Sravan Gannavarapu
When the 2025-26 basketball season began, the consensus around Fairfax County was that Westfield’s boys’ basketball team could not only contend for, but win, a state championship. However, in the school’s 25-year history, only one other Westfield basketball team had taken the trophy home — nearly a decade ago.
Since then, there have been several years of struggle and a coaching change, as longtime head coach Doug Ewell stepped down and was replaced by prominent basketball coach Kevin Harris, who won an outright state title at rival Centreville in 2021 and a shared title in 2020 due to COVID-19.
However, it appears history may be repeating itself, as this year’s Bulldogs team looks nearly invincible. There may not be a Tyler Scanlon, Hank Johnson or Blake Francis on this roster, but Harris can draw parallels to the past, as the entire starting lineup this season consists of seniors — just like the 2016 team.
“These guys have been playing together for such a long time, and they’ve been battle tested, and it’s good to see them coming together so far this year,” Harris said.
Sravan Gannavarapu
Westfield opened the year with a rout of Robinson, 86-57. However, when the Bulldogs faced Paul VI, the tables turned in an 87-44 defeat. As if that did not motivate the team enough, Westfield has not lost since, winning five straight heading into a showdown with the Prince William County Battlefield Bobcats, whose first-year head coach, RJ D’Andrea, is a Westfield alum.
The Bulldogs raced out to a 38-19 halftime lead, headlined by the sharp shooting and playmaking of seniors Jemon Price, Colin Stemberger, Isaiah Brown and Mathias Lee. Defensively, senior William Robinson led a unit that refused to let the Bobcats go on any type of run.
With Westfield dominating throughout — knocking down shots, forcing steals and capitalizing on quick scoring opportunities — the game quickly fell out of competitive reach, resulting in a 79-48 Bulldogs victory. Near the end of the contest, with the starters pulled, Westfield inserted junior and fan favorite Edward Livingston, much to his teammates’ excitement, showcasing the bond that extends beyond the court.
Sravan Gannavarapu
“We step up to the challenge, and we all look forward to any team we play, wherever they come from, and we just work hard to make sure we are ready,” Price said.
The Bulldogs still have far more work to do. Coming off a season that featured a neck-and-neck battle with district rival South Lakes, the competition may have cooled. The Seahawks were led by a plethora of stars, including Michigan State commit Jordan Scott and junior playmaker Merrick Rillstone, both of whom have since left the program.
Moreover, the rest of the Concorde District — and perhaps other teams across Fairfax County — are searching for ways to challenge the Bulldogs. But if you ask the Westfield players themselves, they welcome it and continue to prepare as though they are the ones being underestimated.
“We can’t underestimate everybody, and it starts in practice. We need to continue competing in practice and making ourselves get better,” Stemberger said.
The road to a championship is clear, and if the Bulldogs are going to accomplish something they have done only once before, they cannot afford to let up. The school has seen what happens when a championship game is lost in 2015 and when the job is ultimately finished in 2016. These players have been starting games well before their senior year and understand the expectations.
They have already tasted postseason success, reaching the regional final last season before falling to South Lakes, leaving their state championship dreams unfulfilled. That season left a hole in their résumé — one these players are determined to fill and, in the process, solidify their legacy.