Mavahi fans

[pizzzzza]

I can't remember everyone's nickname on here, but I do know there are a few Martinsville Bulldog fans that I have had the pleasure of chatting with over the years on Va Preps.

Mayberryite, AntGZee, hrsepasture1 come to mind, among others....some have not been on in a while; thus; I don't remember their poster names.

Anyway - to the point - I had mentioned some time last year that I had video of the Martinsville 1985-1986 team - it's an interview before the state semifinals, with game highlights as well - it's about a minute and half long.

It's the team that had beaten Lee (Senior Kevin Madden) by one point in the state semis one year earlier on the corner shot by James Hunt - this year they were facing George Wythe in one semi, while Lee was facing Brunswick (Soph Bryant Stith)

Didn't know if anyone would interested in seeing it.

I've also got the 1986 State Tournament Program which I can upload as well if anyone wants to take a look.

This was during a time when there were 3 state powers in AA basketball - Martinsville, Lee and Brunswick.

This all coming from a big Lee fan, as most of you already know - but I do appreciate good basketball and good memories.

 

[pizzzzza]

 

[85straight]

I can't remember everyone's nickname on here, but I do know there are a few Martinsville Bulldog fans that I have had the pleasure of chatting with over the years on Va Preps.

Mayberryite, AntGZee, hrsepasture1 come to mind, among others....some have not been on in a while; thus; I don't remember their poster names.

Anyway - to the point - I had mentioned some time last year that I had video of the Martinsville 1985-1986 team - it's an interview before the state semifinals, with game highlights as well - it's about a minute and half long.

It's the team that had beaten Lee (Senior Kevin Madden) by one point in the state semis one year earlier on the corner shot by James Hunt - this year they were facing George Wythe in one semi, while Lee was facing Brunswick (Soph Bryant Stith)

Didn't know if anyone would interested in seeing it.

I've also got the 1986 State Tournament Program which I can upload as well if anyone wants to take a look.

This was during a time when there were 3 state powers in AA basketball - Martinsville, Lee and Brunswick.

This all coming from a big Lee fan, as most of you already know - but I do appreciate good basketball and good memories.

Hey pizzzza, I hope you are recovering well from the surgery. Cool video. That 1986 AA tournament was a good one. Both semifinals were close and Brunswick hung right there with Martinsville in the final, before falling by 10. Just to follow up on your comment about Lee, Martinsville, and Brunswick during the mid to late 1980s.

Here are 3 consecutive season records for those teams during that time.

Lee (1983-1986) 77-2, with losses to nationally ranked Martinsville (1985), and to Brunswick (1986)

Martinsville (1983-1986) 76-3, with all three losses to nationally ranked teams. Lee (1984), Oak Hill (1986), and Flint Hill (1986)

Brunswick (1985-1988) 77-4, with 3 of the 4 losses to nationally ranked teams. Martinsville (1986), Flint Hill (1988), and PH-Roanoke (1988).

And a mention to George Wythe-Wytheville, who went to 3 straight state AA tournaments in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Led by two all-state players, 'June Bug' Penn and Maurice Johnson.

 

[AntGZee]

That's good stuff rite there!!!!!! Great video. Thank you for sharing.

 

[pizzzzza]

Hey pizzzza, I hope you are recovering well from the surgery. Cool video. That 1986 AA tournament was a good one. Both semifinals were close and Brunswick hung right there with Martinsville in the final, before falling by 10. Just to follow up on your comment about Lee, Martinsville, and Brunswick during the mid to late 1980s.

Here are 3 consecutive season records for those teams during that time.

Lee (1983-1986) 77-2, with losses to nationally ranked Martinsville (1985), and to Brunswick (1986)

Martinsville (1983-1986) 76-3, with all three losses to nationally ranked teams. Lee (1984), Oak Hill (1986), and Flint Hill (1986)

Brunswick (1985-1988) 77-4, with 3 of the 4 losses to nationally ranked teams. Martinsville (1986), Flint Hill (1988), and PH-Roanoke (1988).

