Nm

Skyline is 14-0. Big test against Meridian next week.

Pick a winner for each game. For the bottom 2 games with double asterisks (**) select a score. Closest to the actual score gets 5 pts.

JAX @ KC*
NYG @ PHI*
CIN @ BUF**
DAL @ SF**

*2 pts each
** closest score 5 pts

Most basketball fans here in the Valley are very much aware of the tradition established in Staunton at (then) Robert E Lee High School under the legendary Paul Hatcher. When he retired a decade or so ago, there was a period of adjustment not only about the basketball program but about the school itself in terms of the name change, etc. As a result there were some lean years there for awhile.

But if what we witnessed tonight at Riverheads is any example, The Storm as they are now called under the direction of Coach Terrell Mickens, once again has a very established program with a DEEP well of talent and the Shenandoah District needs to take note of what the forecast looks like for the next few years. To say that The Storm was impressive tonight against the Gladiators would be an understatement.

In both the JV and varsity contests, the visiting Storm rolled out anywhere from 13-15 athletes, each one seeming to be as talented as the one beside him. They had size, they had depth, they had quickness, and last but CERTAINLY not least, they could shoot the lights out. As a result they overwhelmed Riverheads at every position and rolled to easy wins in both contests.

In the JV game, Riverheads at least scored first, as they took a 1-0 lead. But in no time at all, Staunton turned on its pressure defense and surged ahead 9-1 and it only got worse from there as they raced to a 72-27 win. One guy in particular, freshman Anthony Renne, had just an unconscious night from three-point range. The JV Gladiators did the best they could but it was simply a total mismatch.

As the Varsity teams took the floor, the first thing fans noticed was the discrepancy in both numbers and size. Staunton had 14 players to Riverheads nine, and also had a decided height advantage. They too turned on the speed almost from the opening tip and jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Riverheads did rally briefly and by the end of the first quarter the Staunton lead was only 15-10.

But the visitors poured it on in the second quarter to the tune of 22-5 and eventually won 73-44. Just like the JV team, their three point accuracy was uncanny as shots were made by far too many players to list. Not only that but senior Maaliah Cabell threw down a couple of monster dunks that would make a lot of college highlight reels.

In short, the two teams we saw tonight are clearly the class of the district. I personally cannot see how Wilson beat Staunton earlier this season but my money will be on The Storm when that re-match takes place. Not only that but based on tonight, I would give Staunton the best odds for making some serious post-season noise.

As for The Storm JVs, maybe it was RHS' misfortune that this was the night they chose to play their best game of the season, but whatever the case, the team they put on the floor tonight could beat many of the Varsity teams we have seen this year. So yes, Shenandoah District, The Storm was the real deal tonight and most likely will be for the foreseeable future.

But since my job here is to hype up the Gladiators, they have another game Saturday night with Liberty Bedford, so they need to re-focus fast and get ready for that one, especially since they swept the Minutemen down there. So the best thing The Big Red can do, and I suspect the coaches have already covered this, is to put tonight's games in the rear view mirror and just accept the fact that some nights you are going to meet teams that are significantly better than you are. After all, the Gladiators have had three games this year in which they were the ones who rolled to a huge victory over an undermanned opponent. As the old saying goes.......sometimes you are the windshield and sometimes you are the bug.

After the Liberty game, the Gladiators then turn their attention to Stuarts Draft, which will visit Tuesday. Meanwhile, good news from Staunton tonight as the Lady Gladiators hit the road to the Paul Hatcher gym and tamed the Staunton ladies 43-29. That was a much needed win for them as they are still in playoff contention and beating a Class 3-A team is a good way to stay there.

I was checking out MaxPreps and the top 2 teams were from VA. Don't know if it's a typo or not.
1 John Marshall
2 Paul VI
3 Dyncanville

I know a bunch of their assistants have applied for jobs....will one of them get it?

I will add more as they come in.

Franklin 65 Windsor 46
JI Burton 86 Castlewood 53
Middlesex 69 Carver Academy 51
Eastside 64 Thomas Walker 39
Narrows 63 Parry McCluer 52
Honaker 56 Grundy 40
Staunton 73 Riverheads 44
Chilhowie 71 Rural Retreat 54
Auburn 65 George Wythe 53. Big win for Auburn in a battle between two top 5 teams
Twin Springs 79 Rye Cove 30

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Nm

How do we play Springers and Freedom? We used to playing IMG Dematha and the big dawgs we don’t want no scrubs on dis schedule. Come to Forest Hill if you want that smoke! Coach Scott already da GOAT of VA! 116 kids D1 in 5 seasons at Life!

