E.Z.DOES.IT

2A 1. Gate City - 2. Martinsville - 3. Dan River - even though Chatham beat Dab River, Still think they are better (anything can happen 1 time with high school age kids) 4. Chatham - 5. Union (right now) but Graham and Richlands could by the end of the season. 1A - We Switched Dick Ha - you were right last time 1. Radford - not seen them play this year but I saw them play a good bit last year and the players are just scrappier and have more fight than GW. and your right more athletic. 2. GW - they can shoot the lights out when hot have good enough size and pieces. But not enough of fight when they get punched in the mouth to be number 1 for me. 3. Honaker - Playing well right now, but I thought Richlands was a good bit better when they played earlier. Honaker has got to find out, are they the team that played Richlands or the team this weekend. They shot the ball well Against GW. The game intangibles went Honaker's way against GW. Might not go that way next time. 4. Eastside 5. Chilhowie

To everyone keeping us posted on the scores and results, it is very nice, thank you. The Gate City vs Wings was absolutely a 50/50 ball game as predicted. Not sure who would win if they played again. However, I submit, Sandy Creek causes some very interesting problems for GC that Wings did not. Agreed Gate City needs a big man. here is my thoughts: Wings best player was a generous 6 foot 6 inches, senior, SF that has played for Wings for at least a couple years. A winning and prestigious academy team located in one of the most recruited areas in the country and he is going to a prep school next year to help get a scholarship that he wants. His center was a 6 foot 4 inch 300 pounder with no D1 offers. Not that bad of a problem for Gate City. Wings likes to trap and cause pressure on the ball. Gate City seems to handle that just fine. As stated above. Sandy Creeks Big men are likely better. Bickerstaff is a 6 foot 7 inch Sophomore SF that plays for his high school team and currently holds 7 D1 offers including Memphis. Not sure about his club team? Bickerstaff has a 6 foot 8 inch C/SF that is a Sr. with 3 D1 offers to partner up with down low. This match up is interesting for a couple reasons. One Sandys strength is GC weakness AND the make-up of this team is very similar (but likely superior) to R.E. Lee, a likely foe for Gate City Down the road. Although Sandy Creek seems to have better guard play. Lee's George is a 6 foot 7 inch SF senior Committed to Marshall. Lee has other bigs on their team to support him as well. Good luck And to answer your question, I am off work for Christmas, and you are right, I need to get a life.

Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you for everyone taking the time to update the scores and results of theses games. It is so nice to go to one site and get all the information at the same time. GW- Over Honaker. Love Honaker's fight and hustle. Blake maybe my favorite player in the state. But... GW shoots the ball to well, has enough size and is just tooooo deep. Basically the same reason why I said GW would beat Richlands. Union - over Central. Despite popular belief there is absolutely no dark horse in the 40th. Its Gate City then Union. head and shoulders

Any predictions on tonight's games? GW over Richlands - GW Beat a really bad MM team. MM couldn't even fill out their line up card and gave me a couple passes sitting in the stands. GW great shooting team. but I could see Richlands winning too. Going to be a great game. Honaker over Bell - Local pick - Bell did not look that good against Ridgeview. Union over Eastside - payback time for the Bears. Wise over JIB - just a guess

They had it before Disney and other hot spots took it over. I think it ended in the late 90. Kingsport had it for about 5 to 7 years maybe longer. From around 1992 to 1997 or 1998 (estimate...)

I saw their record but I also know the caliber of teams they play. Knox is a prep school.... they play other good teams. I think they were shocked at Gate City. you guys remember when they used to have the U15 AAU national championships in Kingsport. Even the bench players were D1 players, not just one or two players off each team like it is with the Arby's tournament.

if the rebounds are close... and that's the key I got Gate City by 10 Bad rebounding night Gate City loses by 12-15

I saw the GC vs. Knoxville Christian game and was super impressed. and your right Rat the rough style maybe a factor. Gate City maybe not be physical enough (very very good point). Wings have one center that is 300 plus pounds. knox Christian was not a physical team. But they were Big! Before the game I thought you would lose by 30 but instead you won by 30. So all I am saying is I am giving them a chance. I guess more than anyone else. Good luck everyone and please keep the scores posted !!!!

At the risk of sounding stupid yet another time... and with the understanding that Wings Academy is deeper as a team and has a height advantage over Gate City..... and after reading some articles about the Arby's tournament basically not giving Gate City much chance... I have to say I think GC has big chance in this game. Around 50 % chance?.... Gate City will have the two most recruited kids in this game despite the Wings Academy reputation. 2 Seniors for Wings have D1 Offers. Jose Perez. 1. Stoney Brook 2. LIU Brooklyn 3. Arkansas State 4.Manhattan and Jordan Bryant 1. Iona. doesn't look like any of the other kids for wings have offers. A couple of recent articles state that small D1 have interest in some of their other players like Turnage, Kamissoko and Kasseem Ouedraogo. all pretty much local offers. The Gate City Jr. and So. have better offers and are younger.. Air Force, Kent State, JMU, Miami of Ohio, and ETSU and a lot more right? from allover the united states. I will bet you that a couple of D1 have interest in the Freshman for GC too. Can GC Rebound with them I don't know.. but why is this such an easy call for the papers? Would love to see that game. Basically the same time as a potential Richland vs. Mountain Mission or GW Match up which I would love to see too.

