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.  
 

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.  
 

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. 

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   
 
 
 

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.)

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

Wouldn't bother me to see Graham recruit the ever loving heck out of West Virginia and bring in all kinds of hoopers and lay it to John Marshall.  Wouldn't bother me one little bit.  Lay it to em G-Men!

I find this very ironic..... 
 
 
Swagger (TV series)
Add languages Article Talk Read Edit View history     From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia   Swagger Genre Sports drama Created by Reggie Rock Bythewood Starring O'Shea Jackson Jr. Isaiah Hill Shinelle Azoroh Tessa Ferrer Quvenzhané Wallis Caleel Harris James Bingham Solomon Irama Ozie Nzeribe Jason Rivera Tristan Wilds Country of origin United States Original language English No. of seasons 1 No. of episodes 10 Production Executive producers Reggie Rock Bythewood Kevin Durant Brian Grazer Rich Kleiman Samantha Corbin-Miller Running time 45–59 minutes Production companies Undisputed Cinema Thirty Five Ventures Imagine Television CBS Studios Distributor Apple Inc. Release Original network Apple TV+ Original release October 29, 2021 –
present Swagger is an American sports drama television series created by Reggie Rock Bythewood. Loosely inspired by the experiences of current NBA player Kevin Durant,[1] the series premiered on October 29, 2021 on Apple TV+.[2] In June 2022, the series was renewed for a second season.[3]
Swagger has garnered critical acclaim from critics for its writing, acting (primarily Jackson's and Hill's), production values and social commentary.
Premise[edit]
Swagger explores the world of youth basketball, and the players, their families and coaches who walk the fine line between dreams and ambition, and opportunism and corruption.[4]
Cast[edit]
Main[edit]
O'Shea Jackson Jr. as Ike Edwards Isaiah Hill as Jace Carson Shinelle Azoroh as Jenna Carson Tessa Ferrer as Meg Bailey Quvenzhané Wallis as Crystal Jarrett Caleel Harris as Musa Rahim James Bingham as Drew Murphy Solomon Irama as Phil Marksby Ozie Nzeribe as Royale Hughes Jason Rivera-Torres as Nick Mendez Tristan Wilds as Alonzo Powers

John Marshall is now a 2A school because everyone wants out of Richmond and are moving to the suburbs.  They were Class 4 and now are Class 2.   They have 40-60 more students than communities in the Mountain 7 and Southwest District. 

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

State Tournament

Dates: NFHS Week 35 through 36 - Tournament will start on Friday March 5 and run through the following
Saturday. For 2022-23, Quarterfinals are scheduled for Friday, March 3 (Snow Date – Saturday March 4). State
Semifinals are scheduled for Monday, March 6 (Snow Date – Tuesday March 7). State Finals are scheduled as
follows: Class 1 & 4 – Thursday, March 9; Class 3 & 6 – Friday, March 10; Class 5 & 2, Saturday, March 11th. All
finals will be played in two game sessions. VHSL State Final Snow Date is Sunday March 12th with the groups
snowed out moving to that date.
(Poster's note - Funny how the last game listed for the finals is the Class 2 Championship on Saturday March 11th. Even the VHSL knows John Marshall is going to draw them in some big bucks from a big crowd and win it in Richmond in their backyard again.) 

Quarterfinals/Semifinals Format: Eight-team, single-elimination tournament per classification pairing: Higher
seed hosts in high seed area. If two # 1 seeds are matched together in the semifinals the top of the
bracket will host. The default time is 7 PM for a single game and 5:30 and 7:30 for doubleheaders.
Quarterfinal pairings for all Groups: Region B champion vs. Region A runner up , Region A champion
vs. Region B runner up . Region D champion vs. Region C runner up, Region C champion vs. Region D
runner up.

Semifinal Pairings for all Groups: Region B champion bracket vs. Region A champion bracket and
Region D champion bracket vs Region C champion bracket

Semifinal winners advance to the State Finals at VCU.

Sites: Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center, Richmond
Awards: Team trophy and individual medals to State Champion and Runner-up teams.
 
