Patrick Hite
Jan. 2, 2018
It's cold out this week. OK, that's not breaking news to anyone who has stepped outside since we welcomed in the new year. But, there's good news. Basketball games are played indoors, where it's warm, or at least warmer. And there are some good games happening this week.
Here are the three storylines we find most interesting this week.
1. Are the Wilson Memorial boys for real?
The Hornets got off to a slow start this season, dropping four of their first six games. Maybe it took the Wilson players time to adjust to their new coach, Jeremy Hartman. Or maybe it took Hartman a few games to get back in the swing of coaching again after not being a high school head coach for five years.
Wilson Memorial's Chance Church gets a pass off to a teammate while being triple-teamed by Robert E. Lee's Jayden Williams, left, Blaize Velvin, center, and Jarvis Vaughan, rear, during their boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Paul Hatcher Gym in Staunton, Va. The defending state champion Leemen rolled over the Green Hornets 84-49 in their season opener.(Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader)
Whatever the case, Wilson hasn't lost a game since falling to Robert E. Lee on Dec. 15. The Hornets have won five games in a row and six of their last seven. The Hornets are in third place in the Shenandoah District at the start of this week, only trailing the two preseason favorites, Lee High and East Rockingham.
“I think we’re headed in the right direction going into the new year," Hartman said. "We’re making strides to becoming the team we would like to be toward the end of January, beginning of February."
Greg Woodard leads the Hornets with19 points a game, while Chance Church is averaging 10 points a game.
Wilson Memorial's Garrick Welch moves toward the basket while being guarded by Robert E. Lee's Jayden Williams during their boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Paul Hatcher Gym in Staunton, Va. The defending state champion Leemen rolled over the Green Hornets 84-49 in their season opener.(Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader)
We'll find out a lot more about the Hornets Wednesday night when they play East Rock in Fishersville. It's the second game in a boys-girls doubleheader between the Hornets and Eagles.
"The guys have started to buy into what we’ve been teaching during practices and they’re becoming more locked in during games," Hartman said. "This would be the main component to our five-game streak. They guys are also beginning to trust the coaching staff and each other more and that leads to better play as well.”
2. Lee High and East Rock clash
Both teams have to survive two games before Saturday, but if they can do that it will set up a meeting in Elkton of two teams with unbeaten Shenandoah District records.
Robert E. Lee's Ethan Vest brings the ball into the forecourt during the first half of the Leemen's boys basketball game against Wilson Memorial on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Paul Hatcher Gym in Staunton, Va. Lee, the defending state champion, rolled over the Green Hornets 84-49 in its season opener.(Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader)
It will be the first meeting between the two teams since last February when the Leemen won the Conference 36 championship with an 83-77 win over the Eagles. The game featured 12 fourth-quarter lead changes and Lee had to really from 10 points down in the second half to win.
Entering this week of play, both teams are 5-0 in district play. East Rock does have three losses out of district, including two to Spotswood, but the Leemen have yet to falter this season. Lee did come close to stumbling three days before Christmas when they beat Riverheads by two.
In order to stay unbeaten heading into the East Rock game, Lee will have to beat Page County on the road and Stuarts Draft. That should happen.
East Rock has it a little more difficult, having to play on the road at Wilson Memorial and Luray before Saturday's game.
"This week will certainly test us," Eagles coach Carey Keyes said. "Wilson is playing with a lot of confidence right now. They have shooters all over the floor and Woodard is tough inside. Jeremy has them playing with a lot of confidence and they have been really good in close games."
Robert E. Lee's Jarvis Vaughn drives in for a first-half layup ahead of Fort Defiance defenders during their nondistrict boys basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, at Paul Hatcher Gym in Staunton Va. The Leemen won 57-25.(Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader)
As for Luray, Keyes said the Bulldogs' size will be a challenge for his team.
East Rock is led by a pair of juniors — Dalton Jefferson (14 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.3 bpg) and Collin Wigley (11.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Senior guard Austin Beghan is also scoring in double digits with 10 points per game.
"They seem to be loaded again this season and look to have great athleticism and depth," Keyes said of Lee. "I have been very impressed with them at the games I have scouted."
And, if Saturday night is not entertaining enough for you, the two teams meet again three days later on Tuesday, Jan.9 in Staunton. Saturday's game is a makeup from earlier in the season when Lee had to postpone games because its football team was still playing.
