If the information on the Shenandoah website is correct, our teams have two make-up games Monday, the usual four-game Tuesday slate (although one of those will actually be played Wednesday) and then two more non-district affairs on Wednesday. So if you can't find a game to go to in the next few days, you are not trying very hard! Here is the list:
MONDAY
Buffalo Gap at Nelson County: The Bison won 50-47 just Thursday night at home, but then in their Friday game at Riverheads, leading scorer Addison McGuffin was not in the line-up. We can only assume illness or injury. Even if he were available again, this one might be tough on Nelson's floor, so the Governors will probably even up the series.
Central at Luray: We don't hear much about Central down this way, but I don't think they are having a very good year, so the Dogs are likely expected to win this one.
TUESDAY
Stuarts Draft at Buffalo Gap: Even if the Bison were at full strength, this one would be a challenge. SD will certainly win big, the question is just how big.
Wilson at Stonewall: If there is a toss-up game in this bunch, this might be it. SJ won by three at Wilson earlier, but the Hornets have won some games since then. Just too close to call, but on a hunch, I will go with the Green Team by two. A Wilson win would help my Gladiators stay ahead of Stonewall in the Conference 44 standings, so maybe that is influencing my thinking.
Riverheads at East Rock: ER won by 31 at Riverheads earlier in the season, and as we all know, they are cruising along toward an unbeaten district record and perhaps a deep post-season run. But there are reasons to make me think this one will be closer than the first meeting. First of all, RHS has developed some serious defensive intensity, and has held its last three opponents to an astonishing 28 points per game. Granted they actually lost one of those (33-24) on Saturday, but that is still a pretty impressive stat. Will they hold East Rock to 28 points.....probably not. But the other factor that will work in Riverheads' favor is that the Eagles have a HUGE game coming up the next night (see below) and all the coaching in the world will not keep them from having that game in the back of their minds. So even though it may not be talked about in the locker room, I think the natural tendency for the Eagles will be to think this one is in the bag and to hold back a little. Therefore I personally expect a game in the mid-range, like a 16-18 point win, maybe something like 65-48. I honestly don't think the Gladiators will leave Elkton feeling embarrassed. Riverheads has never won a basketball game at East Rock but maybe the combination of the Gladiators' youth and the diplomas handed out later this year to the Butler/Comer/McNair trio will finally give us a shot in the future.
WEDNESDAY
East Rock at Spotswood: Since I am on the subject, this is the game in question. You can bet that everybody who lives within 10 miles of Rt. 33 East has been looking forward to this re-match between what are probably the best two teams in the Valley. Spotswood won the first time by three, so there is every reason to think this one will be another barn-burner. Therefore I think it will only be natural that the Eagles will want to "save themselves" the night before. As for who will win this one, I think each team may have had a key injury the first time around, or maybe only one of them did, but if both are at full strength, I think you have to go with the home team. Let's say The Wood by 8.
Fort Defiance at Riverheads: This is a non-district make-up game but will still be important to RHS due to the aforementioned need for ratings points. Fatigue seemed to be a factor in Saturday morning's loss to Parry McCluer, but that may have been more of a psychological thing caused by the 10:00 AM tip-off after also playing Friday night. Playing back to back games last week sure did not hurt the Gladiators as they pounded Luray 65-32 just 24 hours after losing at home to Stonewall. So my guess is that those things will be discussed in the locker room and that the Big Red will be ready for the Indians, no matter what happens at East Rock the night before. I say RHS wins by 6 in a defensive struggle similar to their 41-34 win at Fort back in their first game of the season.
Page at Luray: As well documented on here over the years, this is BIG TIME when these two get together in any sport. So for that reason, they are intentionally playing the girls game on Tuesday night and the boys on Wednesday. Smart idea for maximum attendance. The rivalry and the home court may help keep it respectable for the Dogs, but I still expect a 15-20 point Page win.
MONDAY
Buffalo Gap at Nelson County: The Bison won 50-47 just Thursday night at home, but then in their Friday game at Riverheads, leading scorer Addison McGuffin was not in the line-up. We can only assume illness or injury. Even if he were available again, this one might be tough on Nelson's floor, so the Governors will probably even up the series.
Central at Luray: We don't hear much about Central down this way, but I don't think they are having a very good year, so the Dogs are likely expected to win this one.
TUESDAY
Stuarts Draft at Buffalo Gap: Even if the Bison were at full strength, this one would be a challenge. SD will certainly win big, the question is just how big.
Wilson at Stonewall: If there is a toss-up game in this bunch, this might be it. SJ won by three at Wilson earlier, but the Hornets have won some games since then. Just too close to call, but on a hunch, I will go with the Green Team by two. A Wilson win would help my Gladiators stay ahead of Stonewall in the Conference 44 standings, so maybe that is influencing my thinking.
Riverheads at East Rock: ER won by 31 at Riverheads earlier in the season, and as we all know, they are cruising along toward an unbeaten district record and perhaps a deep post-season run. But there are reasons to make me think this one will be closer than the first meeting. First of all, RHS has developed some serious defensive intensity, and has held its last three opponents to an astonishing 28 points per game. Granted they actually lost one of those (33-24) on Saturday, but that is still a pretty impressive stat. Will they hold East Rock to 28 points.....probably not. But the other factor that will work in Riverheads' favor is that the Eagles have a HUGE game coming up the next night (see below) and all the coaching in the world will not keep them from having that game in the back of their minds. So even though it may not be talked about in the locker room, I think the natural tendency for the Eagles will be to think this one is in the bag and to hold back a little. Therefore I personally expect a game in the mid-range, like a 16-18 point win, maybe something like 65-48. I honestly don't think the Gladiators will leave Elkton feeling embarrassed. Riverheads has never won a basketball game at East Rock but maybe the combination of the Gladiators' youth and the diplomas handed out later this year to the Butler/Comer/McNair trio will finally give us a shot in the future.
WEDNESDAY
East Rock at Spotswood: Since I am on the subject, this is the game in question. You can bet that everybody who lives within 10 miles of Rt. 33 East has been looking forward to this re-match between what are probably the best two teams in the Valley. Spotswood won the first time by three, so there is every reason to think this one will be another barn-burner. Therefore I think it will only be natural that the Eagles will want to "save themselves" the night before. As for who will win this one, I think each team may have had a key injury the first time around, or maybe only one of them did, but if both are at full strength, I think you have to go with the home team. Let's say The Wood by 8.
Fort Defiance at Riverheads: This is a non-district make-up game but will still be important to RHS due to the aforementioned need for ratings points. Fatigue seemed to be a factor in Saturday morning's loss to Parry McCluer, but that may have been more of a psychological thing caused by the 10:00 AM tip-off after also playing Friday night. Playing back to back games last week sure did not hurt the Gladiators as they pounded Luray 65-32 just 24 hours after losing at home to Stonewall. So my guess is that those things will be discussed in the locker room and that the Big Red will be ready for the Indians, no matter what happens at East Rock the night before. I say RHS wins by 6 in a defensive struggle similar to their 41-34 win at Fort back in their first game of the season.
Page at Luray: As well documented on here over the years, this is BIG TIME when these two get together in any sport. So for that reason, they are intentionally playing the girls game on Tuesday night and the boys on Wednesday. Smart idea for maximum attendance. The rivalry and the home court may help keep it respectable for the Dogs, but I still expect a 15-20 point Page win.