VHSL Class 2 State Quarterfinals Predictions
Region A  Champion   - John Marshall vs. Region B Runnerup  East Rockingham 
Region B Champion - Madison County vs. Region A Runnerup  Brunswick
 
Region C Champion - Radford vs. Region D Runnerup  Graham
Region D Champion - Virginia High vs. Region C Runnerup  Floyd County 
 
VHSL  Class 2 State Semifinals  Predictions
Region A Champion - John Marshall vs.  Region A Runnerup   Brunswick
Region C Champion - Radford vs. Region D Champion   Virginia High 
 
VHSL Class 2 State Championship Finals  Predictions
Region A Champion - John Marshall vs. Radford
 
VHSL Class 2 State Champions
Region A Champion - John Marshall

I found this stored away on a flash drive in my office. I thought I would post this.  This is something that will never ever take place in Virginia but interesting to think about. 
 
 
In Kentucky they play 16 Regions with 64 Districts. 
Now this is a concept that will never ever ever come about in the state of Virginia. Since we have a forum, it is ok to dream about and to talk about what this might be like in the state of Virginia. 
So here is the conceptual dream. 
 
16 Regions.  All 16 Region winners go to John Paul Jones Arena for the VHSL's state of Virginia "Sweet Sixteen". 
 
The set up:
District Champions regular season get automatic region bid
District Tournament - If District Regular Season champion makes the District Tournament final, the other opponent to that team is the second qualifier. If the District Regular Season champion does not make the District Tournament final then the winner of the tournament goes on with the regular season champion. 
Region Tournament - District Regular Season Champion and District Tournament Champion (or qualifier w/ regular season champion) are the top two seeds.  Top 8 seeds cross bracket with another region every other year then repeat again on the 4th year. 
Region Tournament Champion goes on to the Sweet Sixteen as the representative of that region in the State Tournament. 
State Tournament - Region 1-16 have a blind draw to see who they play in the tournament. 
 
Down here on this post is half of the 16 regions stretching from Ewing to Richmond.  Northern Virginia and the Eastern coast have not been completed.  
Again.  This will never ever take place but an interesting format to say the least.  Giving teams from the west to the east a chance to play the best of the best and to be apart of something they may never have had the chance to dream about. 
Some of the matchups make for some pretty interesting scenarios. It also makes the battles that would take place between communities go about at a fever pitch. Some of the crowds that would attend these region tournaments would be crazy. 
A great dream for sure.  
One of the questions you could pose out of this set up.  Which region in the state of Virginia is the best basketball region in the state?
In my opinion, the best overall competitive region of the group listed would have to be Region 3.  That would be a basketball brawl come region tournament time. 
 
Region 1's championship site would be played at UVA Wise. 
Region 2's championship site would be at Radford University's Dedmon Center
Region 3's championship site would be at Cassell Coliseum at Virginia Tech or the Berglund Center in Roanoke
Region 4's championship site would be at Atlantic Union Bank Center at James Madison University or Virginia Military Institute in Lexington
 
Region 1 - 19 schools
District 1 - Thomas Walker, Lee High, Gate City, Twin Springs, Rye Cove
District 2 - JI Burton, Union, Central, Eastside, Castlewood
District 3 - Virginia High, John Battle, Abingdon, Patrick Henry, Holston
District 4 - Lebanon, Honaker, Ridgeview, Buchanan Co. HS
 
Region 2 - 17 schools
District 1 - Richlands, Tazewell, Graham, Bland County
District 2 - Northwood, Chilhowie, Marion, Grayson County
District 3 - Rural Retreat, George Wythe, Fort Chiswell, Galax, Carroll County
District 4 - Narrows, Giles, Pulaski County, Radford
 
Region 3 - 22 schools
District 1 - Floyd County, Patrick County, Martinsville, Magna Vista, Bassett, Franklin County
District 2 - Auburn, Christiansburg, Blacksburg, Eastern Montgomery, Salem, William Byrd
District 3 - Craig County, Alleghany, James River, Lord Botetourt, Glenvar
District 4 - Northside, Cave Spring, Hidden Valley, Roanoke-Patrick Henry, William Fleming
 
