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BlueDevil4Life2008

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  1. On the eve of the NCAA Tournament starting up... I began to think. What would our state look like with a free for all in basketball? If Virginia went one classification for a 3 year cycle in basketball like Kentucky what would it look like? It will never happen but why not dream a little bit. I decided to try my hand and see what Southwest Virginia might look like with one classification basketball. The state divided up into 16 regions from 64 districts. If anything it gives Southwest Virginia at least two entries into the pot for a state championship. It would also put all the big city teams Richmond, Ronaoke, Norfolk, etc into a pot of their own to duke it out also. It will never happen but fun to think about what it might look like. I put together at least 2 of the 16 regions as to what I think it might look like if Virginia were one classification basketball. All region winners go to John Paul Jones Arena for a Sweet Sixteen in Charlottesville. Winning a region championship has a lot more importance in this format than what we have now. Teams play up to a 30 game regular season max. Teams play each district team twice. All other teams in their region once...and rotate home and away each year for a total of 18 games. Allows for up to 12 other games with six other opponents or up to 4 other opponents and a tournament with max 4 games to play or two other opponents and two tournaments with a max of 4 games each tournament. Region Championship played at choice of each district each year. District 1 chooses region tournament location one year then D2 the next year, D3 and so on. Region Champion advances to Sweet Sixteen at John Paul Jones Arena Here is what I came up with. Postseason Format Each Year: Districts rotate each year playing each other D1 Rup vs. D2Champ, D3 Rup vs. D4 Champ D2 Rup vs. D1 Champ, D4 Rup vs. D3 Champ Winners meet in Semis, Winners of Semis meet for Region Championship game Next year D1 Rup vs. D3 Champ, D2 Rup vs. D4 Champ D1 Champ vs. D3 Rup, D2 Champ vs. D4 Rup Winners meet in Semis. Winners of Semis meet for Region Championship game. Next year D1 Rup vs. D4 Champ, D2 Rup vs. D3 Champ D1 Champ vs. D4 Rup, D2 Champ vs. D3 Rup Winners meet in Semis. Winners of Semis meet for Region Championship game Region 1 – District 1 Thomas Walker Lee High Rye Cove Twin Springs Region 1 – District 2 Union JI Burton Central Wise Eastside Region 1 – District 3 Gate City Virginia High John Battle Abingdon Region 1 – District 4 Ridgeview Castlewood Lebanon Honaker 2024 Postseason R1 D1 – Twin Springs, Rye Cove R1 D2 – Union, Eastside R1 D3 – Gate City, Virginia High R1 D4 – Honaker, Ridgeview D1 Champ Twin Springs vs. D2 R Up Eastside D1 R Up Rye Cove vs. D2 Champ Union D3 Champ Virginia High vs. D4 R Up Ridgeview D3 R up Gate City vs. D4 Champ Honaker Semis - Eastside vs. Union, Virginia High vs. Gate City Championship - Union vs. Virginia High Region 1 Representative - Virginia High Region 1 Championship played at choice of each district by year. District 1 chooses region tournament location one year then D2, D3 and so on. Region Champion advances to Sweet Sixteen at John Paul Jones Arena Region 2 – District 1 Buchanan County (once consolidated) Richlands Tazewell Graham Region 2 – District 2 Patrick Henry Holston Northwood Chilhowie Marion Region 2 – District 3 Bland County Rural Retreat George Wythe Fort Chiswell Region 2 – District 4 Grayson County Galax Carroll County Pulaski County 2024 Postseason R2 D1 - Graham, Richlands R2 D2 – Patrick Henry, Chilhowie R2 D3 - George Wythe, Fort Chiswell R2 D4 - Carroll County, Pulaski County D1 Champ Graham vs. D2 R Up Patrick Henry D2 Champ Chilhowie vs. D1 R Up Richlands D3 Champ George Wythe vs. D4 R Up Pulaski County D4 Champ Carroll County vs. D3 R Up Fort Chiswell Semis - Graham vs. Chilhowie, George Wythe vs. Carroll County Finals - Graham vs. George Wythe Region 2 Representative - George Wythe Region 2 Championship played at choice of each district by year. District 1 chooses region tournament location one year then D2, D3 and so on. Region Champion advances to Sweet Sixteen at John Paul Jones Arena
  2. It's easy to sit in the seats at the Siegel Center and be an armchair coach and say a coach is a sore loser. Dig deeper. It's easy for JM fans to sit in their seats and say that Class 2 isn't worth their time because they play so much better basketball than what is played in the rest of the state. Dig deeper. They don't want to but they don't care. It's all about winning. You develop your players from your youth league. Develop your players from your middle school program. Develop your players from your JV program. Shoot even add a good player or two from a nearby town. Put together the perfect season. Then go to Richmond and play a team thats been built from Team Loaded AAU. Division 1 players all around. Total mismatch. Beating teams by an average of 60 points. You play them for a state championship and get your behind handed to you. Four months worth of work for the season. Years of watching your seniors grow up from little kids to the amazing players they are now. To watch them get destroyed by a built super team. No chance to win a state championship. Hard work for years gone. Beat by 58 points. And you are going to just say... "Just a better team. We just aren't good enough to win a state championship." If that's your reply..... YOU ARE A BETTER MAN THAN ME.
