Great City

Hahahaha Not a matter of "wanting you". The OP specified the part of the state he was asking about. The responses were about that part of the state. However, I agree. Radford is tough.

I agree. GC, VA High, and Lebanon. On any given night, any of those teams could lose to any of the other teams.

The refs in the varsity games were fine. They missed some obvious calls both ways.....pretty much like any game. You expect that. It was the refs in the JV game that seemed to be having some problems.

Wow! Great atmosphere. Great game. Gate City misses about a gazillion free throws, does not make a three-pointer the entire game, and pulls out a 70-65 win. Two pretty good teams went at it tonight. No doubt these teams will meet a few more times this year. On a side note, the officiating in the JV games was horrible. Horrible both ways. I understand that it was "only" JV games, and that refs have to get experience someplace, but it was bad. Really bad.

GC is down a little from last year. Currently have a 5-3 record. (Have played 4 of the past 5 nights). Lost two games at the Arby's Classic, and lost on the road to a very good Floyd County team. We will primarily play full-court, man-to-man defense and try to score in transition. We do have a couple of kids who can knock down the three pointer all night long....if they are on. Not sure what happened, but we got a late start on the season and have not been practicing long. I expect the team to be pretty good toward the end of the season. Have not seen VA High play.

Bob....I have been thinking. Didn't the Region D teams have to beat a team from another region to even advance to the final four in Richmond? The Region D winner would host another region runner-up. The Region D runner-up would travel to another region winner. Then those winners would advance to the final four in Richmond. Wasn't that how it worked?

I would agree with you. I think GENERALLY Region D benefited from the old system. No need to sugar coat it. Heck, I am impressed that the GC boy's team has made the finals 3 of the last 7 years. To make the finals they would have to have beaten 2 teams from other regions........right? I looked up the scores of the finals. Was curious if GC was competitive in those games. 1999 Salem 54 GC 51 2007 Clarke County 60 GC 55 2008 George Wythe 58 GC 53 2013 Radford 72 GC 58 (i watched this game online. GC led at halftime and totally collapsed in the second half). Not bad. A 3 point loss, two 5 point loses, and the 14 point spanking by Radford. I also lookd up the GC girl's final scores. They lost by 3 in 2012 to George Mason, and by 3 in 2005 to Radford. They won by 15 over Clarke County in 2006. Honestly, I didn't think we were that competitive in the finals. If you combine the boys and girls teams, they lost 6 finals games by a combined 33 points. Average loss was by 5.5 points. Not bad at all. If you take out the Radford loss, both teams lost 5 finals games by a combined 19 points. That average loss was by 3.8 points. Again, not too bad. But Bob, I DO agree wtih you.

From Wikipedia: The Gate City girls won the state title in 2006, and were state runners up in 2005 and 2012. The GC boys team were state runners up in 1999, 2007, 2008, and 2013. I expect both GC teams to be pretty good this year. The girls beat VA High tonight 64-24. The boys don't open until the 21st (Abingdon), and then go straight to the Arby's Classic (Never much fun). I expect the boys to be a pretty good team by the end of the year. Not a lot of height this year. I would expect full-court pressure the entire game with GC trying to score in transition.

I have heard a couple of people talk about Battle's tougher schedule next year. Who do they play next year that they didn't play this year?

I think Gate City will have a better team, but may not advance as far in the playoffs. I thought GC would win 4 games this year. Didn't expect the 8 win season. Our starting RB this year may not play at all next year. I heard he suffered his third concussion during the season, and his doctor told him he was done with football. Our eventual starting RB also received a concussion at the start of the Buckingham County game and experienced some serious symptoms for a couple of days. Not sure if he will even play next year. We don't lose many kids this year. As long as the younger kids keep developing, I think we will be OK. Not sure if we have Sullivan South and Bluefield on the schedule next year. If so, I imagine we will start off slowly (record wise) and be a pretty decent team by the end of the year.

No.........I have not seen Haysi play......ever. BUT, if Altavista wanted the game moved, it had to be because they thought moving the game would give them an advantage. True or not. Looks like it doesn't matter anyway. Glad to hear the game will be at Haysi.

If the field is dangerous, move the game to a site of Haysi's choosing. if the field is not dangerous, play the game as scheduled. It should be that simple. Not really sure if I agree with making certain rounds of the playoffs having to be played on turf. Seems like that would always give the "speed" teams an advantage. That just doesn't seem fair. Football is (generally) an outside sport played in the elements. If we are going to worry about having the best playiing conditions possible, then why play ANY regular season games in the rain/snow? The turf/speed teams will want as many games as possible played on turf because that is what they are used to playing on, and what gives them an advantage. The natural grass teams are going to want as many games as possible played on natural grass because it is what they are used to playing on, and because it might give them an advantage.

Heck, we Gate City fans would love to see a round 4 game in Gate City on Legion Field.

http://www.timesnews.net/article/9070508/colonels-dont-want-to-play-tigers-at-sandlick

GC stops Buckingham on downs. GC with the ball and drives to the Buckingham 13 yard line. I have got to go run some errands. Maybe no more updates from me.

GC throws an interception at the Buckingham 7 yard line. Three turnovers for GC so far. Sigh.

End of first quarter. GC 7 Buckingham 21

Buckingham drives the ball and scores. 1:44 to go in the first quarter. GC 7 Buckingham 21 Not looking good for GC. I expected Buckingham to be fast, didn't expect them to be as big as they are. They have a RB who has over 2.100 yards and 35 TDs on the year.

62 yard halfback pass to the QB. Touchdown GC. XP is good. GC 7 Buckingham 14

Buckingham scores. 2 point conversion good. 6 minutes left in the first quarter. GC 0 Buckingham 14

GC fumbles the ball. Buckingham recovers on their own 39.

GC holds Buckingham County on their first possession. 3 and out. GC fumbles the punt. Buckingham County scores on the next play. XP is missed. GC 0 Buckingham 6

FYI: You can listen to the Richlands - Giles game online at www.wnrvbluegrassradio.com

Would be awesome, but I just don't see it happening.

Yes. GC will travel. Radio announcer said it was 266 miles.