Started

This young man is an 8th grader and he just got his first offer, to UVA.

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Good Non-district pickup for both schools.

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Elijah Kelly 21 points
Gavin Cormany 9 points

Kecoughtan served notice that they will be in the running for the Peninsula District title after defeating the Woodside Wolverines 69-60 on Friday the 13th.

The 1st half was closely contested until Kecoughtan ended the 1st half on a 7-0 run including a three at the buzzer by junior point guard Tyler Suber.

The Warriors, who avenged 57-40 loss to the Woodside to open the season, led by 14 (48-34) with 5:30 remaining in the 3rd quarter. They started the 3rd quarter with three triples including two by senior Dershon Orman.

However the Warriors went cold the rest of the 3rd quarter and Woodside crawled back outscoring Kecoughtan 20-5 including the first eight points of the 4th quarter. The Wolverines re-took the lead 55-54 after a three by University of Richmond recruit Trevor Smith with 5:22 left in the game.

The lead was short-lived as two free throws and an amazing scoop layup in traffic by Suber put Kecoughtan ahead for good.



Kecoughtan senior Kevins Copling was huge down the stretch converting two offensive boards into buckets and making 3 of 4 free throws in the final two minutes. He sealed the win with emphatic swat of a layup attempt by Smith. Copling finished the evening with a double-double 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Suber finished with a team-high 17 points and was one of four Warriors to score in double figure. Justin Bass tied Copling with 13 points and Orman added 12. Jadon Pace only scored five points but chipped in nine rebounds and six seals.

Smith, who received an award before the game for scoring 1000 career points, led Woodside with 19 points, Masiah Stevens added 15 points while Jermaine Detrick buried three 3-pointers to finish with 11.

HEAD EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL COACH

Christchurch School is a co-ed Episcopal boarding and day school serving grades 9—12.
Founded in 1921, Christchurch is located on a 125-acre waterfront campus on the
Rappahannock River in Virginia. The school’s Mission is to inspire and guide each
student's unique journey to self-confidence, purpose, and identity within a caring,
structured community, where they discover their infinite value and develop the skills to
become compassionate, successful, and engaged global citizens.
Position Overview: Christchurch School seeks to hire a dynamic Head Football Coach to
pioneer its first year competing in the Eight-man Virginia Independent Football League
(VISFL) for the 2023-24 academic year. The ideal candidate should be able to set the
tone for the school’s eight-man football program that accurately reflects the school’s
Mission. This position’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
 Act as Head Coach of the football team
 Scout under the rules of VISFL
 Practice, planning, and game preparation
 Oversee organization and use of equipment
 Oversee uniform distribution and collection
 Transport the team to away games
Requirements and Qualifications:
 Prior high school football coaching experience is required
 Some knowledge of eight-man football and its benefits is preferred
 Bachelor's degree
 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Additional Opportunities: In addition to coaching, applicants may also apply to be
involved in other aspects of the School. Examples include teaching, administration,
residential life etc.
Physical demands
 Ability to handle all physical demands of being the Head Football Coach
 Ability to be mobile around campus and buildings
Work environment
 Fast-paced, small boarding and day school
 Travel is required
Equal Employment Opportunity. The School is an equal opportunity employer.
The School provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and job applicants
without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, status as a veteran, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related
medical conditions including lactation, age, disability, genetic information or any other
factor prohibited by applicable law. All aspects of personnel management – including
hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, recruitment, layoff, discipline, termination,
compensation, benefits, training and working conditions – will be administered in
accordance with this policy. Each employee is expected to do their part to maintain a
working environment free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.


Conditional Offers: An offer of employment for this position is contingent upon the
applicant’s right to work in the United States, authorization for and completion of
successful background checks as may be requested by the school or required by law.

Benefits: Christchurch School offers a highly competitive compensation package for this
position. Benefits such as health insurance, retirement, professional development, and
housing may also be included at the discretion of the school.

