Although the regular season just wrapped up Tuesday, the 'Doah is jumping right into its district tournament with a four-game slate tonight. That of course has the potential to be an exciting event, but for some of us old-timers, having the games at the home court of the highest seeds, which is the way the entire tournament will go, just takes away some of the fun.
There is nothing more exciting than jamming fans up against each other from four or even six different schools all in one neutral facility and letting the teams battle it out. We had for example some amazing nights at EMU not too long ago, and those of us who have been around longer might even have our memories of games at Western Albemarle or even the old, REALLY OLD, VMI Fieldhouse. (Those younger ones are saying "WHAT??? WHERE????")
But it is what it is and we will take it. I am not completely sure on this point, but it is possible that the tournament will not directly impact anyone's position in the regional tournament, which is still ten days away. I know that for the Group 1 teams (RHS and Stonewall) their regional spots are in fact locked in due to point standings, but that may or may not be the case for the Group 2 teams. So maybe some or all of them really do need to do the best they can in the district tournament as opposed to just playing it for its entertainment value. Whatever, here is the line-up:
1) # 8 Stonewall at # 1 RE Lee: For Stonewall the goals in this one should simply be to gain experience playing a tough opponent and to stay injury free. We all knew coming in to the season that Lee would dominate the district, but there were a few glitches along the way that kept it from being a complete runaway. They will nevertheless be the heavy favorite to take the crown and perhaps go far toward defending their state title. If there is a bright spot for the other teams in the district, it would be that we will not have Vaughan and Williams to contend with next year, so "maybe" another team might have more of a shot.
2) # 7 Luray at # 2 East Rock: The Bulldogs had some internal struggles this year but to their credit they stuck with the program and won a few games along the way. On paper they don't look like a team that can or will go very far, but strange things can happen in tournament play. The sheer size of J R Green poses a challenge for just about anybody against them. As for East Rock, they would have given Lee an even more serious challenge this year if Chris Rogers had stayed on, but he took his talents elsewhere, which is apparently working out well for him. The Eagles have been doing just dandy without him, and Dalton Jefferson can take over a game when you least expect it from anywhere on the court. A semi-final game between them and Stuarts Draft, if it comes to pass, has the potential to be the game of the tournament.
3) # 6 Page at # 3 Stuarts Draft: Although I only saw two of their games, I get the idea that the Panthers have had a wild season. I have read about a number of 1 and 2 point games, which tells me they have kept the fans on the edge of their seats. If I am not mistaken, they beat their arch-rival Luray three times this year, so that had to be a satisfying accomplishment. As for SD, they have perhaps exceeded expectations because they have made their high-powered offense work yet another year without the presence of a superstar (remember Jamal from a few years ago?) or without a true big man. This one, as all Draft games do, will come down to a case of how well they shoot the three. If they "only" hit 9 like they did against Lee the other night, then Page certainly has the talent to hang with them and pull out the win. But when the Cougars go off and hit 27, as they did against Luray, then they are pretty much unstoppable. If they are either suffering from a hangover from Tuesday's Lee humiliation and/or overlooking the Panthers toward a game with East Rock, that could play into Page's hands.
4) # 5 Riverheads at # 4 Wilson: In most tournament situations a 4/5 game is just naturally unpredictable, and this one should be no exception. Wilson won by 7 at home the first time around, but then RHS shocked everyone in the return match in Greenville by blowing out the Hornets 71-39. So the key to this rubber match will be.......did Riverheads gain enough confidence from that one to do it again on the road? or did they make the Hornets mad enough to seek revenge? Either way, the winner has a trip to Lee next on the docket, so be sure to get plenty of rest over the weekend. You will need it.
Semi-final games, again at the highest seeds, will be Wednesday the 14th.
There is nothing more exciting than jamming fans up against each other from four or even six different schools all in one neutral facility and letting the teams battle it out. We had for example some amazing nights at EMU not too long ago, and those of us who have been around longer might even have our memories of games at Western Albemarle or even the old, REALLY OLD, VMI Fieldhouse. (Those younger ones are saying "WHAT??? WHERE????")
But it is what it is and we will take it. I am not completely sure on this point, but it is possible that the tournament will not directly impact anyone's position in the regional tournament, which is still ten days away. I know that for the Group 1 teams (RHS and Stonewall) their regional spots are in fact locked in due to point standings, but that may or may not be the case for the Group 2 teams. So maybe some or all of them really do need to do the best they can in the district tournament as opposed to just playing it for its entertainment value. Whatever, here is the line-up:
1) # 8 Stonewall at # 1 RE Lee: For Stonewall the goals in this one should simply be to gain experience playing a tough opponent and to stay injury free. We all knew coming in to the season that Lee would dominate the district, but there were a few glitches along the way that kept it from being a complete runaway. They will nevertheless be the heavy favorite to take the crown and perhaps go far toward defending their state title. If there is a bright spot for the other teams in the district, it would be that we will not have Vaughan and Williams to contend with next year, so "maybe" another team might have more of a shot.
2) # 7 Luray at # 2 East Rock: The Bulldogs had some internal struggles this year but to their credit they stuck with the program and won a few games along the way. On paper they don't look like a team that can or will go very far, but strange things can happen in tournament play. The sheer size of J R Green poses a challenge for just about anybody against them. As for East Rock, they would have given Lee an even more serious challenge this year if Chris Rogers had stayed on, but he took his talents elsewhere, which is apparently working out well for him. The Eagles have been doing just dandy without him, and Dalton Jefferson can take over a game when you least expect it from anywhere on the court. A semi-final game between them and Stuarts Draft, if it comes to pass, has the potential to be the game of the tournament.
3) # 6 Page at # 3 Stuarts Draft: Although I only saw two of their games, I get the idea that the Panthers have had a wild season. I have read about a number of 1 and 2 point games, which tells me they have kept the fans on the edge of their seats. If I am not mistaken, they beat their arch-rival Luray three times this year, so that had to be a satisfying accomplishment. As for SD, they have perhaps exceeded expectations because they have made their high-powered offense work yet another year without the presence of a superstar (remember Jamal from a few years ago?) or without a true big man. This one, as all Draft games do, will come down to a case of how well they shoot the three. If they "only" hit 9 like they did against Lee the other night, then Page certainly has the talent to hang with them and pull out the win. But when the Cougars go off and hit 27, as they did against Luray, then they are pretty much unstoppable. If they are either suffering from a hangover from Tuesday's Lee humiliation and/or overlooking the Panthers toward a game with East Rock, that could play into Page's hands.
4) # 5 Riverheads at # 4 Wilson: In most tournament situations a 4/5 game is just naturally unpredictable, and this one should be no exception. Wilson won by 7 at home the first time around, but then RHS shocked everyone in the return match in Greenville by blowing out the Hornets 71-39. So the key to this rubber match will be.......did Riverheads gain enough confidence from that one to do it again on the road? or did they make the Hornets mad enough to seek revenge? Either way, the winner has a trip to Lee next on the docket, so be sure to get plenty of rest over the weekend. You will need it.
Semi-final games, again at the highest seeds, will be Wednesday the 14th.