And a mention to George Wythe-Wytheville, who went to 3 straight state AA tournaments in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Led by two all-state players, 'June Bug' Penn and Maurice Johnson.

Wow - that's some amazing facts/stats about those teams.

I feel that each team made the other teams better, which made for some exciting basketball during those years.

 

[pizzzzza]

One more thing about that '85-'86 Bulldog team - GW Carver , whom Martinsville beat twice during the regular season - went on to win the Group A State Title that year.

 

[85straight]

Wow - that's some amazing facts/stats about those teams.

I feel that each team made the other teams better, which made for some exciting basketball during those years.

No doubt. I'm sure you remember the 1986-87 season. Lee came so close to beating Brunswick in the state final. Losing in OT to pretty much a half court shot at the buzzer. Lee lost 3 games going into that final, but the valley district was brutal with waynesboro, charlottesville, and lee ending up tied for first place. Any one of those teams could have been in the AA final.

 

[pizzzzza]

No doubt. I'm sure you remember the 1986-87 season. Lee came so close to beating Brunswick in the state final. Losing in OT to pretty much a half court shot at the buzzer. Lee lost 3 games going into that final, but the valley district was brutal with waynesboro, charlottesville, and lee ending up tied for first place. Any one of those teams could have been in the AA final.

Oh yea - that really hurt, especially the way they lost that game.

The beginning of the Brunwick State Title Runs....Bryant Stith's Junior and Senior Seasons.

 

[85straight]

Oh yea - that really hurt, especially the way they lost that game.

The beginning of the Brunwick State Title Runs....Bryant Stith's Junior and Senior Seasons.

Stith was a beast in that game. After following him at uva it was easy to root for him. Such a classy guy. Obviously a good father and proved to be an outstanding coach. I liked seeing Brunswick do well with him at the helm, just wish lee would have had something for those title teams during that stretch. Lol. It's funny how even after 25-30 years, martinsville, Brunswick, and lee can still have their time of winning the title.

 

[Mayberryite]

Man, what a great video that was. Those 85-86 Dogs were as good as it gets for a small, public school.

Husky Hall is very feeble and in poor health these days. Great to see coach the way I remember him. Only thing more authentic would've been a little in-game action with him roaming the sideline with a towel in hand and stomping the floor.

 

[hrsepasture1]

During the 80's, Martinsville and Henry Co was pretty much the capitol of high school bball.(Kinda biased I guess) The Dogs won I believe 5 state championships, Drewey Mason(Ridgeway) won 3, GW Carver(Fieldale) won 2 and then when DM and GW Carver consolidated to form Magna Vista, MV won in the 1st year of its existence in 89. Before all of the economic downturn in the area and the loss of population. In the mid 70's Mavahi had between 1300-1400 students and I was told tonite the numbers will be around 550-575 next year. Times have changed. Good to see Coach Hall in the video, his health is not good now and we all miss him coming to the games. He was one of a kind. Pizzzzza thanks for the opportunity to go down memory lane.

 

[pizzzzza]

I have memories - both good and bad - from that time period for my Leemen.

But man, there was some outstanding high school basketball played a U-Hall during those years!

 

[Mayberryite]

It could be said that the Leemen have the Martinsville area to thank for their basketball success. After all, the legendary Paul Hatcher himself is a Henry County native. Pretty sure he was a player on the state championship team at Bassett in the late 50s.

 

[AntGZee]

Thank you this whole article is great. This post brings back some indelible memories.

 

[DMSpartan]

View embedded media

thank you for posting this

 

[pizzzzza]

Sorry - had to delete the original post - here's various pages from 1985-1986 VHSL State Basketball Tournament - featuring Martinsville, Brunswick, Lee and George Wythe

 

[gtownfencecrew]

Great to hear John Organ's voice in that video. Being from Gretna originally, I grew up with WSET 13 sports and John was a big part of that. Unfortunately he passed away last year at 53. Always enjoyed John.