BlueDevil4Life2008

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

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.

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?

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.”

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Where are the Region D tournament locations for Class 1 and 2 this year?

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

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)

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

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

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

As far as the nicest basketball arenas where high school basketball is able to be played in Southwest Virginia 1. Pryor Center - UVA Wise 2. Ridgeview 3. Virginia High As far as the atmospheres in Southwest Virginia currently when the stands are full and the place is going crazy 1. Gate City 2. Twin Springs 3. JI Burton Old school gyms non existent now that were the best atmospheres in Southwest Virginia when they were packed out 1. JJ Kelly 2. Clinchco 3. Clintwood. Just my opinion here though.

BOYS 1. GATE CITY - MOUNTAIN 7 2. UNION - MOUNTAIN 7 3. ABINGDON - MOUNTAIN 7 4. VIRGINIA HIGH - SOUTHWEST 5. LEBANON - SOUTHWEST 6. HONAKER - HOGOHEEGEE 7. PATRICK HENRY - HOGOHEEGEE 8, RIDGEVIEW - MOUNTAIN 7 9. GRUNDY - BLACK DIAMOND 10. MARION - SOUTHWEST

After a few games what are my thoughts? My thoughts are that anyone who goes to coach in Lee County better be from Lee County. I think anyone outside of Lee County who would go to work and try to coach in Lee County who wasn't from there and had to baby somebody's kid all the time because they didn't get their way I think they would be the stupidest person on the face of the earth to work there. Lee County, Virginia - One of the absolute most beautiful places on the earth. Could be the business center of Southwest Virginia with all the land that is available. Just one problem....its inhabited by a bunch of morons. I'm sorry... not everyone there is a moron. Just those who still believe that Jonesville and Pennington still exist as high schools and who believe that its the name that wins games and not teams. (Mic dropped.)

BOYS 1. GATE CITY 2. VIRGINIA HIGH 3. RIDGEVIEW 4. HONAKER 5. LEBANON 6. GRAHAM 7. ABINGDON 8. CHILHOWIE 9. PATRICK HENRY 10. CENTRAL WISE GIRLS 1. CENTRAL WISE 2. HONAKER 3. ABINGDON 4. RIDGEVIEW 5. VIRGINIA HIGH 6. MARION 7. JI BURTON 8. EASTSIDE 9. CHILHOWIE 10. UNION

BOYS BASKETBALL PREDICTIONS MOUNTAIN 7 DISTRICT 1. GATE CITY 2. UNION 3. RIDGEVIEW 4. ABINGDON 5. JOHN BATTLE 6. CENTRAL 7. LEE POY - GUNNER GARRETT SOUTHWEST DISTRICT 1. GRAHAM 2. VIRGINIA HIGH 3. MARION 4. LEBABON 5. RICHLANDS 6. TAZEWELL CUMBERLAND DISTRICT 1. RYE COVE 2. THOMAS WALKER 3. EASTSIDE 4. JI BURTON 5. TWIN SPRINGS 6. CASTLEWOOD HOGOHEEGEE DISTRICT 1. HONAKER 2. PATRICK HENRY 3. CHILHOWIE 4. HOLSTON 5. RURAL RETREAT 6. NORTHWOOD BLACK DIAMOND DISTRICT 1. GRUNDY 2. HURLEY 3. TWIN VALLEY 4. COUNCIL GIRLS BASKETBALL PREDICTIONS MOUNTAIN 7 DISTRICT 1. CENTRAL 2. RIDGEVIEW 3. UNION 4. GATE CITY 5. JOHN BATTLE 6. ABINGDON 7. LEE POY - EMMAH MCAMIS SOUTHWEST DISTRICT 1. RICHLANDS 2. VIRGINIA HIGH 3. MARION 4. TAZEWELL 5. LEBANON 6. GRAHAM CUMBERLAND DISTRICT 1. EASTSIDE 2. RYE COVE 3. JI BURTON 4. THOMAS WALKER 5. TWIN SPRINGS 6. CASTLEWOOD HOGOHEEGEE DISTRICT 1. HONAKER 2. CHILHOWIE 3. PATRICK HENRY 4. RURAL RETREAT 5. NORTHWOOD 6. HOLSTON BLACK DIAMOND DISTRICT 1. GRUNDY 2. HURLEY 3. TWIN VALLEY 4. COUNCIL

2023 ARBY'S CLASSIC @ TENNESSEE HIGH Teams taking part in this year’s event are: ⦁ Mentor (Ohio) 19-5 ⦁ Jackson-Reed (Washington D.C.) 28-5 ⦁ South Shore (New York) 18-4 ⦁ Mater Lakes Academy (Florida) 28-3 (2022 State Champions) ⦁ Dorman (South Carolina) 29-2 (2022 State Champions) ⦁ Kell (Georgia) 28-2 (2022 State Champions) ⦁ Imhotep Institute (Pennsylvania) 30-3 (2022 State Champions) ⦁ Harlen County (Kentucky) 27-6 ⦁ George Wythe (Virginia) 26-4 (2022 State Runner-up) ⦁ Independence (Tennessee) 28-5 (2022 State Runner-up) ⦁ Oak Ridge (Tennessee) 22-5 ⦁ Maryville (Tennessee) 15-13 ⦁ Tabernacle (Bahamas) 2023 ALPHA INVITATIONAL @ DOBYNS BENNETT HAMPTON BULLDOGS VS. PERRY COUNTY CENTRAL (KY) COMMANDERS DOBYNS BENNETT INDIANS VS. HOOVER (AL) BUCCANEERS GATE CITY BLUE DEVILS VS. JONESBORO (GA) CARDINALS WINTER HAVEN (FL) BLUE DEVILS VS. WESTSIDE (SC) RAMS

