My guess is that some schools will start their seasons the week after Thanksgiving so why not go ahead and start thinking about who the contenders will be this year in the district? I just checked for rosters on the Shenandoah website and so far only three schools have anything posted but between that information and my recollection from last year, I think I can separate the seven schools in to four potential contenders for district honors and three others that might not be expected to challenge, but yet they could always have a banner year and surprise us.
However I am not going to try and rank them 1-7. Instead here alphabetically are the four that I see as having the best shot..........
Buffalo Gap: I am basing this on last year when the Bison greatly improved after having an Ofer year just a season or two before. Coach Ward seems to have them believing in his system. I assume Canterbury will be on the team but I can't think of any others. But just based on their overall upward trend, I expect the Bison to be in the mix.
Fort Defiance: I was hoping there would be a roster telling us whether or not Tyreek Veney is still around. I am inclined to think he is and if so, that fact alone will make the Indians contenders.
Staunton: The Storm does have a roster posted and it has a whopping 18 players listed. Talk about your battle for PT!!! I am picking Staunton for the same reason I probably will every year......tradition. With the legend of Paul Hatcher hanging around that gym, they will never have a "bad" team at that school. Also I remember a tiny little JV player from last year (probably 5'4" or so) that could do it all, so if he is back, and especially if he has grown, then the rest of the district will have its hands full.
Wilson: I see that the thin Finn man is back so need we say more? That and Coach Hartman's expertise will most definitely have the Hornets in the mix, and if I "had" to pick a number one team, they would likely be it.
So that leaves Riverheads, Stuarts Draft and Waynesboro to discuss. Here are my thoughts on those three..........
Riverheads: To the best of my recollection, the last two seasons for RHS have followed the same formula......close but few cigars. (Not that these young'uns should be smoking cigars or anything else mind you!) They have close games but just cannot pull them out at the end. This year's squad, and so far there is only a partial roster listed (pending football I assume), will most definitely have the raw material to be successful this year. Bennett Dunlap will be the logical team leader, but they have some other role players returning from last year, and some JVs moving up that can shoot the lights out. The potential is definitely there so I encourage them to surprise me and rise right up into Contender Territory.
Stuarts Draft: Fortunately that "threediculous" style is a thing of the past and the Cougars are a normal team again. I seem to recall them being near the bottom last year and I don't recall any superstars or a top notch JV team that might give me reason to think they will rise to the top.
Waynesboro: For such a large school (Class 3), Waynesboro is missing something in all its athletic programs. I am pretty sure they finished at or near the bottom last year in all three major boys sports, so there is some sort of lack of pride or interest or something going on over there. I think Charles Haynes returns for his senior year and he is a streaky shooter but he will need some support for the Little Giants to improve over last season.
However I am not going to try and rank them 1-7. Instead here alphabetically are the four that I see as having the best shot..........
Buffalo Gap: I am basing this on last year when the Bison greatly improved after having an Ofer year just a season or two before. Coach Ward seems to have them believing in his system. I assume Canterbury will be on the team but I can't think of any others. But just based on their overall upward trend, I expect the Bison to be in the mix.
Fort Defiance: I was hoping there would be a roster telling us whether or not Tyreek Veney is still around. I am inclined to think he is and if so, that fact alone will make the Indians contenders.
Staunton: The Storm does have a roster posted and it has a whopping 18 players listed. Talk about your battle for PT!!! I am picking Staunton for the same reason I probably will every year......tradition. With the legend of Paul Hatcher hanging around that gym, they will never have a "bad" team at that school. Also I remember a tiny little JV player from last year (probably 5'4" or so) that could do it all, so if he is back, and especially if he has grown, then the rest of the district will have its hands full.
Wilson: I see that the thin Finn man is back so need we say more? That and Coach Hartman's expertise will most definitely have the Hornets in the mix, and if I "had" to pick a number one team, they would likely be it.
So that leaves Riverheads, Stuarts Draft and Waynesboro to discuss. Here are my thoughts on those three..........
Riverheads: To the best of my recollection, the last two seasons for RHS have followed the same formula......close but few cigars. (Not that these young'uns should be smoking cigars or anything else mind you!) They have close games but just cannot pull them out at the end. This year's squad, and so far there is only a partial roster listed (pending football I assume), will most definitely have the raw material to be successful this year. Bennett Dunlap will be the logical team leader, but they have some other role players returning from last year, and some JVs moving up that can shoot the lights out. The potential is definitely there so I encourage them to surprise me and rise right up into Contender Territory.
Stuarts Draft: Fortunately that "threediculous" style is a thing of the past and the Cougars are a normal team again. I seem to recall them being near the bottom last year and I don't recall any superstars or a top notch JV team that might give me reason to think they will rise to the top.
Waynesboro: For such a large school (Class 3), Waynesboro is missing something in all its athletic programs. I am pretty sure they finished at or near the bottom last year in all three major boys sports, so there is some sort of lack of pride or interest or something going on over there. I think Charles Haynes returns for his senior year and he is a streaky shooter but he will need some support for the Little Giants to improve over last season.
