Even though there is some rain in the forecast, it looks like the temps will be mild enough this week that all regional playoff action can be completed. If I remember we were not so lucky in that department last year.
Wilson got off to an early start Friday in the Region 3-C playoffs and as many people expected, things did not go well for the Hornets as they were blasted by Charlottesville 83-56. The remaining four playoff-eligible teams will swing into action including Stuarts Draft, Staunton and Buffalo Gap on the Class 2 level and Riverheads in Class 1.
As mentioned in another thread, the Bison and Cougars will actually start off against one another, and some fans hate to see re-matches that early. But since they seed the top eight teams, it just worked out that SD earned the number 3 seed and the Bison number 6, which pits them against each other. The Draft won both games in the regular season but the one at home was by far the closer of the two, so with the Bison now having had two chances to see them in action and prepare for their style of play, don't be surprised if that one is closer than a 6 at 3 game should be.
Meanwhile up at Page County, the number 4 seeded Panthers will entertain number 5 Staunton. Since they are now in different districts, they did not play this season, but they have played enough times in the recent past and some of those have been intense enough to make this one sound interesting. Might in fact be the best game in Region 2-B that night.
Down in Greenville the Gladiators will make the most of their number 1 seed as they host number 8 Franklin. Although they have now met twice on the football field over about a ten-year period, this will be their first-ever meeting on the hardwood. Despite that number 1 seed and the home court advantage, the Big Red should take absolutely nothing for granted in this game or any other they might be fortunate enough to play.
I say that because this is Franklin's first year in Region B, which means that they were formerly a Region A team. That is worth noting because the Gladiators have NOT had the best of luck playing teams from Region A over the years. They did manage an overtime win in that absolute classic game in 2004 against W & L, but have suffered losses against others such as Lancaster, Mathews and Colonial Beach. But since those guys are STILL in Region A, I am getting ahead of myself.
My point being that I am sure Coach Coffey is preaching to his troops that they have to be ready each and every night they step out on the floor and therefore they should treat Franklin Tuesday night as if they are the absolute best team they have ever faced. And since we have no way of knowing how each district stacks up against another, who knows....they just might be.
As for the ladies, I can't tell you quite as much about them. I do know that Fort Defiance won its playoff opener in 3-C but I am drawing a blank as to what Wilson did. The previously-mentioned SD/BG boys game will actually be held as a doubleheader since those two girls teams coincidentally finished in the same 3/6 positions.
That leaves Riverheads, which is the number 2 seed in Region 1-B, and the Lady Gladiators will host number 7 Rappahannock County. That game, which will be held Monday night at RHS, is another case of two teams not knowing much about each other. But that uncertainty can make it that much more interesting this time of the year.
I am not sure which other regions do this but Region 1-B alternates boys and girls each night, utilizing all six nights on the calendar this week with Monday/Tuesday quarter-finals, Wednesday/Thursday semis, and the regional title games played on Friday and Saturday nights. You could argue that is a lot of extra work and utilities, but if you believe, as I do, that it should be about what is best for the fans, I think it is wise to give them the maximum entertainment value possible instead of making them choose between a boys and girls game on any given night.
Wilson got off to an early start Friday in the Region 3-C playoffs and as many people expected, things did not go well for the Hornets as they were blasted by Charlottesville 83-56. The remaining four playoff-eligible teams will swing into action including Stuarts Draft, Staunton and Buffalo Gap on the Class 2 level and Riverheads in Class 1.
As mentioned in another thread, the Bison and Cougars will actually start off against one another, and some fans hate to see re-matches that early. But since they seed the top eight teams, it just worked out that SD earned the number 3 seed and the Bison number 6, which pits them against each other. The Draft won both games in the regular season but the one at home was by far the closer of the two, so with the Bison now having had two chances to see them in action and prepare for their style of play, don't be surprised if that one is closer than a 6 at 3 game should be.
Meanwhile up at Page County, the number 4 seeded Panthers will entertain number 5 Staunton. Since they are now in different districts, they did not play this season, but they have played enough times in the recent past and some of those have been intense enough to make this one sound interesting. Might in fact be the best game in Region 2-B that night.
Down in Greenville the Gladiators will make the most of their number 1 seed as they host number 8 Franklin. Although they have now met twice on the football field over about a ten-year period, this will be their first-ever meeting on the hardwood. Despite that number 1 seed and the home court advantage, the Big Red should take absolutely nothing for granted in this game or any other they might be fortunate enough to play.
I say that because this is Franklin's first year in Region B, which means that they were formerly a Region A team. That is worth noting because the Gladiators have NOT had the best of luck playing teams from Region A over the years. They did manage an overtime win in that absolute classic game in 2004 against W & L, but have suffered losses against others such as Lancaster, Mathews and Colonial Beach. But since those guys are STILL in Region A, I am getting ahead of myself.
My point being that I am sure Coach Coffey is preaching to his troops that they have to be ready each and every night they step out on the floor and therefore they should treat Franklin Tuesday night as if they are the absolute best team they have ever faced. And since we have no way of knowing how each district stacks up against another, who knows....they just might be.
As for the ladies, I can't tell you quite as much about them. I do know that Fort Defiance won its playoff opener in 3-C but I am drawing a blank as to what Wilson did. The previously-mentioned SD/BG boys game will actually be held as a doubleheader since those two girls teams coincidentally finished in the same 3/6 positions.
That leaves Riverheads, which is the number 2 seed in Region 1-B, and the Lady Gladiators will host number 7 Rappahannock County. That game, which will be held Monday night at RHS, is another case of two teams not knowing much about each other. But that uncertainty can make it that much more interesting this time of the year.
I am not sure which other regions do this but Region 1-B alternates boys and girls each night, utilizing all six nights on the calendar this week with Monday/Tuesday quarter-finals, Wednesday/Thursday semis, and the regional title games played on Friday and Saturday nights. You could argue that is a lot of extra work and utilities, but if you believe, as I do, that it should be about what is best for the fans, I think it is wise to give them the maximum entertainment value possible instead of making them choose between a boys and girls game on any given night.
