Ravenscroft’s boys basketball team was seeded as the No. 7 seed in the ESPNHS National High School Invitational. The Ravens (31-3) will face No. 2-seed Montrose Christian School (Md.) in the quarterfinals March 29 at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.

The tournament is being held at Georgetown Preparatory School’s Hanley Center for Athletic Excellence in Bethesda, Md.

Montrose (20-2) is No. 11 in the latest ESPNHS national rankings, and is the defending tournament champion. The Mustangs feature University of Virginia signee Justin Anderson. 

The winner of the quarterfinal game will play the winner of the three-seeded Montverde (Fla.) vs. No. 6-seed La Porte La Lumiere (Ind.) game Friday, March 30 at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2.

Ravenscroft claimed the NCISAA 3A State Championship last month.

Ravenscroft center Marcus Bryan was instrumental in the Ravens’ 72-56 win over Word of God on Wednesday night. Coach Kevin Billerman said Bryan (pictured right) played some of his best basketball in the second half.

In the first half though, Bryan moved into second place in rebounds in school history. He needed just two rebounds to move ahead of Nate Williams, who had 656 in his career.

Bryan grabbed his second rebound early in the first quarter.  

“It feels pretty good,” Bryan said of the accomplishment.  “I’m working toward first.”

Bryan will have to put in a lot of work to catch Ryan Kelly, who left the school with 950 rebounds.

In the win over the Rams, Bryan finished with 11 rebounds to bring his total to 665. He also finished with 19 points and five blocks.

“I think in the first half, Marcus missed some shots and had a couple ball go through his hands,” Billerman said. “In the second half he was fabulous. Marcus certainly dominated the backboard.”

Ravenscroft junior forward Anton Gill has announced today his commitment to play basketball at Louisville.

Gill is one of the nation’s Top 50 players in the class of 2013, and is ranked No. 48 by ESPN.

“I really feel like Louisville is the perfect fit,” Gill said. “I like the college, the facilities, the town, Coach (Rick) Pitino and Louisville’s style of play. I really believe there is no place I would rather be and that’s why I decided to commit now.”

Last year as a sophomore, Gill was named to the All-State team and helped lead the Ravens to a 24-4 record, the TISAC Conference title, and a semifinal appearance in the 2011 NCISAA 3A state tournament.

Cameron Castleberry, a forward for Ravenscroft's girls soccer team, announced her commitment earlier today to play at North Carolina.

Castleberry, who will be a junior this year, led Ravenscroft to the TISAC conference title. The Ravens also reached the NCISAA 3-A State championship before falling to Charlotte Latin. Castleberry led the team in scoring with 25 goals and 10 assists – including a goal in the state championship match – to receive selections to the All-Conference, All-Region and All-State teams. She was also named the 3-A Private School Player of the Year.

“Until now I have only dreamed about having the opportunity to play college soccer at an incredible school like Carolina,” Castleberry said in a statement. “I have always wanted to attend UNC, and I am thrilled to have the chance to play soccer at a school that has such great tradition and history.”

Castleberry participated in the U17 Women’s National Team training camp in Carson, Calif. earlier this summer, a program that helps identify future players for the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Castleberry will join Ravenscroft teammate Caroline Lindquist, who has also committed to North Carolina.

“I think that the UNC program will be a perfect place for her,” said coach J.J. Raabe said of Castleberry. “Cameron is a dynamic player with and without the ball and she will continue to grow as a player and teammate. She has been and will continue to be an impact player for Ravenscroft and I am selfishly excited because I will be able to continue to watch her make an impact close to home once she graduates.”

Ravenscroft senior tennis player Genny Francis announced today her commitment to play for Washington and Lee University.

Francis was one the main reason Ravenscroft girls tennis team won the 2008 NCISAA 3-A state championship and to a second place finish in 2009. She finished the 2008 season with a perfect singles record of 20-0 at the No. 4 player. Last season Francis qualified in both singles and doubles for the USTA National Championships.

“Genny has been on the varsity team for five years and her growth, with her tennis skills and her leadership skills, has been exponential,” coach Debbie Peek said.

RALEIGH – Here’s our rapid reaction after Ravenscroft defeated Middle Creek 59-57 Wednesday night in a nonconference game:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON

Ravenscroft surrendered its lead late in the fourth quarter only to have guard Anton Gill (pictuted left) make a fadeaway three-pointer at the buzzer to win the game. Madison Jones was the difference in the final play as he was able penetrate into the lane to bring Gill’s defender over to cover him. That allowed Gill to be wide open in the corner to make his three-point basket just before the buzzer sounded.

TURNING POINT

This is a tough one to call, but Middle Creek gave Ravenscroft a chance to win the game by going to quickly on its final possession. The Mustangs were trailing by one with less than a minute left and could have held the ball for the final shot. Instead guard Donta Davis was fouled by going to the basket with 17 seconds left. Although Davis made both free throws to give the Mustangs the lead, it also allowed Gill to have time to make his game-winning shot.

STAT OF THE GAME

Gill is a very good shooter from behind the ach as he averages 53 percent from three before tonight’s game. Gill had plenty of chances to make three-pointers, but his one at the buzzer was his only three-pointer of the game.

Final: Ravenscroft 57, Middle Creek 52

Ravenscroft did just enough to win this championship, their first ever at the Glaxo. Anton Gill was named the tournament’s MVP after a 16-point performance that also included guarding Middle Creek’s best scorer in guard Leon Hargrove. The Ravens didn’t make a lot of free throws late in this game, which allowed it to be close, but their defense remained solid in the final seconds to get a steal with five second to put the game out of reach.

Give credit to Middle Creek. They did a nice job after trailing by 18 points in the third quarter. The Mustangs were led by Hargrove’s 21 points.

Postgame quotes from Ravenscroft:

Coach Kevin Billerman on the Ravens’ defense:

Ravenscroft junior Melissa Funsten has been named All-Region by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

Funsten, a midfielder, was among 16 players selected to the South Region team. She tallied 22 points on 7 goals and 15 assists in 19 games this season, helping lead the Ravens to their first-ever berth in the NCISAA State Championship finals. She is the Ravens' career points leader with 47 total points.

Funsten was named the 2010 TISAC Co-Conference Player of the Year, and was also an All-Conference, All-State, and North Carolina All-Star selection.

RALEIGH – Ravenscroft rolled up nearly 600 yards of total offense en route to a 42-14 rout of visiting Wake Christian on Friday night.

Ravens quarterback Quinn Billerman threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Chad Stanback was on the other end of 118 of those yards and two touchdowns, while tailback Temple Sloan accounted for 159 total yards on just six touches.

Game over: Crusaders 29, Ravens 15

Key play: Ravens running back Quentin Taylor scored a 2-yard touchdown late for Ravenscroft.

Key stat: Cardinal Gibbons held Ravenscroft to just two plays of 10 yards or more in the second half. Avery Edwards received the two-point pass from Quinn Billerman.