  3. Saw a post previous to the one I just posted. This isn't Russell County. Russell County hasn't seen female athletes like that come through there like that since............... forever?
  4. Asking about if John Marshall girls team was doing the same thing as the boys team? Sure looks like it. Pretty interesting reads. Class 2 better get ready for a Goliath headed their way in the girls realm now. https://www.maxpreps.com/va/richmond/john-marshall-justices/basketball/girls/roster/ Roster for the John Marshall girls team https://www.maxpreps.com/va/chesterfield/lc-bird-skyhawks/athletes/rmia-crutchfield/?careerid=3fbdb6hdrpik4 Link for R'Mia Crutchfield 6'2 Senior currently before when she was playing for LC Bird https://www.maxpreps.com/va/spotsylvania/courtland-cougars/athletes/kiyah-lewis/bio/?careerid=3d732a9oavt66 Link for Kiyah Lewis while a Jr. Forward for Courtland and TPLS Christian Academy out of Midlothian, Virginia Kiyah Lewis - TPLS Christian Academy out of Midlothian, Virginia. Also a member of TeamLoaded out of Richmond. https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2024/feb/01/jm-girls-dont-play-second-fiddle/ Statement from the article - "Like the JM boys team that is closely associated with Team Loaded Travel (an amateur basketball organization), the girls also polish their skills with the female version of Team Loaded. Coach Burton coaches both the U-15 and U-17 Team Loaded outfits that play in spring and summer." Kiyah Lewis (6-foot junior): “Kiyah, a tall wing and shooting guard, is a transfer from TPLS Christian … we found out about her through Team Loaded.” Kayden Jones (6-foot senior): “She packs a heavy punch; creates lots of space as a passer; she attends Franklin Military but is allowed to play for us.” https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2023/feb/09/jms-lady-justices-go-all-season/ Article from last year Statement from article Blue Forest: White ‘n’ blue clad Justices have one of state’s tallest front lines in Cook, 6-foot-2 junior Mia Crutchfield, a transfer from L.C. Bird, and 6-foot-1 senior Khamaya Early. “Khamaya is the muscle of the team,” says Coach Burton. “Mia is our post presence,” he adds. Supplying plenty of backup is 6-foot Kayden Jones, who attends Franklin Military Academy.in Richmond Logan Rose plays for the girls while her twin, 6-foot-7 Desmond Rose, is an up-and-comer on the boys’ squad Other similarities: Like the JM boys, the girls are closely linked to the Team Loaded AAU travel squad. Coach Burton coached the U-17 team last year, featuring Cook. Key to the City: JM has dominated its Richmond rivals, defeating George Wythe by 62-17 and 70-10, Thomas Jefferson by 85-10 and Armstrong, 88-18. Officer on duty: In addition to coaching, Coach Burton serves as the school’s resource officer and is in his 19th year on the Richmond Police force. Football fans might recall Coach Burton as an All-CIAA linebacker for Virginia Union under former Coach Willard Bailey. Not to be confused: Coach Burton insists his team does not “live in the shadows” of the more publicized JM boys. “We share the practice floor with the boys and we look up to them,” says Coach Burton. “But we’re proud of the way we’ve put our program together, brick by brick. We’re trying to create our own lane.”
