Busy slate, including a "biggie" so let's get to it.
Monday:
Fort Defiance at Buffalo Gap: A non-district make-up game but at least worth mentioning. The Bison appear to be headed straight for the cellar this year unless they can turn it around. A win here could give them some confidence, but I still see Fort as being about 15-20 points better, even on the road.
Stonewall Jackson at Riverheads: A make-up from last Tuesday. I won't go so far as to say that I "called" the Big Red's huge win over Stuarts Draft on Friday, but at least I was aware that it could happen. That one was a gigantic confidence boost for the young Gladiators and now all they have to do is avoid the letdown that will sometimes happen to a team after a big win. Stonewall is a program on the rise, and they deserve some success, but just not tonight please. RHS by 12.
Tuesday:
East Rock at Stuarts Draft: If Riverheads had not interfered, the Cougars could be looking at a potential first-place tie with a win in this one, but it could still be a great game. I think the one thing we have learned about the Draft is that they win when they get off to a good start and the shots are falling, but if either of those conditions are not met, they can be beaten. They will have something to prove after the Eagles held them to only 36 points back in December, so I definitely expect more of a Cougar pace in this one, but ER still has too many athletes. Eagles win this one by 14, something like 94-80.
Riverheads at Luray: This one could be all about stamina for RHS. They will still be on a high from the Draft win, plus they might be fatigued from whatever tonight's Stonewall game takes out of them. So this a tough road game for the Big Red but that is the way the cookie crumbles. Assuming that Luray does not play tonight, they could have the advantage being better rested. First time around, the Dogs' size did not bother RHS and the Gladiators posted a solid 63-49 win. Since it is my "job" to see things from a Riverheads perspective, I will predict that the Big Red can hold on and win by five or less, but if Luray does pull it out, it will be disappointing for Riverheads but at least understandable.
Wilson at Buffalo Gap: As mentioned above, the Bison need a win and this could be their chance. Wilson thumped them good the first time around and is probably just plain better, but this is a county rivalry game and if the Gap could get off to a good start, they could turn the tables. I will still go with the Hornets by maybe 7, but a Gap win will not be a huge surprise.
Stonewall at Page: Just like with Riverheads, the schedule will work against the Generals in this one, but you gotta play where they tell you when they tell you. So assuming Page does not also play tonight, the Panthers should roll in this one by 15-18, maybe 20 or more.
Monday:
Fort Defiance at Buffalo Gap: A non-district make-up game but at least worth mentioning. The Bison appear to be headed straight for the cellar this year unless they can turn it around. A win here could give them some confidence, but I still see Fort as being about 15-20 points better, even on the road.
Stonewall Jackson at Riverheads: A make-up from last Tuesday. I won't go so far as to say that I "called" the Big Red's huge win over Stuarts Draft on Friday, but at least I was aware that it could happen. That one was a gigantic confidence boost for the young Gladiators and now all they have to do is avoid the letdown that will sometimes happen to a team after a big win. Stonewall is a program on the rise, and they deserve some success, but just not tonight please. RHS by 12.
Tuesday:
East Rock at Stuarts Draft: If Riverheads had not interfered, the Cougars could be looking at a potential first-place tie with a win in this one, but it could still be a great game. I think the one thing we have learned about the Draft is that they win when they get off to a good start and the shots are falling, but if either of those conditions are not met, they can be beaten. They will have something to prove after the Eagles held them to only 36 points back in December, so I definitely expect more of a Cougar pace in this one, but ER still has too many athletes. Eagles win this one by 14, something like 94-80.
Riverheads at Luray: This one could be all about stamina for RHS. They will still be on a high from the Draft win, plus they might be fatigued from whatever tonight's Stonewall game takes out of them. So this a tough road game for the Big Red but that is the way the cookie crumbles. Assuming that Luray does not play tonight, they could have the advantage being better rested. First time around, the Dogs' size did not bother RHS and the Gladiators posted a solid 63-49 win. Since it is my "job" to see things from a Riverheads perspective, I will predict that the Big Red can hold on and win by five or less, but if Luray does pull it out, it will be disappointing for Riverheads but at least understandable.
Wilson at Buffalo Gap: As mentioned above, the Bison need a win and this could be their chance. Wilson thumped them good the first time around and is probably just plain better, but this is a county rivalry game and if the Gap could get off to a good start, they could turn the tables. I will still go with the Hornets by maybe 7, but a Gap win will not be a huge surprise.
Stonewall at Page: Just like with Riverheads, the schedule will work against the Generals in this one, but you gotta play where they tell you when they tell you. So assuming Page does not also play tonight, the Panthers should roll in this one by 15-18, maybe 20 or more.