Region 4 - 22 schools
District 1 - Highland, Bath County, Fort Defiance, Rockbridge County, Parry McCluer, Stuarts Draft
District 2 - Amherst County, Nelson County, Albemarle, Western Albemarle, Monticello, Charlottesville
District 3 - Waynesboro, Staunton, Riverheads, Buffalo Gap, Wilson Memorial
District 4 - Broadway, East Rockingham, Spotswood, Turner Ashby, Harrisonburg
 
Region 5 - 22 schools 
District 1 - EC Glass, Heritage, Jefferson Forest, Liberty, Staunton River, Liberty Christian Academy
District 2 - Chatham, Dan River, Gretna, Tunstall, George Washington-Danville
District 3 - Brookville, William Campbell, Rustburg, Altavista, Appomattox, Buckingham
District 4 - Halifax County, Charlotte County, Prince Edward County, Cumberland County, Central-Lunenburg, Mecklenburg County
 
Region 6 - 20 schools
District 1 - James Wood, Sherando, Millbrook, John Handley, Clarke County
District 2 - Central-Woodstock, Mountain View, Strasburg, Page County, Luray
District 3 - Warren County, Rappahannock County, Fauquier, Kettle Run, Liberty
District 4 - William Monroe, Madison County, Orange County, Culpeper County, Eastern View
 
Region 7 - 21 schools
District 1 - Louisa County, Fluvanna County, Goochland, Powhatan, Amelia
District 2 - Nottoway, Brunswick, Dinwiddie County, Greensville County, Sussex Central
District 3 - Franklin, Southampton, Lakeland, King's Fork, Nansemond River
District 4 - Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George, Surry County, Smithfield, Windsor
 
Region 8 - 25 schools
District 1 - L.C. Bird, Carver Academy, Cosby, Clover Hill, Thomas Dale, James River
District 2 - Manchester, Matoaca, Meadowbrook, Midlothian, Monacan, Deep Run
District 3 - Mills Godwin, Douglas Freeman, Henrico, Glen Allen, Hermitage, Highland Springs
District 4 -  JR Tucker, Varina, Thomas Jefferson, Armstrong, George Wythe, Huguenot, John Marshall
 
 

I found this stored away on a flash drive in my office. I thought I would post this.  This is something that will never ever take place in Virginia but interesting to think about. 
 
 
In Kentucky they play 16 Regions with 64 Districts. 
Now this is a concept that will never ever ever come about in the state of Virginia. Since we have a forum, it is ok to dream about and to talk about what this might be like in the state of Virginia. 
So here is the conceptual dream. 
 
16 Regions.  All 16 Region winners go to John Paul Jones Arena for the VHSL's state of Virginia "Sweet Sixteen". 
 
The set up:
District Champions regular season get automatic region bid
District Tournament - If District Regular Season champion makes the District Tournament final, the other opponent to that team is the second qualifier. If the District Regular Season champion does not make the District Tournament final then the winner of the tournament goes on with the regular season champion. 
Region Tournament - District Regular Season Champion and District Tournament Champion (or qualifier w/ regular season champion) are the top two seeds.  Top 8 seeds cross bracket with another region every other year then repeat again on the 4th year. 
Region Tournament Champion goes on to the Sweet Sixteen as the representative of that region in the State Tournament. 
State Tournament - Region 1-16 have a blind draw to see who they play in the tournament. 
 
Down here on this post is half of the 16 regions stretching from Ewing to Richmond.  Northern Virginia and the Eastern coast have not been completed.  
Again.  This will never ever take place but an interesting format to say the least.  Giving teams from the west to the east a chance to play the best of the best and to be apart of something they may never have had the chance to dream about. 
Some of the matchups make for some pretty interesting scenarios. It also makes the battles that would take place between communities go about at a fever pitch. Some of the crowds that would attend these region tournaments would be crazy. 
A great dream for sure.  
One of the questions you could pose out of this set up.  Which region in the state of Virginia is the best basketball region in the state?
In my opinion, the best overall competitive region of the group listed would have to be Region 3.  That would be a basketball brawl come region tournament time. 
 