  5. Is the vHSL scared of Ty White? It sure seems like it to me. He can run that program and Team Loaded however he wants with no repercussions. Ty White can say that he wants the best for all those kids. Do all of the coaches in Southwest, Northern, Central or Easter Virginia not want the best for their kids? Are they just there for that hefty coaching supplment? You have JM kids going and playing in the Addidas Gauntlet during the summers for Team Loaded..... then all the contacts with other Team Loaded teams from other states gives the lowdown on other quality AAU players from their states who may be up and comers and a great "fit" for JM. In other Class 2 schools, you have athletes who are not just playing basketball. They are playing football, maybe baseball....maybe all three. You have athletes who have to "go get that money" as well.... by having summer jobs to help their families make ends meet or to help pay for car insurance or whatever. You know....there are a lot of quality athletes in Class 2 schools. Quality people too. What sets Class 1 and Class 2 apart for me from the rest of the classes in Virginia is that the idea of community is strong because you have these teams that are homegrown. Athletes that are coached and developed from youth leagues and middle school and JV teams. Because that's the only athletes they have. Now with what Ty White is doing with John Marshall, you have the VHSL saying that "yes...its ok to go out and "recruit" and build your superteam. Whatever that may be. And the VHSL has allowed them to set that precedent. Ty White can say....but my kids...they need a break. My kids are working hard for what they get. My kids are great people and great citizens. So the rest of the state is just a load of crap Ty? Your kids deserve more perks and benefits than what these communities of about 10000 people or less deserve compared to Richmond which has probably more people than some of the Class 2 communities combined? Ty White can make it sound oh so good. He is coach of the year for what he does for JM and the Richmond area. Great! That's all fine and dandy. I want some reporter to flat out have the guts to ask him....how do players like Latrell Almond, Jason Rivera Torres, Roosevelt Wheeler among others find their way to JM from out of state? And for all those JM supporters out there who say JM doesn't need to be with these low class Class 2 schools..... your character is what you do when people around you aren't watching you. I went with a friend of mine to watch JM. To get the experience. The fans were so condescending about "having to play this terrible brand of Class 2 basketball". That "they were way better and deserved way better" than what they were playing. I just had to shake my head. I wanted to say, "Well buddy.... if our coaches could recruit from out of state AAU teams the way your coach grabs players you wouldn't be having this problem." But I kept my mouth shut. Which is what the VHSL is doing also. I say if that's how the VHSL wants to run the state just declassify the entire state to one class. Let's just become Kentucky. One class. 16 regions. That way Southwest Virginia has a definite spot in the Sweet 16 for the state championships. If we get beat we get beat but we have a shot to play for it all. Might as well. The VHSL has now turned basketball into the Old West. Those with the best guns win. And if you can't win with the guns you have...you hire them in. I just want one team to walk on the floor of the Siegel Center and walk over to Ty White with a grin on their face and say, "I'm your Huckleberry." And let things roll how they will. That is what it is going to take. End of story.
  6. You know....its one thing for a person to transfer from Richlands to Abingdon Transfer from Grundy to Wise. Transfer from Lebanon to Honaker. Getting 4 and 5 star players from out of state. Different ball game. But if you ask Ty White how they get players from North Carolina, New York City, Baltimore, Georgia or wherever else you will probably hear crickets. (You guys can make your own assumptions from this info.) Judge for yourself. https://opendorse.com/profile/jason-rivera-torres - Jason Rivera Torres https://vucommodores.com/roster/jason-rivera-torres/ Jason Rivera Torres https://gopack.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/dennis-parker, jr./12407 Dennis Parker Jr. https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2023/jun/22/dennis-parker-jrs-ascension-nc-state-fueled-academ/ Dennis Parker Jr. https://vcuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/roosevelt-wheeler/4819 Roosevelt Wheeler for VCU down at bottom of page "I wear number 4 because I come from the 404 and the 804" The 404 area code is Atlanta, Georgia. https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2019/jan/18/sophomore-roosevelt-wheeler-john-marshall-highs-ta/ - Roosevelt Wheeler https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2020/nov/19/jms-roosevelt-wheeler-chooses-louisville/ Roosevelt Wheeler Some background is in order. Wheeler grew up in Atlanta before moving to Hampton. He later moved with his mother, Deborah Davis, from Hampton to Richmond’s North Side prior to last school year. He went directly from Hampton’s Lindsey Middle School to John Marshall High’s state championship varsity a year ago. Last summer, Wheeler was a dominant force on Team Loaded AAU that posted a 40-0 record while claiming a national title. https://247sports.com/player/latrell-allmond-46134994/ - Latrell Almond originally from North Carolina https://prephoops.com/2021/11/top-100-latrell-almond-north-carolina/ Latrell Almond Southern Pines, North Carolina / O'Neal Prep School / Team Loaded NC https://vcuathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jason-nelson/4820 Jason Nelson for VCU https://hamptonpirates.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/elijah-seward/4749 Elijah Seward Hampton https://prephoops.com/2017/04/vhsl-freshman-state-teams/ Elijah Seward https://prephoops.com/2018/12/prospect-spotlight-elijah-seward-2020/ Elijah Seward Team Loaded Foundation Jack Herron @jwherron10 Jan 25 2019 on Twitter - D1s need to forget about his height. I'm buying stock in 2021 Jason Nelson of Varina. Every time I see him he impresses me more and more. Shot the ball well, made good decisions. 6-1 ATO tonight. Smart, tough, skilled, HOOPER
