I think we would all agree that this has been a strange basketball season but I guess we made the most of it and therefore, I extend best wishes to all teams that will begin regional playoff action as early as Monday night from what I have read. In the case of our Shenandoah District, the point system being what it is, all six teams will advance to post-season play with two of them competing in the Class 3, Region C playoffs, three in the Class 2, Region B field, and one in the Class 1, Region B field.
I will outline all of that for you although I am sure there is a link out there somewhere for all the brackets, but first I will recap the season for you. It was such a strange season around here that all six teams at some point had title aspirations. Even the two teams that finished tied for fifth, Riverheads and Stuarts Draft, were in the thick of things at one time or another, which shows how well-balanced and competitive the district was. Another odd quirk was how small a role home court advantage played this year, and I think the lack of fans contributed to that. But whatever the reason, we had several series in which the two teams won on each other's floor, including a win by Riverheads on the home court of eventual champion Fort Defiance; and Stuarts Draft sweeping both games from Wilson, which directly contributed to the Hornets faltering which allowed the peaking Indians to take the title.
So here is the line-up, although I cannot pinpoint exact nights in most cases............
Class 3, Region C (eight-team bracket with Fort Defiance and Wilson participating)
The Indians are the 4 seed and will host number 5 Fluvanna, whereas Wilson is the 6 seed and will travel to number 3 Spotswood. I know nothing about the Flucos this year. In the past they have played a series with Waynesboro, which would have given a clue, but they did not play this year. But I like the Fort's chances because Ryan Cook has been steady all season whereas sophomore Tyreek Veney has come on strong to give them a consistent second scorer. As for Wilson's journey to Spotswood, the Trailblazers have been a power for years so ordinarily I would not give Wilson much of a shot in this one. However in last week's Valley District Tournament, a weak Waynesboro squad came within 10 points of the Wood so they must not be the team they have been in the past. Therefore Wilson may have a chance after all.
Class 2, Region B (eight-team bracket with Staunton, Buffalo Gap and Stuarts Draft participating)
Keeping it real, these three teams are playing for the honor of finishing second to powerful East Rockingham. The Eagles may not win the state title this year, but they are certainly not going to lose at the regional level. So first round action will see the 7 seed Stuarts Draft traveling to number 2 seed Staunton and the 5 seed Buffalo Gap heading up north to play number 4 Strasburg. Staunton seems like the obvious choice in its game since they swept the Cougars easily both times this year. Also the Draft fell at lowly Waynesboro just yesterday in their season finale. As for the Bison and their trip up I-81, that is certainly a tough place to play, so I don't have high hopes for their success. However, Tanner Rivenburg has produced a couple of 30 point games here lately and he is by no means a one-man show for the Gap.
Class 1, Region B (four-team bracket with Riverheads participating)
The past two years have been exciting for the Big Red as they made it to the state quarter-finals each season, winning the Region B crown last year, and each year they lost in the last seconds to the eventual state champion. So it goes without saying that playing in the rough and tumble Shenandoah leaves the Gladiators battle-tested and prepared for post-season play. However, to repeat that level of success this year, they will have to reach back for that something extra and get the job done on the road. Their first step as the number 3 seed in a four-team bracket will be to take down number 2 Rappahannock County. According to my records, this will be a first-time ever encounter for the two teams so there is nothing to use for reference. The Panthers have a 7-5 record compared to RHS' 5-7 but who knows how the Bull Run compared this year in overall toughness to the Shenandoah? The winner of Tuesday's game will most likely travel to number 1 Altavista, unless number 4 Franklin pulls off an upset in the other semi-final.
Good luck to one and all, safe travels, happy social distancing, and all that jazz!
I will outline all of that for you although I am sure there is a link out there somewhere for all the brackets, but first I will recap the season for you. It was such a strange season around here that all six teams at some point had title aspirations. Even the two teams that finished tied for fifth, Riverheads and Stuarts Draft, were in the thick of things at one time or another, which shows how well-balanced and competitive the district was. Another odd quirk was how small a role home court advantage played this year, and I think the lack of fans contributed to that. But whatever the reason, we had several series in which the two teams won on each other's floor, including a win by Riverheads on the home court of eventual champion Fort Defiance; and Stuarts Draft sweeping both games from Wilson, which directly contributed to the Hornets faltering which allowed the peaking Indians to take the title.
So here is the line-up, although I cannot pinpoint exact nights in most cases............
Class 3, Region C (eight-team bracket with Fort Defiance and Wilson participating)
The Indians are the 4 seed and will host number 5 Fluvanna, whereas Wilson is the 6 seed and will travel to number 3 Spotswood. I know nothing about the Flucos this year. In the past they have played a series with Waynesboro, which would have given a clue, but they did not play this year. But I like the Fort's chances because Ryan Cook has been steady all season whereas sophomore Tyreek Veney has come on strong to give them a consistent second scorer. As for Wilson's journey to Spotswood, the Trailblazers have been a power for years so ordinarily I would not give Wilson much of a shot in this one. However in last week's Valley District Tournament, a weak Waynesboro squad came within 10 points of the Wood so they must not be the team they have been in the past. Therefore Wilson may have a chance after all.
Class 2, Region B (eight-team bracket with Staunton, Buffalo Gap and Stuarts Draft participating)
Keeping it real, these three teams are playing for the honor of finishing second to powerful East Rockingham. The Eagles may not win the state title this year, but they are certainly not going to lose at the regional level. So first round action will see the 7 seed Stuarts Draft traveling to number 2 seed Staunton and the 5 seed Buffalo Gap heading up north to play number 4 Strasburg. Staunton seems like the obvious choice in its game since they swept the Cougars easily both times this year. Also the Draft fell at lowly Waynesboro just yesterday in their season finale. As for the Bison and their trip up I-81, that is certainly a tough place to play, so I don't have high hopes for their success. However, Tanner Rivenburg has produced a couple of 30 point games here lately and he is by no means a one-man show for the Gap.
Class 1, Region B (four-team bracket with Riverheads participating)
The past two years have been exciting for the Big Red as they made it to the state quarter-finals each season, winning the Region B crown last year, and each year they lost in the last seconds to the eventual state champion. So it goes without saying that playing in the rough and tumble Shenandoah leaves the Gladiators battle-tested and prepared for post-season play. However, to repeat that level of success this year, they will have to reach back for that something extra and get the job done on the road. Their first step as the number 3 seed in a four-team bracket will be to take down number 2 Rappahannock County. According to my records, this will be a first-time ever encounter for the two teams so there is nothing to use for reference. The Panthers have a 7-5 record compared to RHS' 5-7 but who knows how the Bull Run compared this year in overall toughness to the Shenandoah? The winner of Tuesday's game will most likely travel to number 1 Altavista, unless number 4 Franklin pulls off an upset in the other semi-final.
Good luck to one and all, safe travels, happy social distancing, and all that jazz!
