E.Z.DOES.IT

All this excitement for Basketball? This is starting to look like a football thread! Best BASKETBALL players are McClung then Ervin or Ervin then McClung depending on what you are looking for and who is hot. PG from Radford sophomore Quinton Morton-Robertson then the PG From Wytheville Sr. Malik Johnson Unions' Mitchell is Power 5 football player for sure.. Pure athlete and will be on any list of the top whatever. Shooter? I think you will find that McClung had more and a better 3 point % than Ervin last year, but if you have some specific data Rat I would defer to you. Richland has a team full of 3 points shooters and is poised and deep enough to win the 40th vs 39 this season. Grahams is my favorite team to watch. Pure Hustle and fight. Graham and Richalnds will have to play team ball to Beat Gate City this year. Union and Gate City seem to me to have the better athletes but Graham and Richlands basketball teams seem to be deeper and have more complete teams.

Futbolking who is the player that Dan River lost? Is it the 6ft. 4 or 6ft. 5 forward/ guard? Their best player?

Nothing to say. Martinsville was far better and played with passion this weekend. No one else had a chance.

After watching a lot of these games..... I honestly, believe the CMD was more competitive than the State tournament. Good Luck to Ridgeview and Union.

Martinsville has to be favored .... but if Gate city can score 63 or more points limit the turnovers to under 10 and stay with in 7 or so in rebounds with Martinsville. Then Gate City can win. Gate City's high powered offence scored 64 points last game, that is the most anyone has scored on Martinsville all year. I don't see anyone scoring 70 or above. Good Luck GC

Richlands has all 4 or 5 starters back next year? Graham is Always tough! The Freshman will grow and they will have some great guards for the next few years. Dan River Started 4 Jr.'s this year. an It is my understanding that GC has a 6ft 3 in 8th grader that scores a ton? looks fun...

Really? Maybe I am wrong? I was thinking Gate City got beat pretty bad by Martinsville or Dan River 2 years ago in the regional tournament and that wasn't played in Richmond or at VCU and Gate City got thumped by Graham last year at Graham, which is not in Richmond or at VCU, so it had to be at least 3 years ago. Best case scenario your now Seniors were freshman when Gate City went to State and played at VCU. Please forgive me if I am wrong.

I am guessing this weekend match ups for GC and Graham will be very challenging for both teams. I have seen video of Mason and they are very well coached and pretty athletic with some size in the middle. Very difficult match up for anyone really. But, I love how hard Graham plays. When a coach gets his players to play with all they got, you always will be in the hunt for a victory. Good luck! I have not seen anything on Blue Stone, I plan to watch the video supplied in the post given earlier. (thank you for posting it) But I do know, when you travel to Richmond, the atmosphere, the refs, the style of play, the large arena, the crowd, everything is different for SWVA boys. Not sure if any of the GC players has made that trip before? I am wondering how Gate City will react? . Three of Gate City's players play for fully funded shoe company teams that fly them all over the country to play basketball. That experience should help those players. Good Luck!

Just wondering .... Is any of theses kids getting any looks from ETSU? In the past ETSU always undervalued Southwest Virginia players. I was hoping they changed their ways. But I don't see anyone locally signing with them.

Any thoughts on Honaker and Eastside and Radford and GW? Honaker 69 to 54 Radford 63 to 58

Congrats to Graham. They play with so much emotion in the games I have seen. I am guessing that Grahams will and toughness beat Unions length and athleticism last night? Unbeatable at home it seems as well. Good luck in the Semi Friday.

GIRLS- I would be super surprised if VA High girls could do better than 5th in the CMC this year. CMC is stacked for girls. Adding Ridgeview to this girls conference this season was a joy to follow. The thing about high school sports anything can happen. Especially girls. but Ridgeview, Gate City, Union and defending State Champs (x2) Wise Central is one heck of a top 4. BOYS - I couldn't agree more about Martinsville this season. Everyone else is playing for second. I agree Dan River seems like the most likely team to get upset. But I would be interested to know why you believe Graham has the best chance SWVA in 2A this season in beating one of those teams. (other than the schedule does seem to pit the winner of the graham vs. (Likely Quarter finals) Union vs (likely semi finals) Dan River in the region tournament. I watched Graham play early in the season. But that was ages ago now. Graham has really only played 3 good teams this year and has a record of 2-2 against them. Winning the 2 home games and losing the away game with the Beavers and the loss to Honaker. (neutral) Has Graham improved a lot this season? Would you agree that Graham has beaten a lot of bad teams this year? Union has a good team and good athletes. And has played a tougher schedule. Union maybe a hard match up for Graham? Graham maybe a hard match up for Union, but i would submit that Union has just as good of a chance to beat Ran River as Graham. It will be fun to watch next week. good luck to your team... I know, I know, Union may still win the CMC. that would change things ....

Unless the Rules have changed?????? Head to head is not a tie breaker for first place in the CMC. Gate City and "The U" are tied at 10 points a peace regardless the loss record. Gate City must win to have the automatic buy to the regional tournament and home court for the confrence tournament. If GC losses ( and because they will only play Leb. once this season) GC City will still have 10 points. The same as Union. Forcing a playoff with GC and union at a neutral site. Does Graham have and automatic spot in the regional tournament at this point? and Home Court?

Is this game on the internet anywhere?

I would love to hear what people think about this one. This is a really interesting game that no one is talking about. I'm thinking Richlands needs to hit those 3 pointers tonight! It is tonight right?

Very surprised with this team. They moved up in class and join arguably the best 2a girls conference in the state and have dominated.

1. Radford 2. Honaker 3. George Whyte 4. Eastside The 4th spot is hard to pick. The first 3 are easy.

So, you are saying Oak Hill has good basketball players? What are you going to tell us next...... VA. Tech beats UVA every year in FB? JK

Yes. Thank you and my apologies for giving the wrong name to the young man. You are correct. (Barnett - Union) Have not seen Cope play. I will try to now. IMO- GW's Best player M. Johnson is a Jr. or So. not really sure. He broke his foot early, but is back now. He is one of those underclassman I was referring too. Looking forward to seeing Radford, Honaker and GW mixing it up in the region. I know Radford has the big transfer but he does not really fit the roll of a center with his style of play. If Honaker can handle the pressure up top they will be hard to beat with Robinette, but I have to think Radford will win the region and I am guessing the state in the end. Although never count out Coach Burns at GW.

Ok, I will play: Not considering Oak Hill or Mountain Mission right? From Lee to Wytheville? No particular order: Sorry if I make a mistake as to Class (Robinette - Honaker) (Cusano - Eastside) (Barrett- Union) (workman - Graham) (Noaks - Union) (Barnes - Gate City) (Yeary- Lee) (Bowers - Battle or Sutherland - Ridgeview) There are a good bit of underclass that maybe better than the ones listed.

My question for the Gate City faithful, is how will the emotion of beating Union, and then losing by 60 affect the team? It seems like it could cut both ways?

I like Graham in this one too. Not because of talent or skill, just because Graham plays harder than anyone else! IMO.

Gate City's Offense vs.The athletes and defense of Union. Being at home is, of course, a big advantage tonight for Union. James ate Gate City up last year too. Both Freshmen really stood out. If anyone can guard GC's PG it is definitely Union. But Look for Union to take the ball out of his hands early with a no help or some type of junk defense. (box in one of triangle in two)

Doesn't Gate City's JV have a few 8th graders on it?

I think you nailed it, West. I have seen all these teams play except Auburn and Eastside. Only one possible change, I think Richland's could beat both Battle and Ridgeview eh maybe. And you are right Friday will make things more clear.