Region 1's championship site would be played at UVA Wise. 
Region 2's championship site would be at Radford University's Dedmon Center
Region 3's championship site would be at Cassell Coliseum at Virginia Tech or the Berglund Center in Roanoke
Region 4's championship site would be at Atlantic Union Bank Center at James Madison University or Virginia Military Institute in Lexington
 
Region 1 - 19 schools
District 1 - Thomas Walker, Lee High, Gate City, Twin Springs, Rye Cove
District 2 - JI Burton, Union, Central, Eastside, Castlewood
District 3 - Virginia High, John Battle, Abingdon, Patrick Henry, Holston
District 4 - Lebanon, Honaker, Ridgeview, Buchanan Co. HS
 
Region 2 - 17 schools
District 1 - Richlands, Tazewell, Graham, Bland County
District 2 - Northwood, Chilhowie, Marion, Grayson County
District 3 - Rural Retreat, George Wythe, Fort Chiswell, Galax, Carroll County
District 4 - Narrows, Giles, Pulaski County, Radford
 
Region 3 - 22 schools
District 1 - Floyd County, Patrick County, Martinsville, Magna Vista, Bassett, Franklin County
District 2 - Auburn, Christiansburg, Blacksburg, Eastern Montgomery, Salem, William Byrd
District 3 - Craig County, Alleghany, James River, Lord Botetourt, Glenvar
District 4 - Northside, Cave Spring, Hidden Valley, Roanoke-Patrick Henry, William Fleming
 
Region 4 - 22 schools
District 1 - Highland, Bath County, Fort Defiance, Rockbridge County, Parry McCluer, Stuarts Draft
District 2 - Amherst County, Nelson County, Albemarle, Western Albemarle, Monticello, Charlottesville
District 3 - Waynesboro, Staunton, Riverheads, Buffalo Gap, Wilson Memorial
District 4 - Broadway, East Rockingham, Spotswood, Turner Ashby, Harrisonburg
 
Region 5 - 22 schools 
District 1 - EC Glass, Heritage, Jefferson Forest, Liberty, Staunton River, Liberty Christian Academy
District 2 - Chatham, Dan River, Gretna, Tunstall, George Washington-Danville
District 3 - Brookville, William Campbell, Rustburg, Altavista, Appomattox, Buckingham
District 4 - Halifax County, Charlotte County, Prince Edward County, Cumberland County, Central-Lunenburg, Mecklenburg County
 
Region 6 - 20 schools
District 1 - James Wood, Sherando, Millbrook, John Handley, Clarke County
District 2 - Central-Woodstock, Mountain View, Strasburg, Page County, Luray
District 3 - Warren County, Rappahannock County, Fauquier, Kettle Run, Liberty
District 4 - William Monroe, Madison County, Orange County, Culpeper County, Eastern View
 
Region 7 - 21 schools
District 1 - Louisa County, Fluvanna County, Goochland, Powhatan, Amelia
District 2 - Nottoway, Brunswick, Dinwiddie County, Greensville County, Sussex Central
District 3 - Franklin, Southampton, Lakeland, King's Fork, Nansemond River
District 4 - Hopewell, Petersburg, Prince George, Surry County, Smithfield, Windsor
 
Region 8 - 25 schools
District 1 - L.C. Bird, Carver Academy, Cosby, Clover Hill, Thomas Dale, James River
District 2 - Manchester, Matoaca, Meadowbrook, Midlothian, Monacan, Deep Run
District 3 - Mills Godwin, Douglas Freeman, Henrico, Glen Allen, Hermitage, Highland Springs
District 4 -  JR Tucker, Varina, Thomas Jefferson, Armstrong, George Wythe, Huguenot, John Marshall
 
 

Thank you... I forgot to put Union in for some reason.  It has been fixed now. 