  7. The problem isn't with John Marshall playing for a state final every year. It is how they are doing it. When you bring in players from New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Baltimore that are Division 1 recruits from other prep schools and are ranked in the top of their state to play at a Class 2 public school. That is where the problem lies. The coach will say over and over that he and his staff does not recruit kids to come to John Marshall yet when you ask him how kids from these states end up in his program when they are already at top prep schools anyway then he can't give you an answer and all you hear are crickets. That's the problem with John Marshall. Besides... that fact that Richmond city has nearly a quarter of a million people inside its city limits at 226,000 and has a Class 3 school in Thomas Jefferson and a Class 2 school in John Marshall is downright laughable. You could add up the population of the top 7 communities in the state quarterfinals and leave John Marshall out and you would be hard pressed for those 7 communities to equal the population of Richmond. Even with that .. when you have a population of nearly 250000 people and you still have to bring in top talent to your school to play. That doesn't say a whole lot about Richmond in general. If you think I am lying about them bringing in talent from other states, do your research and see where their talent came from the past three or four years. I promise you that the almighty Ty White didn't develop his talent in his own middle school or JV program. That's a promise. In my opinion, with Virginia passing the NIL and everythng. Then John Marshall has done went and set the precedent for every team in the state to go ahead and build their own superteam. And until someone or a few schools in the state do that then nothing will ever change.
  8. I know they found a loophole to be able to host the Region D tournament at Gate City instead of the Prior Center at UVA Wise. Because of that, I believe that if Gate City doesn't win the Region D Tournament on its home floor then that is just a total wash. There is no way they should lose any game on their home floor. Marion is not that good. Marion has been absolutely rolled by Virginia High. They just about were not good enough to beat a bunch of Class 1 Region D teams that couldn't hold a pail of water for the bottom of Class 2 Region D. If Marion does anything, I expect them to get toasted with butter when they come to Gate City. Say a score of 84-32. It will be bad. As for the rest of the Region D Tournament.... 1) GC vs 4)Marion —- GC ....... we have already spoke of this. 2)Graham vs 3)Central —- Graham. Central isn't that good. They had a fluke win at Gate City last year and they will never ever win at Gate City ever again. They won't make it to Gate City this year to win again after this game. 1)VA High vs 4) RV —- VA High ... Virginia High is the second best team in Region D. They can beat just about anyone... except the Blue Devils. Like Central they had themselves a fluke win in the past region tournament at Gate City. They won't win again. Southwest District just isn't good enough to beat the Mountain 7 for a Region D championship. Ridgeview may put up a fight for a quarter. Thats about it though. 2) Union vs 3) Lebanon —- Union in a squeaker They should probably beat Lebanon by about 1. Lebanon will put up a fight. Union though won't make it past Virginia High once they beat Lebanon.. Just aren't good enough. Just aren't tough enough. Just don't have what it takes. Even if they made it to the Region D finals and faced anyone from that bracket....they wouldn't be good enough to beat Gate City. Not at all. Don't have what it takes. They woudn't have won state when they did if it wasn't for Covid and Richmond City telling their schools they could n't compete. Sometimes you're the bird catching the worm. They caught a big one during Covid. Region D Semifinals Gate City vs. Graham at Gate City Gate City 67 Graham 43 Virginia High vs. Union at Gate City Virginia High 75 Union 58 Region D Finals Gate City vs. Virginia High - Gate City Gate City 82 Virginia High 60 State Quarterfinals Gate City vs. Martinsville - Gate City Gate City 78 Martinsville 48 Virginia High vs. Floyd County - Floyd County Floyd County 79 Virginia High 73 State Semifinals Gate City vs. Floyd County - Gate City Gate City 77 Floyd County 46 State Finals Gate City vs. John Marshall
  9. No offense to the person indicated on the sign but when you come into Gate City on the bridge off the highway..... and up on the right when you see a sign that says Gate City Home of ________________ the state Attorney General. That tells you all you need to know about Gate City. This person was the state attorney general for three years from 2002 to 2005. Nearly 20 years ago. Mac is now a back to back NBA Dunk Contest Champion.... once the all time leading scorer in the state of Virginia. Yes he has his initals and number on the high school court....but that should have been done. He helped pay for it out of sales of his jersey! You would think after ALL of the exposure the town has received nationally from this.... they would do something for him. By now anyway. Name a street after him. Put up a sign or something honoring him. At least Kingsport..... on each end of the city limits each and west.......they have signs up honoring their state championship teams. Do you know how impressive it would be to see signs beside the road from the city limits leading all the way up to the school honoring ALL of our state championship teams? You would think a town who prides itself on its athletic achievements would show more pride in publically honoring them. I mean...if anyone is bringing in business (as far as consumer buying) to Scott County these days. it is definitely its athletic teams. Thank God we have that. If we didn't buisnesses around here would go broke.
