Boys basketball 4 weeks in

Boy’s basketball has gone under four weeks of business and now it is time for some worthless blog hype. Who’s ready for it? Let’s boogie.

RURAL RETREAT (1-6) (HogoOnline #20)

The Indians finally broke a 27 game losing streak dating back to the 2006-07 season by clipping Narrows 66-61 back on December 5th. Since then, the Indians have amassed a five game losing streak including an overtime loss to district rival Holston in the opening round of the Greever Crouse Memorial tournament. Things are certainly looking up for Rural Retreat despite the 1-6 record. The district appears to be wide-open and the Indians are definitely in the mix to accrue some district wins this season and build the program back up. They start the New Year with a trip to Floyd on the 5th and then make the short trip to Wytheville the next night. This could be a rough way to kick off 2009.

CHILHOWIE (2-7) (HogoOnline #15)

The Warriors may be the most disappointing team to some spectators this year. Thus far winning only 2 of their first 9 games and only managing 32 points against Marion in their most recent contest could spell a long season of trouble for Chilhowie. The Warriors are typically a favorite for second best in the district for basketball and have been there for the past few seasons and most speculated that this season wouldn’t be any different with the return of Tuff Williams. Unfortunately, for Tuff, he’s surrounded by a new starting cast and they have been unable to fuse together as well as coaches and fans had hoped. As with any Chilhowie team, the potential is there as the team is filled with athletes, but not as many basketball players. The Warriors kickoff the New Year at home against county-rival, Marion, in a rematch followed by uninterrupted district play until their home game against Grayson County is rescheduled. The Warriors have shown the ability to score plenty of points averaging 54.4 ppg but fail to stop the opposition from scoring as only three of their seven losses have been within ten points.

PATRICK HENRY (3-5) (HogoOnline #14)

The Rebels have vastly improved over the course of the last two seasons. In 2006-07, the Rebels finished an abysmal 3-18 and last year improved to 7-17. Although not indicative by the 3-5 record, the Rebels are certainly in route to better seven wins. The Rebs kicked off the year with a nail-biting loss to Virginia at home followed by a strong win over Mountain Mission in the First Bank & Trust tournament held at John Battle. A four game losing streak overshadowed the success of the first two games, but three of the four losses were within five points, including an overtime loss to Saint Paul (56-53) and a defeat at the hands of Oak Hill Academy’s Red team (35-30). Johnny Thompson and company were clearly no-match for the Radford Bobcats in the opening round of the Wythe County Christmas Tournament but PH only let the whipping make them better by rallying off consecutive wins in the final two nights of the tournament, topping Bland County and Fort Chiswell. PH kicks off the New Year on the 6th at home against Chilhowie. This game is sure to show how each team will measure up in district play as Patrick Henry feels as though a Division 2 tournament appearance is within reach.

HOLSTON (3-3) (HogoOnline #12)

What is the best way to follow up a disappointing end to a tremendous football season? Take your emotion to the polished hardwood floor provided by your school’s gymnasium. Thus far the Cavs have done just that. Led by Travis Gray, the Cavs have been a factor in proving that the district is about as even as ever. With barely any practice under their belts and fresh out of the Field House, the Cavs were handed a hefty loss by Oak Hill’s red team in the opening round of the First Bank & Trust tournament but managed to collect themselves after the first two losses to route the tourney host, John Battle, 77-63. The Cavs collected three straight wins, topping Battle a second time and squeaking by Rural Retreat in overtime at the Greever Crouse Memorial tournament held at Northwood. There is quite a lay period between the Cav’s last game and their next game. Holston was smacked by Division 1 favorite, Galax, 64-48 on December 18th and don’t hit the court again until January 6th at Northwood. This could give them time to catch up on the practice they missed due to pigskin play, or get fat and lazy. I would opt for the second choice but I don’t play a high school sport.

NORTHWOOD (4-4) (HogoOnline #10)

Chad Bailey’s gents were not expected to factor heavily in the district race after losing several starters and key contributors from last year’s 11-15 squad. Graduation is a nasty beast but didn’t eat up Jeremiah Thompson, Ty Frye, or Dalton Combs among other key players from this season’s promising team. The Panthers have managed wins over John Battle twice, Fort Chiswell, and district foe Rural Retreat. Of their four losses (Grayson County, Marion, Bland County, & Lebanon) only one resulted in a ten point-plus margin and that was to Lebanon (67-39), a team many think will make plenty of noise in Region D’s Division 2 hunt. Using their big men down-low and the excellent shooting abilities of their guards, the Panthers have scored lots of points; However, not scoring quite as many points per game as they have in previous years in their first eight games but winning more games in that stint. In 2006-07, the Panthers averaged 59.1 ppg in their first eight followed by 56.6 last year. This year the Panthers are 56.6 again and off to their best start in the last three years at 4-4 versus 3-5 the previous two.

GEORGE WYTHE (5-4) (HogoOnline #9)

Joey Russell had waited fourteen years for the chance to coach the Maroons and thus far it is clear to all George Wythe fans, success will continue under Coach Russell. Were the fans ever worried? Doubtful. George Wythe has been producing top quality basketball players for years and this season is no different. Although the starting cast is all new faces, those boys are no strangers to the game atmosphere as all of those players had their fair share of playing time during last season’s tour of total domination. One thing is the same for George Wythe, they score a lot of points, really fast. They have eclipsed 80 points already four times this year and reached 78 twice in their first 9 games. Although only 5-4, the Maroons may take a while to gel together, but have all the makings of a typical Hogo champion. Thus far the Maroons have blasted Fort Chiswell twice, which is a team several other Hogo teams have struggled with in close games. The Maroons have been defeated by the Region C’s division 1 favorite, Galax, and the division 2 favorite, Radford. As well as by Pulaski County, the only team to beat GW last year in their state championship season. Next up for the Maroons is Giles, a team that took GW to the wire earlier in the season (84-82) followed by an at-home contest against Wythe County Rival, Rural Retreat. The Hogo better look out, this isn’t the rebuilding year for the Maroons many opponents were hoping for.

============GP ===PPG ===PAPG
George Wythe== 9 ==== 74.7===69.9
Northwood=====8 ====56.6=== 58.1
Holston =======6 ====55.0===58.2
Chilhowie======9 ====54.4 ===59.0
Rural Retreat===8 ====50.9===63.1
Patrick Henry ===8====47.0===52.5