BigWinners

Yeah that’s what it seems like, family simply moved and she is going somewhere else. Kinda refreshing tbh, an athlete moving for no nefarious or self-centered reason. 

Hatfield is an eastern Virginia guy anyway... He loves to see teams from this side of the state get beat down.

Yeah that’s what it seems like, family simply moved and she is going somewhere else. Kinda refreshing tbh, an athlete moving for no nefarious or self-centered reason. 

Yeah that’s what it seems like, family simply moved and she is going somewhere else. Kinda refreshing tbh, an athlete moving for no nefarious or self-centered reason. 

At least Lancaster v Auburn will be a great game. VHS should be super proud tho, incredible season by those kids and in another scenario they could win a state title. But as long as JM is in the 2A bracket no one else will ever win a title. 

I remember when half of the Euro League played at Twin Springs...
But yeah, this doesn't happen anywhere other than at John Marshall.

I agree with you Stripes. I would dare say that most of the kids on Martinsville have never been to Richmond, so just the experience of the trip would be a lifetime memory. I remember when I was keeping the scorebook for the team when they won back to back in 14-15, when I see those young men in the community they don't talk about the games as much as they talk about all the fun we had on the bus trips or other things. Would they have a chance to win, not at all !! But in my opinion you still show up and give your best effort, the VHSL needs to straightened all this out.

And change up the style of play. Losing Reyshawn is a huge blow tho and I don’t know how’ll they replace him. With such a guard heavy team, why is Union playing games in the 40s? They should be pushing the pace and get more easy shots to make up for the half court deficiencies 

I agree and disagree on this.  I agree if it's a first time event for the opponent or JM or a championship appearance where the team hasn't been there for many years such as Martinsville (possibly) this year.  But in Radford's case, Cormany had kind of been there and done that.  Had many deep runs and some titles.  I think there is harm is not giving kids a chance to play, but there is also a lesson learned.  Is the harm to the kids that don't play the game against JM greater than the continuous harm and unfairness that the VHSL is allowing annually with the JM situation?  That's the discussion that isn't 100% clear.  Many could see that both ways.  One could argue there is actually a lesson learned for the kids that don't play JM.  I can see both sides of this.
As for Milan and Muncie Central.  I got to hear Ray Craft from Milan speak in the 90's while at the Univ of Texas.  Incredible thing.  Milan, the true story was much different than the movie.  Sure, Milan was an underdog purely based on school size, but......most people don't know that Milan High went to the state semifinals in 1953, the year before they shocked Muncie Central in the state title game and Milan returned ALL 5 starters from the 1953 team to prepare for the 1954 championship season.  Milan also had 2 kids Plump (Chitwood in the movie) and Ray Craft both play major Div 1 basketball and not just play, they started.  Milan also had a third player play what would be Div 1AA ball back in the day, so yes, small school, major underdog against Muncie, but also much better prepared than the movie let on for 1954.  The difference in John Marshall versus a Gate City in 2024 compared to Muncie Central vs Milan in 1954 is FAR greater in talent disparity.  Milan only had like 160 kids in the school in 1954 compared to Muncie's 2,000 plus, but....the 5 guys they had on the floor weren't chumps.  They could play, including 40% of the starters playing major Div 1 basketball.  It was actually Ray Craft who led Milan in scoring in the title game with 14 points.  Of course Chitwood (Plump) his the job.  Here is the actual real footage, real video clip of the final shot and actually audio recording of the Indiana High School Play by Play Guy that was broadcast that day not just across Indiana, but all across the Midwest nearly 70 years ago to the day.
The real actual shot-video of Plump below
https://www.thestarpress.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/02/21/ihsaa-basketball-1954-ihsaa-state-championship-milan-muncie-central-restored/4822153002/

Milan doesnt beat Muncie Central and no one knows who Bobby Plump is if they dont play the game.  The kids opportunities to play of a state title game are limited to begin with.  Taking the game away from them isnt the right call IMO no matter how people feel about the JM program.  Go and try to win.  You may make something unforgettable happen.  

Why is everyone blaming JM? They just follow the rules as the VHSL sets them. The blame all lies at the feet of the VHSL. Make them fix it. 

Man the entire West is just so mediocre this year. Not one very good team out of the entire half of the state. 

Bostic’ game winner:
 
https://x.com/UBearBasketball/status/1760099792271663614?s=20

I agree with all the above except Union is also on upset alert. I don't even know if Central and Lebanon are upsets. If one or both wins, I would call it a win over a somewhat closely matched opponent.  On an average day, I don't think Union, Lebanon, Graham, and Central are outside 6 points to 7 points of each other, and 6 to 7 points in basketball isn't much. It's not enough for team A to beat team B 90 percent of the time. The margin or chances are more narrow than that.
I'll go GC, Union, VH, and Graham. 

And even that wouldn’t be a total groundbreaking upset. I don’t think any one team is 20+ points better consistently than the others. I firmly believe VHS is a top two team in 2D but if the Cats got in foul trouble or were ice cold shooting, the Pack could maybe keep it close. 
 
I don’t expect Marion to upset GC either but the Canes have a great win this year. RV doesn’t have a signature win and lost to all the top teams they played IIRC. 

TJ is that you?

Whoever the coach is he has to agree to let the McAmis girl play QB.......in a wildcat........with no other RBs or WRs on the field.  
Those are the terms.

And Lebanon beats Graham while GC barely escapes v a mediocre DB team. Parity is name of the game heading into conference tourneys. 

Definitely safe to say that of the 6 teams that are actual contenders to win the region; the only one everyone can pick to win is whoever they’re a fan of

Union beat GC 62-47 tonight at Union. Lose to Wise three times but beats GC by fifteen. Make it make sense!!

I don’t believe Graham is the clear by far top team in 2D if they’re losing by 20 at home to just a pretty good VHS team. I think there’s a pack of 6-8 teams that could all either win the region or lose in round one. 

BigW I agree with you. From Central to Graham to VH to Union to Lebanon to Gate City, there just isn't anything standing out. I still think Graham wins the region if I had to pick a team, but largely by default and here's the thing, it's the same scenario in Region 2C. Add Floyd County and Martinsville and maybe Radford and you have 9 basketball teams that are within 7 points of each other on any given day in the West.  May sound crazy, but I think there's 9 teams thst could represent the West against JM and all 9 have a similar chance. Just my opinion. 
 

I don’t believe Graham is the clear by far top team in 2D if they’re losing by 20 at home to just a pretty good VHS team. I think there’s a pack of 6-8 teams that could all either win the region or lose in round one. 

I don’t believe Graham is the clear by far top team in 2D if they’re losing by 20 at home to just a pretty good VHS team. I think there’s a pack of 6-8 teams that could all either win the region or lose in round one. 

Agreed. I understand needing to get the story up ASAP, that’s how it works with covering a game but if you’re gonna let the emotions of a performance cloud your writing, you should wait and view it more objectively. 
 
Pulaski ain’t beating Narrows anyway IMO, could play 100 teams and the Wave gonna win 90+.