"I got Raddy at #1 bc their schedule is filled , currently, with 2a, 3a, and 4a schools." I agree comparing scores and scrimmages are not a great indicators of success. But I submit it is better than giving teams credit just because they scheduled bigger teams that are not that good. At least Eastside beat Union your number 5 team in 2 A. sorry about the dead horse. Merry Christmas.

That's part of my point, Abingdon is NOT a good team but they beat the team you are giving Radford credit for beating. keep us posted if you can on the Wise tournament and others. I enjoy your insights. I am going to try to go the Arbys. Just better basketball. Disappointed in the Virginia local team turnout. Mountain Mission B team is still solid. Carroll County is no Mountain Mission B team. Don't know if that is a fair comparison. If GW and Richalnds both losses to the MM B team there is still no shame in that.

I again see your points. Radford is still playing bad teams regardless of the size of schools they play. Abingdon is 3A and GW crushed them. GW has got to be a strong #1 at this points for me. I know it was a scrimmage but Graham did beat Union head to head at Union.

Why Radford? I got them 3rd or probably 4th in 1A west. I admit I have not seen them play this year. I personally think they lost a lot to graduation from their dominating team last year. I understand the injuries BUT they are currently 3-2. They beat Christiansburg twice, once in overtime. Christiansburg is 2-5. Radford with a full squad beat Christiansburg by 10. Abington's ONLY win this year is at Christiansburg by about the same margin of victory as Radford beat Christiansburg with a full squad. GW beat Abingdon by 36. Radford also beat Salem and lost to Salem. Salem is 2-6 with wins only against Christiansburg and Radford. Radford got beat pretty badly by Martinsville. And will likely be 3-3 on Tuesday. 2A 1. Gate City 2. Martinsville 3. Dan River 4. Richlands ( I saw them play Honaker without a couple bigs. I am a believer now... but I still like Graham) 5. Graham Did anyone see both the Richalnds vs. Honaker Game and the Gate City vs. Knoxville Christian games? I would be interested in your thoughts in comparing the level of play and athletes in those two games?

PG shot better than normal, but Honaker can shot the basketball. Richlands was bigger and stronger at about ever position. When Alec was out Honaker had no one protecting the drive. But i think Anderson earned those fouls. I agree with the heart of those Honaker kids... great effort.

Richlands has a lot more size than I remembered. They were taller and thicker than Honaker by far. I may have underestimated Richlands. Very Deep and were missing two big contributors. Some good team in 39 and 40 this year. but also a lot of bad teams too.

Logged on to today to check to see if Larry wanted to take my bet based upon "his rankings." I was hoping I would get a counter offer. Maybe something like having to wash his jeep or something. Instead he decided to suggest i was ignorant. OK. I must be.. Because I fail to see the genius in ranking a team he thinks is better behind team or teams he thinks is not as good. Sorry for my ignorant post Larry.

OK, Larry how much do you want to put on the Union Vs John Battle Games? Baring Major injuries from either team. Name it. (Maybe I Could pick you up a Union Bears shirt to wear to the GC games. if the U wins) Ha ha The Saturdays night game at Gate City .. What do you know about the visitors? I could not find anything on them with the name Knoxville Christian. a little You tube video was about it.

Dick V you make valid points. Lets see how it plays out. Larry... you are normally the voice of reason, but I cant follow your logic on this one.... under your reasoning you may have to put Lee ahead of Union B/C Lee took Eastside to overtime and Union couldn't do that. Oh and Rye Cove beat Lee so is Rye Cove is now better than Union. Come on guys Unions first game was a rusty one and Eastside played well. "The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way you should bet."

Graham "scrimmaged" Union at Union and Honaker at home. Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed you were a Graham fan, that is my fault. Graduation will hurt Graham, I agree with you. From what I am hearing they shoot the ball very well, play solid defense, and I saw very good handles and good decision making last year, I just like them. But its an early season thought on a message board. On a different note: John Battle is a dark horse in the CM? because they beat Eastside? OK?

1. Graham beat down Honaker and Union thus far 2. deep and rebound well. 3. your guards shoot better than most people know and will handle any pressure Martinsville can put on you. 4.Graham always plays harder than any team they play.

1A 1. GW 2. Honaker 3. Radford (for now, when the PG comes back they move up) one spot 4. East side 5. Chilhowie 2A 1. GC 2. Graham 3. Martinsville 4. Richlands 5. Union/ Dan River

Gate City wins by 12 to 18 points

1. Gate city 2. Radford * Gate City and Radford about the same personal - Radford deeper or more experienced but Gate City just a little better players in the starting rotation. Both teams need some more height. But seriously Gate CIty stop crying about experience or whatever. You got 3 D1 Prospects. Next years game b/w Gate City and Radford get there early for a seat. 3. Union - 4. Graham - * both lost big with graduation - I like the best players from Union better. Love the coaching and hustle of Graham. 5. George Wythe - 6. Honaker - 7. Richlands - * Honaker kids play together all year around. Alex is different player all together than Tanner. But will Help. Richland could get together and be number 1 at the end of the year. George Wythe just finished strong last year and was very impressive at the end of the year. Everyone talks about Johnson but don't forget about Atwood. the rest - 8-20 ????

You guys know GC basketball better than I ever will, and if you say your season "depends" on JV players and not the play, leadership and health of the 2 D1 players and a very athletic Sr. in Collier on the GC team, then so be it. Your season DEPENDS on last years JV team. Please forgive me for laughing at you.

Oh yeah, Gate City's season will depend on how much the young guys from the JV can contribute You crack me up.