  10. Where are the Region D tournament locations for Class 1 and 2 this year?
  11. 1. Gate City - Class 2 - Mountain 7 2. Virginia High - Class 2 - Southwest 3. Marion - Class 2 - Southwest 4. Central Wise - Class 2 - Mountain 7 5. Lebanon - Class 2 - Southwest 6. Graham - Class 2 - Southwest 7. Honaker - Class 1 - Hogoheegee 8. Union - Class 2 - Mountain 7 9. Chilhowie - Class 1 - Hogoheegee 10. Abingdon - Class 3 - Mountain 7 11. Ridgeview - Class 2 - Mountain 7 12. Eastside - Class 1 - Cumberland 13. Grundy - Class 1 - Black Diamond 14. John Battle - Class 2 - Mountain 7 15. Patrick Henry (Glade Spring) - Class 1 - Hogoheegee 16. Richlands - Class 2 - Southwest 17. Twin Springs - Class 1 - Cumberland 18. Thomas Walker - Class 1 - Cumberland 19. Lee - Class 2 - Mountain 7 20. Northwood - Class 1 - Hogoheegee
  12. Mountain 7 Tournament Championship @ Gate City MS 1. Gate City defeats 2. Union Class 2, Region D Quarterfinals - Prediction 1. Gate City vs. 4. Marion 2. Union vs. 3. Lebanon 3. Ridgeview vs. 2. Graham 4. Central Wise vs. 1. Virginia High Class 2, Region D Semifinals 1. Gate City vs. 2. Graham 1. Virginia High vs. 2. Union Class 2, Region D Championship 1. Gate City vs. 1. Virginia HIgh Class 2 State Quarterfinals 1. Gate City (D) vs. 2. Floyd County (C) 1. Martinsville (C) vs. 2. Virginia High (D) Class 2 State Semifinals 1. Gate City (D) vs. 1. Martinsville (C) Class 2 State Finals 1. Gate City (D) vs. 1. John Marshall (A)
  13. 1. Gate City - Class 2 - Mountain 7 2. Graham - Class 2 - Southwest 3. Virginia High - Class 2 - Southwest 4. Lebanon - Class 2 - Southwest 5. Union - Class 2 - Mountain 7 6. Honaker - Class 1 - Hogoheegee 7. Marion - Class 2 - Southwest 8. Central Wise - Class 2 - Mountain 7 9. Chilhowie - Class 1 - Hogoheegee 10. Abingdon - Class 2 - Mountain 7 11. Ridgeview - Class 2 - Mountain 7 12. Patrick Henry (Glade Spring) - Class 1 - Hogoheegee 13. Grundy - Class 1 - Black Diamond 14. John Battle - Class 2 - Mountain 7 15. Eastside - Class 1 - Cumberland 16. Richlands - Class 2 - Southwest 17. Twin Springs - Class 1 - Cumberland 18. Northwood - Class 1 - Hogoheegee 19. Thomas Walker - Class 1 - Cumberland 20. Lee - Class 2 - Mountain 7
  14. 1. GATE CITY - CLASS 2 - MOUNTAIN 7 2. LEBANON - CLASS 2 - SOUTHWEST 3. VIRGINIA HIGH - CLASS 2 - SOUTHWEST 4. PATRICK HENRY - CLASS 1 - HOGOHEEGEE 5. CHILHOWIE - CLASS 1 - HOGOHEEGEE 6. CENTRAL - CLASS 2 - MOUNTAIN 7 7. UNION - CLASS 2 - MOUNTAIN 7 8. RIDGEVIEW - CLASS 2 - MOUNTAIN 7 9. ABINGDON - CLASS 2 - MOUNTAIN 7 10. HONAKER - CLASS 1 - HOGOHEEGEE
  15. BOYS 1. Union - Mountain 7 2. Gate City - Mountain 7 3. Virginia High - Southwest 4. Lebanon - Southwest 5. Ridgeview - Mountain 7 6. Abingdon - Mountain 7 7. Marion - Southwest 8. Grundy - Black Diamond 8, Honaker - Hogoheegee 10. Patrick Henry - Hogoheegee
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