the Region B championship.
While in school, Brake was coaching youth sports throughout. He coached track at Broadway High School while in college and has coached middle school in Rockingham County and has coached at the junior varsity level also.
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"It's just a really great group of ladies," Brake said of the Riverheads team. "Not only are they really good athletes but they're good people and I know they're very coachable. That's a big aspect in taking a new job, you want to be able to be happy in it and feel like you can make an impact."
Brake was a 1,000-point scorer for his high school playing career and was named district player of the year. Brake played collegiately at Bridgewater College.
"They have so much talent on that team," Brake said. "We need to get to the next step. That's my goal, making it past regionals, making it to the state."
Riverheads also announced that Taylor Arney will be the school's new cross country coach.
"Arney brings a passion and intensity for running and coaching cross country that will greatly benefit our student-athletes and programs," the school said in a press release. "She has been instrumental in the development of our middle school cross country program and has a vision and plan of directing our high school cross country program to meet new challenges and expectations of continued success."
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Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips are always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at and on Instagram @hitepatrick..
Justin Brake is the new girls basketball coach at Riverheads, with experience coaching youth sports and serving on the coaching staff that won the Region B championship in 2020.
The Riverheads girls basketball team is one of the youngest in the Shenandoah District, featuring only one senior and several sophomores and freshmen, which presents both challenges and opportunities for development.
During his high school career at Riverheads, Justin Brake played on three basketball district championship teams, showcasing his competitive experience.
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This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Riverheads names 2007 graduate as new girls basketball coach