Interested applicants should contact John Dehm, Director of Athletics and Co-Curricular Programs, jdehm@christchurchschool.org

HEAD EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL COACH

Christchurch School is a co-ed Episcopal boarding and day school serving grades 9—12.
Founded in 1921, Christchurch is located on a 125-acre waterfront campus on the
Rappahannock River in Virginia. The school’s Mission is to inspire and guide each
student's unique journey to self-confidence, purpose, and identity within a caring,
structured community, where they discover their infinite value and develop the skills to
become compassionate, successful, and engaged global citizens.
Position Overview: Christchurch School seeks to hire a dynamic Head Football Coach to
pioneer its first year competing in the Eight-man Virginia Independent Football League
(VISFL) for the 2023-24 academic year. The ideal candidate should be able to set the
tone for the school’s eight-man football program that accurately reflects the school’s
Mission. This position’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
 Act as Head Coach of the football team
 Scout under the rules of VISFL
 Practice, planning, and game preparation
 Oversee organization and use of equipment
 Oversee uniform distribution and collection
 Transport the team to away games
Requirements and Qualifications:
 Prior high school football coaching experience is required
 Some knowledge of eight-man football and its benefits is preferred
 Bachelor's degree
 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Additional Opportunities: In addition to coaching, applicants may also apply to be
involved in other aspects of the School. Examples include teaching, administration,
residential life etc.
Physical demands
 Ability to handle all physical demands of being the Head Football Coach
 Ability to be mobile around campus and buildings
Work environment
 Fast-paced, small boarding and day school
 Travel is required
Equal Employment Opportunity. The School is an equal opportunity employer.
The School provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and job applicants
without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, status as a veteran, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related
medical conditions including lactation, age, disability, genetic information or any other
factor prohibited by applicable law. All aspects of personnel management – including
hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, recruitment, layoff, discipline, termination,
compensation, benefits, training and working conditions – will be administered in
accordance with this policy. Each employee is expected to do their part to maintain a
working environment free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.


Conditional Offers: An offer of employment for this position is contingent upon the
applicant’s right to work in the United States, authorization for and completion of
successful background checks as may be requested by the school or required by law.

Benefits: Christchurch School offers a highly competitive compensation package for this
position. Benefits such as health insurance, retirement, professional development, and
housing may also be included at the discretion of the school.

Interested applicants should contact John Dehm, Director of Athletics and Co-Curricular Programs, jdehm@christchurchschool.org

Anybody care to make a "way too early" Region finalists in 2023 for Class 4?

Here are my guesses...

Region A
- Phoebus
- Warhill

Region B
- Dinwiddie
- King George

Region C
- Tuscarora
- Loudoun Co.

Region D
- Salem
- Glass

Merry Christmas all. Hope everyone has a great day with family and friends.

Huguenot has made a HUGE hire and are bringing in Charles Scott. For those of you who doesn’t know, Scott created the power Life Christian Academy football team that sent many many young men to power 5 and Division 1 and 2 schools. Expect Huguenot to contend with the Varina’s and Dinwiddie’s in Region B very soon. It’s going to be interesting to transfers start to roll in.

Peninsula Catholic drained 12 baskets from behind the 3-point line and held on to defeat Cape Henry 62-58 in a TCIS matchup. Junior Malcolm Velmar led four Knights in double-figures to overcome a 31 point effort from Cape Henry sophomore Sebastian Whitfield.



The Dolphins led 20-14 after the 1st quarter with Whitfield scoring 11 points. Peninsula Catholic junior E.J. Joyner kept pace with 10 1st quarter points including two treys. The Knights took the lead late in the 2nd quarter with an 8-9 run that gave them a 30-26 lead after a steal and layup Velmar. Senior Stylz Gardner was unconscious from 2-point range burying four triples in the 2nd quarter.

Four different Knights made a 3-point basket in the 3rd quarter when the margin grew to nine points heading into the 4th quarter.

Cape Henry made a run and they cut the deficit to 56-55 with about 2:20 remaining after a layup by junior center Parker Wight. However, Peninsula Catholic senior Kamari Vinson swished 4 of 4 free throws in the final minute and the Knights improved to 18-5.

Vinson finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for the Knights while Velmar led the team with 17 points including three treys and three steals. Gardner added 14 points and four from downtown and Joyner finished with 11 points.

Whitfield was my star of the game as he scored every way possible including three 3-pointers and converting 6 of 7 free throws. He also contributed five assists and nine rebounds. Wight was the only other Dolphin in double-figures with 14 points while also blocking two shots.

Nm

Nm

Attention all Vikings Fans! Come out and support our Boys and Girls basketball teams against Deep Run on Friday January 20th. Girls Varsity at 5:30pm and Boys Varsity at 7:30pm.
Buy tickets on the TeeJay Gofan page: https://gofan.co/app/events/825417?schoolId=VA7851… #vikingupdate #WeAreRPS

Nm

This rivalry game has both teams meeting with 7-5 overall records. Common opponents they’ve both played and won against:

Sussex
Rappahannock
Colonial Beach
Mathews

Common opponents they’ve fell to:

North Stafford
King George