http://www.calpreps.com/cgi-bin/2023/weekview.pl?week=Virginia_7 CalPreps Predictions My Prediction Graham 38 Marion 7 Graham 56 Marion 0 Eastside 28 JI Burton 17 Eastside 35 JI Burton 7 Patrick Henry 28 Rural Retreat 21 Patrick Henry 35 Rural Retreat 14 Honaker 44 Chilhowie 21 Honaker 58 Chilhowie 17 Abingdon 31 Central 12 Abingdon 24 Central 7 John Battle 28 Lebanon 17 John Battle 14 Lebanon 13 Ridgeview 49 Richlands 3 Ridgeview 63 Richlands 7 Rye Cove 35 Lee High 28 Rye Cove 48 Lee High 38 Tazewell 35 Grundy 22 Tazewell 24 Grundy 21 Union 40 Twin Springs 7 Union 63 Twin Springs 14 Tennessee High 31 Gate City 8 Tennessee High 42 Gate City 14 Thomas Walker 21 Unaka 14 Thomas Walker 42 Unaka 6

Union travels pretty well. Where do they plan on putting everyone up there? They are playing at Twin Springs I believe? I'm not sure the place will seat everyone. Surprised to see Union playing Twin Springs. I would have to bet it has to be for the powerpoints. Why else would you play a team with 1/5 of your student body? Very surprised at the outcome of the game Friday. Union is way better than I took them for. With 8 sophomores as their main players they are stacked for the next two or three years. Talking to people at Bullitt Park on Friday they are stacked all the way down into their youth football league. Whatever they are doing they are doing well. I can see Union going 9-1 for the regular season. I believe the only toss up for them is the Ridgeview game. I fully believe they will beat Ridgeview though. I can see Gate City going a possible 6-4 at the current time. Playing the Vikings at Stone Castle will not be an easy game. They will be Lee, Battle and Central. Playing at Ridgeview will be tough. At worst 6-4. At best 8-2. I will give it to Union though. They aren't afraid to schedule a Class 1 team. Abingdon plays Battle, Holston, Patrick Henry. Honaker plays Castlewood, Lebanon. Lee plays Thomas Walker. Union plays Central and Eastside. Chilhowie plays Marion and Northwood. There have been some years as of late when it would be nice to see Gate City play Twin Springs or Rye Cove. I'm not sure why it will not happen. Especially in basketball. I have heard that GC wants to keep the peace in the county but to me GC will not play TS or RC in basketball anymore for the same reason that DB would not play us for a long time. I guess that's our issues to deal with though. Every single county around us can have their schools play each other but Scott County won't? The peace has to be kept but people then say that consolidation will never happen ever in this county? Well if it's never going to happen then they need to play each other sometimes. That's my opinion though.

Imagine a future of this in Southwest Virginia If Virginia were 4 classes: These are all hypothetical guesses: Lonesome Pine District Lee - Class 1 Scott Co. - Class 2 Union w Norton - Class 2 Central w Eastside - Class 2 Virginia High - Class 2 John Battle - Class 2 Abingdon - Class 2 Southwest District Russell Co - Class 1 Ridgeview - Class 1 Buchanan Co - Class 1 Tazewell Co - Class 2 PH / Holston combo - Class 1 Smyth Co - Class 2 Bland Co - Class 1 New River District Carroll Co - Class 2 Grayson Co - Class 1 Galax - Class 1 Wythe Co. (Wythe, RR, FC) - Class 2 Radford - Class 1 Pulaski Co - Class 2 Giles Co - Class 1 Class 2 Region Tourney teams Scott Co Union w Norton Central w Eastside Virginia High John Battle Abingdon Tazewell Co Smyth Co. Carroll Co Wythe Co Pulaski Co Class 1 Region Tourney Teams Lee Russell Co Ridgeview Buchanan Co Bland Co PH/Holston Grayson Co Galax Radford Giles Co

I’m 10 years I think things will look differently. Black Diamond District Council Hurley Twin Valley Grundy - All four of these should be one school very soon. If Virginia goes back to 5 or 4 classes this school will most likely be a Class 1 school. Southwest District Lebanon Marion Graham Richlands Tazewell Virginia High - Graham could be Class 1 at anytime - Tazewell could be Class 1 also -Marion should stay Class 2 maybe but with Smyth Co shrinking could Marion, Chilhowie and Northwood combine? Would be a formidable school - Lebanon you can’t tell with them - Richlands maybe Class 2 - Virginia High should be Class 2 Would any of Tazewell County consolidate? Mountain 7 - Ridgeview -Lee -Union -Central -John Battle -Abingdon -Gate City In a four or five class Virginia All of these could possibly be Class 1 except Battle, Abingdon, Gate City and maybe Union If enrollment continues to drop in Scott County they could be looking at consolidation in 10 years Rye Cove at 200 kids Twin Springs at 175 kids Gate City at 550 maybe This all going off what I have heard from people These numbers would make a Class 3 school but under a four or five class Virginia would be a good size Class 2 school and would be a very competitive Class 2 school in athletics and academics Hogoheegee Patrick Henry Honaker Holston Chilhowie Northwood Rural Retreat - A consolidation of Patrick Henry and Holston would be a major force if they joined Honaker might get quite a few students from Council from Buchanan consolidation if Smyth County joins up that’s another blow to the Hogo Cumberland Distrixt Norton - Could they join up with Central TS and RC - A Scott Co combo with GC Eastside - ? Thomas Walker - ? Castlewood - would Russell County become so low that they all join together?