John Marshall sets VHSL record as it wins state title

Latrell Allmond had 27 points to lead all scorers on Thursday night. (Ryan M. Kelly for The Richmonder)

Death, taxes and John Marshall basketball.

The Justices put on a show at the Siegel Center on Thursday night as they won another state title, becoming the first team to score 100 points in a VHSL championship basketball game.

John Marshall defeated the Graham G-Men 107-81. Graham left with a record of its own — most points in a state title loss.

John Marshall has won five of the last six Class 2 state titles — the team opted out of the 2021 season due to COVID. (Ryan M. Kelly for The Richmonder)

While the outcome was never in doubt, it was significantly closer than most games John Marshall has played at the state tournament in recent years.

The Justices are seemingly the most polarizing team in Virginia high school sports.

With an enrollment of 542 students, they play against Class 2 schools, some of the smallest from across the state. However, their basketball team is one of the nation's finest.

Coach Ty White brings together some of the best players from both Richmond and around the country. VHSL rules prohibit recruiting Virginia athletes, but do not ban out-of-state players from moving to Richmond to play for the Justices and White's out-of-season AAU travel team, the Virginia Judges.

Richmond's open enrollment policy for high schools also means that students can live anywhere in the city and play for John Marshall.

VHSL rules allow a school to play in a higher division, but stipulate that it must do so for all sports, which would put John Marshall's other programs at a disadvantage.

That hasn't sat well with opposing teams over the years.

“They’ve got guys from North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia," Luray coach Matthew Huff said to the Page Valley News before a 51-point semifinal loss. "VHSL allows that, so it’s like what are we doing?

"It's a little crazy, but maybe they will change the rule and John Marshall will go up."

Graham coach Todd Baker told the Bristol Herald-Courier earlier in the week that he'd received texts encouraging him to boycott the game as a way of protesting the system.

"We are going to play Graham basketball and the outcome will be the outcome," he told the paper.

In the end, the G-Men left with their heads held high, having given the Justices more of a fight than most teams at the Class 2 level.

John Marshall finishes the season 25-2, with its two losses to out-of-state teams that were also nationally ranked.

At least one player will take the floor at the Siegel Center again. Aiden Argabright scored 24 for the Justices on Thursday night, and will suit up next year for the University of Richmond.

In an earlier game, the John Marshall girls team lost in its state title appearance. Friday night brings more local action as Atlee seeks its first boys basketball state title against Varina.