Jan. 2, 2018
It's cold out this week. OK, that's not breaking news to anyone who has stepped outside since we welcomed in the new year. But, there's good news. Basketball games are played indoors, where it's warm, or at least warmer. And there are some good games happening this week.
Here are the three storylines we find most interesting this week.
1. Are the Wilson Memorial boys for real?
The Hornets got off to a slow start this season, dropping four of their first six games. Maybe it took the Wilson players time to adjust to their new coach, Jeremy Hartman. Or maybe it took Hartman a few games to get back in the swing of coaching again after not being a high school head coach for five years.
Wilson Memorial's Chance Church gets a pass off to a teammate while being triple-teamed by Robert E. Lee's Jayden Williams, left, Blaize Velvin, center, and Jarvis Vaughan, rear, during their boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Paul Hatcher Gym in Staunton, Va. The defending state champion Leemen rolled over the Green Hornets 84-49 in their season opener.(Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader)
Whatever the case, Wilson hasn't lost a game since falling to Robert E. Lee on Dec. 15. The Hornets have won five games in a row and six of their last seven. The Hornets are in third place in the Shenandoah District at the start of this week, only trailing the two preseason favorites, Lee High and East Rockingham.
“I think we’re headed in the right direction going into the new year," Hartman said. "We’re making strides to becoming the team we would like to be toward the end of January, beginning of February."
Greg Woodard leads the Hornets with19 points a game, while Chance Church is averaging 10 points a game.
Wilson Memorial's Garrick Welch moves toward the basket while being guarded by Robert E. Lee's Jayden Williams during their boys basketball game on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Paul Hatcher Gym in Staunton, Va. The defending state champion Leemen rolled over the Green Hornets 84-49 in their season opener.(Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader)
We'll find out a lot more about the Hornets Wednesday night when they play East Rock in Fishersville. It's the second game in a boys-girls doubleheader between the Hornets and Eagles.
"The guys have started to buy into what we’ve been teaching during practices and they’re becoming more locked in during games," Hartman said. "This would be the main component to our five-game streak. They guys are also beginning to trust the coaching staff and each other more and that leads to better play as well.”
2. Lee High and East Rock clash
Both teams have to survive two games before Saturday, but if they can do that it will set up a meeting in Elkton of two teams with unbeaten Shenandoah District records.
Robert E. Lee's Ethan Vest brings the ball into the forecourt during the first half of the Leemen's boys basketball game against Wilson Memorial on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at Paul Hatcher Gym in Staunton, Va. Lee, the defending state champion, rolled over the Green Hornets 84-49 in its season opener.(Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader)
It will be the first meeting between the two teams since last February when the Leemen won the Conference 36 championship with an 83-77 win over the Eagles. The game featured 12 fourth-quarter lead changes and Lee had to really from 10 points down in the second half to win.
Entering this week of play, both teams are 5-0 in district play. East Rock does have three losses out of district, including two to Spotswood, but the Leemen have yet to falter this season. Lee did come close to stumbling three days before Christmas when they beat Riverheads by two.
In order to stay unbeaten heading into the East Rock game, Lee will have to beat Page County on the road and Stuarts Draft. That should happen.
East Rock has it a little more difficult, having to play on the road at Wilson Memorial and Luray before Saturday's game.
"This week will certainly test us," Eagles coach Carey Keyes said. "Wilson is playing with a lot of confidence right now. They have shooters all over the floor and Woodard is tough inside. Jeremy has them playing with a lot of confidence and they have been really good in close games."
Robert E. Lee's Jarvis Vaughn drives in for a first-half layup ahead of Fort Defiance defenders during their nondistrict boys basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, at Paul Hatcher Gym in Staunton Va. The Leemen won 57-25.(Photo: Tom Jacobs/The News Leader)
As for Luray, Keyes said the Bulldogs' size will be a challenge for his team.
East Rock is led by a pair of juniors — Dalton Jefferson (14 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 4.3 bpg) and Collin Wigley (11.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg). Senior guard Austin Beghan is also scoring in double digits with 10 points per game.
"They seem to be loaded again this season and look to have great athleticism and depth," Keyes said of Lee. "I have been very impressed with them at the games I have scouted."
And, if Saturday night is not entertaining enough for you, the two teams meet again three days later on Tuesday, Jan.9 in Staunton. Saturday's game is a makeup from earlier in the season when Lee had to postpone games because its football team was still playing.