Region D, Class 2A could go with a North/South set up:
Southwest District - Tazewell, Richlands, Graham, Lebanon, Buchanan Co. consolidated HS, Central-Wise, Ridgeview, 
Mountain District - Lee, Union, Gate City, John Battle, Virginia High, Abingdon, Marion
 
Region D, Class 2A could go with an East/West set up:
Southwest - Virginia High, John Battle, Abingdon, Marion, Graham, Tazewell, Richlands
Mountain District - Lee, Central-Wise, Ridgeview, Buchanan Co consolidated HS, Gate City, Lebanon, Union

1. Gate City - Class 2
2. Virginia High - Class 2
3. Lebanon - Class 1
4. Ridgeview - Class 2
5. Abingdon - Class 3
6. Eastside - Class 1
7. Honaker - Class 1
8. Twin Springs - Class 1
9. Central Wise - Class 2
10. Patrick Henry - Class 1
11. Lee - Class 2
12. JI Burton - Class 1
13. Union - Class 2
14. Marion - Class 2
15. John Battle - Class 2
16. Graham - Class 2
17. Tazewell - Class 2
18. Thomas Walker - Class 1
19. Chilhowie - Class 1
20. Rural Retreat - Class 1
 
 
 
 

Congratulations to all the locals who have made the Single A All State teams. I haven’t seen AA yet. IMO Bradley Dean from Gate City deserves at least a share of the Player Of The Year.  Any guy that can carry a team to another state championship appearance and go for 32 against the state champs need at least a share.  If Robertson can get a share of it with Ervin and Ervin only go as far as the final four then Dean needs to share it with whoever from John Marshall IMO.   
Anyone agree or disagree leave it in the comments below.  

We have had our kids in Scott County from Hawkins for years.  

Let’s look at the numbers.  
 
Bloomingdale / Sullivan North to Gate City HS  - 12 to 14 minute drive at 7 - 8 mile drive.
 
Bloomingdale / Sullivan North to West Ridge HS - 18 to 20 minute drive at 12 - 14 mile drive. 
 
Where would you want your kid driving if it were to start snowing and school let out?  
 
People also tend to forget that Gate City is in a unique position unlike many schools in the area... or their own county.  All schools around here except DB.   The unique situation is that, like DB, Gate City is situated about 5 miles from the state line.  People are saying, “Keep your kids on your side.  We don’t want them over here with our kids.” 
 
Seriously how damn selfish do you have to be?  You whine and you cry about how you feel teachers are underpaid, how you need better schools.  Then when it looks like someone is proposing an idea of charging students to come to school here you throw parties and give congratulations to everyone because now the school will just belong to the people in the county and not any “outsiders”.  
 
Here is the problem that has long plagued the citizens of Scott County and its people for years.  A sense of Elitism.  A sense of entitlement.  
 
Ok.  What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.  Since you don’t want Tennessee students coming to be educated by your teachers I am going to write the President of Eastman Chemical Company and tell him to fire every single worker from Virginia because they are taking away jobs from all the people who would be great workers in East Tennessee.  We don’t need that backwoods hillbilly trash working over here.  Go find your own jobs.  
 
Don’t want to educate the kids from over here that love coming to be apart of you and your county?   Then keep your tails out of our workforce.  And don’t say, “Ohhh but there aren’t any jobs!”   Well then go be like a search party and go find some.   
 
That or we can just charge you to work for us.  We can take it out of your pay.  
 
Yes sir that sounds like a plan to me!   
 
So all you elitists in Scott County.  Just go ahead and show us why you guys are so awesome and you don’t need us.  You need us probably a little more than some of our kids need you.  Just saying.  
 
Im a proud Blue Devil but Scott County will never consolidate into one school ever for two reasons.  
 
1). The county is pretty large and it’s geography might better be suited for two high schools instead of one. 
 
2). No one can stand the elitist butthole attitudes that a lot of the people have over there. It’s GC gets this and GC gets that.   People at TS and RC if the roles were reversed I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be saying anything about it if they were the school closest to the state line.  But that’s the thing. What you are ignorant about you don’t know about.