In addition to a normal four-game Friday night slate, the Shenandoah schools also have a make-up date and two appearances at the Rock the Ribbon Classic to round out a busy weekend. So here is the line-up:
Thursday's Make Up Date:
Nelson County at Buffalo Gap: These two will actually tangle twice within four days as they will meet again in Lovingston on Monday. That arrangement could be just what the Bison ordered, since they are a team in dire need of some good news. I won't be so bold now as to predict that the Gap will sweep both games, but they should be OK in this first one, which will finally get that 1 out of the win column for them.
Friday's Four Games:
East Rock at Page: This game would have been a battle for first place, if not for the home-court whooping that Stuarts Draft put on the Panthers not too long ago. Because of that, the Eagles have at least a two-game lead on everyone, and even if Page can pull this one out, which they have the talent to do, they would need for someone else to pin a second district loss on the Eagles and that doesn't seem very likely. As I recall reading, Page jumped out to a 21-3 lead the first time these two met, before the Eagles roared back to win by about a dozen. So this re-match could easily be just as explosive or exciting and I would assume a huge crowd will turn out for it. I will still go with the Eagles to win by 6, but a Page victory will not be a surprise.
Stonewall at Stuarts Draft: The Cougars have been an interesting team this year, to say the least...scoring as few as 36 in a game or as many as 115. For all we know, they might have even topped that last night, since I have not found any reports anywhere about their scheduled trip to Covington. As for Stonewall, they are a feisty little bunch and have already come into Augusta County twice and whipped the home team, but it won't happen a third time. Unless the Draft has another one of its cold-shooting spells, they could hit triple digits again in this one, after blitzing Stonewall for 114 the first time around. SD wins by a minimum of 25.
Luray at Wilson: Even though I saw it in person, I could not believe how inept the Dogs looked in Tuesday night's shellacking they took from Riverheads. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt and just assume that was one of those "everybody has them" kind of nights and that they will be able to put it behind them. Their first meeting with Wilson went into overtime and if they do show up to play, this one could also be close. I will however play the odds and say Wilson wins by 15.
Buffalo Gap at Riverheads: As just mentioned, the Gladiators rocked at Luray Tuesday night, after recovering from their own sub-par game against Stonewall the night before. So if the real Big Red team shows up Friday night, they should not have any major trouble with the Bison. But with these county rivalries, you can just never tell. BG will be (likely) coming off a win over Nelson, which might have them fired up, but RHS would need a really bad night to let this one get away. The home team wins by a margin between 18 and 24.
Saturday's Games at Rockbridge:
Riverheads vs. Parry McCluer: This one should be a dandy. First time around, the home-standing Blues took a big half-time lead, but Coach Coffey lit a fire under his guys at the break and they responded with a 44-point second half. It was one of those games where they might have pulled it out if they had another two minutes, but instead the Blues held on to win 63-59. This time, I expect RHS to come out motivated to even the score, so unless Buffalo Gap takes something out of them, and based on the assumption that PM also plays somewhere Friday night to even the playing field, I will say that RHS gets the job done and wins by 7.
Stuarts Draft at Rockbridge: The only thing I really have to go on here is the knowledge that each team split a close series with Fort Defiance. RCHS just doesn't get much press in our area, although that will change next year when they re-join the Valley District, so I don't know what else they might have done. But unless Rowsey sneaks back in the gym and tries to pull a fast one, I will go with the Cougars in this one, by 12 in one of their high-flying affairs.
Thursday's Make Up Date:
Nelson County at Buffalo Gap: These two will actually tangle twice within four days as they will meet again in Lovingston on Monday. That arrangement could be just what the Bison ordered, since they are a team in dire need of some good news. I won't be so bold now as to predict that the Gap will sweep both games, but they should be OK in this first one, which will finally get that 1 out of the win column for them.
Friday's Four Games:
East Rock at Page: This game would have been a battle for first place, if not for the home-court whooping that Stuarts Draft put on the Panthers not too long ago. Because of that, the Eagles have at least a two-game lead on everyone, and even if Page can pull this one out, which they have the talent to do, they would need for someone else to pin a second district loss on the Eagles and that doesn't seem very likely. As I recall reading, Page jumped out to a 21-3 lead the first time these two met, before the Eagles roared back to win by about a dozen. So this re-match could easily be just as explosive or exciting and I would assume a huge crowd will turn out for it. I will still go with the Eagles to win by 6, but a Page victory will not be a surprise.
Stonewall at Stuarts Draft: The Cougars have been an interesting team this year, to say the least...scoring as few as 36 in a game or as many as 115. For all we know, they might have even topped that last night, since I have not found any reports anywhere about their scheduled trip to Covington. As for Stonewall, they are a feisty little bunch and have already come into Augusta County twice and whipped the home team, but it won't happen a third time. Unless the Draft has another one of its cold-shooting spells, they could hit triple digits again in this one, after blitzing Stonewall for 114 the first time around. SD wins by a minimum of 25.
Luray at Wilson: Even though I saw it in person, I could not believe how inept the Dogs looked in Tuesday night's shellacking they took from Riverheads. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt and just assume that was one of those "everybody has them" kind of nights and that they will be able to put it behind them. Their first meeting with Wilson went into overtime and if they do show up to play, this one could also be close. I will however play the odds and say Wilson wins by 15.
Buffalo Gap at Riverheads: As just mentioned, the Gladiators rocked at Luray Tuesday night, after recovering from their own sub-par game against Stonewall the night before. So if the real Big Red team shows up Friday night, they should not have any major trouble with the Bison. But with these county rivalries, you can just never tell. BG will be (likely) coming off a win over Nelson, which might have them fired up, but RHS would need a really bad night to let this one get away. The home team wins by a margin between 18 and 24.
Saturday's Games at Rockbridge:
Riverheads vs. Parry McCluer: This one should be a dandy. First time around, the home-standing Blues took a big half-time lead, but Coach Coffey lit a fire under his guys at the break and they responded with a 44-point second half. It was one of those games where they might have pulled it out if they had another two minutes, but instead the Blues held on to win 63-59. This time, I expect RHS to come out motivated to even the score, so unless Buffalo Gap takes something out of them, and based on the assumption that PM also plays somewhere Friday night to even the playing field, I will say that RHS gets the job done and wins by 7.
Stuarts Draft at Rockbridge: The only thing I really have to go on here is the knowledge that each team split a close series with Fort Defiance. RCHS just doesn't get much press in our area, although that will change next year when they re-join the Valley District, so I don't know what else they might have done. But unless Rowsey sneaks back in the gym and tries to pull a fast one, I will go with the Cougars in this one, by 12 in one of their high-flying affairs.
Last edited:
