Aaron Williams is back at Burton now. He could take the boys job or the girls coach could take the boys so Williams could coach his daughter’s junior/senior seasons.
Gate city would be a tough place to coach. After the big 3 you will never live up to the expectations surrounding that job. Just setting someone up for failure.
There’s definitely no grey area in this one. Here goes…the specifics so no one has to guess, wonder or speculate.
Coach was going off on his kids after they came off the field. It was in a huddle between dugout and first base. There was some inappropriate comments and then he called out two kids who were injured but were still playing through it. One kid, a Captain, smiled and shook his head. He said he did this as a reaction because he was shocked he was getting cussed at and he specifically told coach he was good and could play through his injury. Coach asks him “You thinking this is f&@ing funny?” And proceeds to get in kids face, forcibly chest bump him and threatens him to “Smile again.” He then tells the kid to “get the f$&k out of here”. The kid steps around the coach to leave the huddle and coach grabs his arm and tells him “You’re f$&ing useless.” Kid takes his jersey off in the dugout, packs up and leaves. Said kid is a senior captain and laid out to make a fantastic catch the previous inning.
Coach lost his shit and doesn’t deserve to lead young men. There were other instances of berating his players publicly and inappropriate comments.
This goes on more than you guys would believe. I could tell some stories.
Don’t undervalue Battle’s experience and talent all over the field and 3-4 deep in bullpen. Even though they have 2 solid P starters….they have tenured experience at every position on the field.
Hankins and gobble are definitely the best 2 pitchers. Against Abingdon and Lebanon, they have to be on the mound. Against anyone else in this area you can go deeper.
Gobble pulled Hankins to save for nondistrict game against LCA. Possibly cost them the game and lost to LCA anyway. Don't know if he assumed they could beat Abingdon with other pitching or got greedy hoping to win both games.
Which team looked better? If Abingdon had 5 errors in one inning that seems like an anomaly that pushed the game Battle’s way.
Battle jumped out early with Hankins HR and kept a small lead (3-2 I think)until Abingdon had their error inning. I thing it was 6-2 when Abingdon finally got out of that inning. Abingdon bats got hot in the 6th and tied it up 6-6 after Humphreys HR. Coach Gobble brought Hankins in for a short time but pulled him for pitch count. Turned out to be costly decision. Greear had a walk off single for the win.
IMO, Abingdon’s youth shows. Freshmen and sophomores on the left side when Humphreys is on the mound. In big games, Battle will go as far as Porter Gobble and Hankins can take them. Both teams will do well until they get a cluster of games and have to go deep on the mound.
One idea I think is worth considering is adding a third-place game to the tournament, statewide. This wouldn’t entirely fix the John Marshall issue, but it gives teams who have to deal with a powerhouse on their side of the state a chance to go to Richmond. Stagger state brackets one week apart so VCU hosts Classes 1, 2, and 3 Thursday-Saturday one week and 4, 5, and 6 the next week. The four teams that advance to the state semifinals get in. The two losing teams in the semifinals play each other for third place, followed by the winning teams playing for first place. Each class gets their own day - this would require a little more travel, but bring in double the fans. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams get a trophy.
For example, an all-day Class 4 state tournament would have looked like:
(Girls followed by Boys) Tuscarora vs King’s Fork doubleheader for 3rd/4th
(Girls) Pulaski County vs Hampton for 1st/2nd
(Boys) E.C. Glass vs Varina for 1st/2nd
Class 3:
(Girls) Meridian vs LCA for 3rd/4th
(Boys) Skyline vs Cave Spring for 3rd/4th
(Girls) Brentsville District vs Carroll County for 1st/2nd
(Boys) Hopewell vs Northside for 1st/2nd
Class 2:
(Girls) Gate City vs John Marshall for 3rd/4th
(Boys) Floyd County vs Brunswick for 3rd/4th
(Girls) Clarke County vs Central for 1st/2nd
(Boys) Radford vs John Marshall for 1st/2nd
Class 1:
(Girls) Buffalo Gap vs Burton for 3rd/4th
(Boys) Auburn vs Altavista for 3rd/4th
(Girls) Rappahannock County vs Eastside for 1st/2nd
(Boys) George Wythe vs Lancaster for 1st/2nd
IMO, it’s not so much about going to Richmond as it is about getting bumped by a team built to dominate because of a loophole in their school district rules. Playing for 3rd place is participation trophy thinking and only gives the VHSL more money(that’s all they really care about anyway).
As for the shot clock, I would be hesitant on 35 seconds. Maybe 45/60 sec. A quick clock will force many bad shots and hurt the overall game. I am not a fan of stall basketball either, but I also hate to see players throwing up horrible shots because the clock is running out.
Does anyone know if the new shot clock would eliminate the 10 second count for crossing half court and/or the 5 second rule for individuals since you are already forcing the play of the game?
I would like to see the old jump ball rule reinstated. Actually jump at the free throw lines when called. Officials have abused the jump ball rule because it’s easier to call that to call the foul. It’s basically an escape call and happens too often. Officials would be hesitant to make that call if they knew it would result in actually jumping. It feels like some games have 20+ jump ball calls.
I do like the suggestion for 2 halves. Not sure the 3 point line moving is gonna change anything. The Steph Curry age is here and kids are gonna keep jacking up 3’s no matter what.
Since the VHSL is OK with Richmond having a wider area to pull players from, I say they should just have open enrollment for all schools. Allow players to play at any school as long as they begin the school year there. I am sure Scotty Boyd would have loved the opportunity to pull all of his SWVA Heat players together for Single A Honaker. Mcclung, Ervin, James Mitchell, etc. Would have been laughable then as well. What they are allowing at John Marshall is a disgrace. Not only does it screw over all other 2A teams, look at the actual kids at that school who get cut to allow this to happen. At least Oak Hill has a B team for the school kids to try out for.
If by chance you have 5 guys who can handle the ball very very well and you get to face John Marshall in the 2A Final, do us all a favor down here. Call on the spirit of Dean Smith and just go the Carolina 4 Corners and hold the ball on those guys.
I'm sure Ty White would be so frustrated at his number one team not being able to score more than 20 to 30 points in the first quarter and how that would look so bad on him and his recruited private school public school team. If I'm playing that team full of recruited jokers and I have a team that I know can handle the ball, I'm going to go spread 4 corners and make them work for every single thing they get. If I get beat heck I get beat. But you want to have some fun and get all the fans who don't want JM to win on your side and make it a ballgame??? Go do that 4 corners. The NFHS Network would blow up with people trying to watch this going on. I can see it now.
Final from VCU's Siegel Center
John Marshall 21
Radford 6
I would bow in the utmost respect to any coach that does this. And I'm sure the point would get across I would hope. But to me, It would be awesome!
Just my take. Any others?
Have one player cross into front court corner with ball and other 4 form a half circle “screen” to prevent defenders from getting close enough to guard or get 5 second call, lol.
I see the point about instigating but it’s still words vs. physical action. Most fans/parents yell from the bleachers during games whether it be directed at coaches, officials, or players. Very few of them are yelling positive things. Unless they can prove that he made a credible verbal threat, there’s not much they can do. WJHL posted that an investigation is underway. It will take a while for all details to leak.
I don’t know Rife, Lowe or Lawrence personally. I am basing my opinions on what went down before the season and the video from the game. Neither one of them were innocent by any means but the fact is that Rife chose to make it physical and that’s inexcusable for anyone, especially a school employee on school property. That crossed into a legal matter at that point.
When wise went into a stall offense, Rife stayed in a zone defense with Trivette in the paint leaving 2 guards chasing 3 girls passing it around the perimeter. No chance at a steal or putting pressure on the ball handlers.
Been reading some old threads about Rife pushing Lowe out. Administration appears to shoulder much of the blame for what happened. They removed Lowe, ignored parents discontent and targeted the parent involved with Rife last night. He was in line to get a boys coaching position but once his family voiced their feelings publicly, the board essentially refused to allow him to have any affiliation with the program. This was a power play that blew up in their face and makes sense why Rife lost his mind at the game like he did.
Doesn’t matter what parent said. Rife is a school employee and cannot attack a parent. Watched the video many times, Rife jumped the chair and became physical. Grounds for immediate dismissal and legal charges.
It's the CONNECTIONS that the coach has at Marshall that is pulling the kids. Most coaches, if not all in Richmond, are trying to get kids, but they don't have the same Connections that the Marshall coach has. In Hampton for DECADES with Mike Smith, they had several kids go on to play in the NFL starting as early as the 60's, then the 70's, 80's and 90's and these former players were around the program after the NFL with Head Coach Mike Smith. Mike Smith had the Connections, and every kid in Hampton, Newport News, Phoebus area that was a great football player was beating down the door to get to Hampton High, and the process becamse circular. Winning, talent, more winning, more talent, and just rinse and repeat until Hampton finally fell off (after about 50 or so years).
That’s totally implied. But it’s on two fronts. They want to play on his team for what he can do for them and he is getting the best possible players to make his team what it is. He’s not taking scrubs and making players out of them. He’s taking tremendous athletes and combining them with 9-10 other stars to dominate.
I have a few questions since I just don't know 100% of the facts.
1. What allows John Marshall to do this? Is there something different about the type of school they are from other public schools in Virginia?
2. Is there anything preventing other schools from doing this?
3. What's the legality of all of it? Is it actually "illegal" and the VHSL just turns a blind eye to it all?
4. What if a school from this area wanted to do this. What would that school need? Money for housing? Do parents need to move? Recruiting coordinator?
5. Is there anything preventing a school from SWVA to have those things? Do you need to have sponsors/parents/fans put money up for this to happen?
6. If there is nothing preventing other VHSL teams from doing this then Is it simply that people/coaches/schools want to keep it in house? Develop and grow people from SWVA instead of recruit out of state kids? Do school boards, administrators play a role in not allowing other schools/coaches/teams to do this? Would it be too much of a headache? Does the community simply want to keep it traditional?
I completely agree that there is no need for a team of this caliber to compete in 2a. It prevents opportunities for our area to go and get a championship. I'm kind of shocked that other schools aren't saying to themselves in football, basketball, soccer, baseball, etc. that if John Marshall can do it then we can to.
We all know there is some level of recruiting all over the country in high school sports but I know a lot of people have adopted a "win at all costs" mentality so why don't we see more schools doing this?
If I remember correctly from the first time this was discussed, the city of Richmond has a rule that anyone within the full city radius is allowed to choose any school within that same radius regardless of district lines. The Richmond metro area has a population so 1.2 million people so that puts all other 2A schools at a major disadvantage. Plus, the rumors of players being from other states brings in a whole other controversy.
Whoever LWC is, is obviously still salty over the Aaron Lowe firing. No one else has any reason whatsoever to go online and diminish the girls basketball team.
Just hard to tell who it is though, he definitely has a big, loyal following that is willing to do his shit talking. It’s a real shame, he needs to move on. You know, move on. They are doing just fine without him.
Don't have a dog in this fight but with Trivette they would do just fine with anyone's grandma coaching. Only time will tell with Rife when they get to region and have to get by mountain 7.
I think most people have different opinions on how in shape you should be for girls basketball. From all the games I have watched this year, Richlands seems to be in about the middle. Carroll County and Gate City are on another level entirely. They don't stop and go 8 girls deep with intensity. Other than Mccamis, I think Wise is pretty slow. Ridgeview seems to be a little above Wise and Richlands on speed and endurance. With Richlands, Trivette plays the top of their half court defense and then snowbirds hoping for the turnover and layup. The other girls don't see the need to run down the floor and follow her. They play decent 1 on 1 defense on the perimeter.
She pulled her down by her pony tail. It was the right call
I sent back and watched it again. I agree it was the right call. I had to watch it a couple times because it happened fast. Lol, a little dramatic to say she "pulled her down" though. Just gave it a hard tug. I noticed that Dotson substituted that girl in for that play and didn't act at all surprised by what happened though.
Virginia High is the best team in far Southwest Virginia right now by a mile. Anyone who says they are not really do not give them the respect they deserve. They lost to a Tennessee High team by 5 I believe. A Tennessee High team that pretty much destroyed Dobyns Bennett in Viking Hall. I believe they play Abingdon tonight. If they play fast and go at the big guys, Ramsey and Osborne, they should easily beat the Falcons by 10-15 in my opinion. Virginia High is way better than most want to believe in these parts.
Va high is athletic once again but other than #1 I think it was, they can't shoot outside the paint. The big lineup for Abingdon was too much for them. Each time abingdon went 3 guards, va high was able to close the gap but the only way they could guard the big lineup was to foul.
I watched the Honaker and Wise games on nfhs. Ridgeview is playing really well. Wise appeared to be a little weak after the main three (Mccamis, Jordan, Looney). Ridgeview is deeper at guard position and Hill played well. I am no Wise fan by any means and am glad to see Ridgeview beat them but the intentional foul at the end was a joke call by Conley I think. Approx. 20 seconds left, Ridgeview up either 1-2 pts, and they are trying to foul to stop clock. It was a very simple, easy foul. Nothing overly physical, no shove, just hands on the girl. That was the wrong call for that situation.
Dang, what’s the average shelf life for an Abingdon Coach? They almost ran off Francisco as well.
Abingdon is definitely not an easy place to coach. There is a long history of parental pressure with most sports.
Baseball saw a parent group that pushed hard to have Francisco removed a few years ago but that fell through when one of them had some legal trouble and others transferred to different schools.
The previous football coach was criticized by a sizable parent group until he left to go back to gate city. The current football coach is somewhat under fire for underachieving the past couple of seasons.
Softball is on their 4th coach in 6 years I think.
Boys basketball has had the last 3 coaches pushed out for various reasons.
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Aaron Williams is back at Burton now. He could take the boys job or the girls coach could take the boys so Williams could coach his daughter’s junior/senior seasons.
Gate city would be a tough place to coach. After the big 3 you will never live up to the expectations surrounding that job. Just setting someone up for failure.