blue12 10 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 and hows that if you dont mind me asking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaX 10 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Uhh...practicing..having people that can actually dribble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beamerball 566 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/sports.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2007-11-22-0009.html Will bigger SWD be better for boys teams? Thursday, Nov 22, 2007 - 12:00 AM BY BUCKY DENT BRISTOL HERALD COURIER It’s bigger, but is it necessarily better? That’s the key question as the Southwest District begins its first year as a seven-team league. Adding Abingdon and Marion from the now-defunct Highlands District will, if nothing else, ease scheduling concerns for the five holdovers – Carroll County, Graham, Grundy, Richlands and Tazewell. "The additions have me excited about the season," Graham coach Glynn Carlock, Jr. said of the new SWD. "Hopefully, they’ll strengthen the district and allow us to be a little more battle-tested by the time we get to the regionals." As for the additions, Abingdon is in transition with a new coach and a lot of new players, while Marion graduated half its roster and will have some growing pains. Last year’s regular season champion, Grundy, and the tournament champ, Richlands, are expected to battle it out this winter with Abingdon. Carroll County may have the best chance of earning the other regional bid. A preview of each team – in alphabetical order – appears below: ABINGDON B.J. Lasley hasn’t changed schools, just teams. After guiding the Abingdon girls to a Group AA quarterfinal appearance last year, Lasley moved over to the boys side when long-time coach Sam Blevins moved into administration in Smyth County. Lasley, who went 69-33 in four seasons as a girls coach, including a 20-6 year in 2004-05 at Patrick Henry, has some building to do. Senior point guard Thorn Mosley is the only returning starter. Gone are such mainstays as guards Duran Carson and Nick Viers, along with post presence John Vaught. Lasley listed 12 other players as possibilities for playing time. Among that group is football star Tyler Bailey, along with 6-foot-4 junior Cole Manning. "As long as we continue to commit ourselves to getting better defensively, we should be competitive night-in and night-out," Lasley said. CARROLL COUNTY Despite going 10-13 last year, the Cavaliers squeaked into the Region IV Tournament as the third seed out of the SWD. Their stay lasted long enough to take a 63-51 beating at Virginia High. Second-year coach Jason Smith welcomes back four starters, including three double-figure scorers that might help Carroll County contend for the SWD title. Center Jacob Singleton averaged 12 points and eight rebounds a game last year, while forward Travis Green displayed versatility by averaging 10 points, five rebounds and five assists per game. Guard Seth Hill scored 10 ppg, while forward Brett Rogers is a role player who rebounds and defends. The Cavs will have to replace 6-5 Jared Strickland (10 ppg, 9 rebounds). Smith likes his team’s experience and defense, but is worried about getting quality play off his bench. "We want to be at the top of the district and believe we can," he said. "But we are determined to focus only on the present." GRAHAM There is good news for the G-Men: Carlock welcomed a whopping total of 45 players for tryouts, 27 of which were freshmen and sophomores. Now for the cons to that pro: Leading scorer Kevin Thompson is gone and there is once again little size up front, giving this team a small margin for error. However, Carlock is determined to live up to the creed – "Try – we won’t let you fail!" – which is plastered behind one basket at the team’s home gym. "My young kids will be OK – it just might take a while," he said. "We just want to compete every night and see progress by [district] tournament time." Seniors J.D. Hunter and J.K. Goins should carry the scoring load for Graham. Hunter is better known as one of the area’s top golfers, while Goins started most of last year. Two of the young players to watch are 6-2 freshman Jordan Bryan, who can play three positions, and 6-4 sophomore Ryan Woodson, who could mature into the first true post threat this program’s had in a while. GRUNDY Greg Rife’s father, Roger, is a Buchanan County coaching legend. It appears the fruit didn’t tumble all that far from its tree. Entering his third season, Rife should mount a solid SWD regular season title defense despite graduating one of the state’s top players. Center Jimmy Ashby was a second team All-Group AA pick after averaging 17 ppg and 16 rebounds. "It’s going to change our style of ball a bit," Rife said of Ashby’s graduation. "We’re going to have to ask our guys to get a rebound before breaking out. You could play Jimmy under there by himself and he could soak up about every rebound." Nevertheless, Rife has 43 ppg of returning firepower among returning starters Cody Billiter (6-0, sr.), Bobby Peck (6-2, sr.) and point guard D.J. Gelenster (5-11, sr.). Billiter was the SWD’s second-leading scorer last year at 19 ppg, while Peck hit for 14. Joe Stevens (6-3, jr.) has the task of replacing Ashby in the post. Shawn Moore (6-3, sr.) and Derek Hess (6-0, so.) are battling for a spot in the lineup. The Golden Wave are picked to win the SWD title in a preseason poll of coaches. MARION The surroundings are different, but obstacles remain in the path of coach Matt Hanshew’s Scarlet Hurricanes. In its SWD return, Marion has to replace six seniors, including three-year starter Pos Creasy at point guard. The scoring punch of Aaron Wolfe and Timmy Whisman will also be missed. Senior Jordan Burrows is the top returning scorer, but he’s not picked up a basketball yet, although he has a good reason. He’s one of the key parts of the school’s football team, which plays for a Region IV, Division 3 title tomorrow night. The Canes finished in the Highlands District basement last year. It will take work to stay out of the SWD cellar this season. RICHLANDS While Grundy’s 12-game winning streak made headlines, the Blue Tornadoes quietly became the SWD’s best team by the time Region IV play started. With SWD scoring champ Ben Mulkey and rebounding machine Austin Fuller leading the way, Richlands won at Grundy on consecutive Fridays, the second win worth an SWD tournament title. Mulkey (22 ppg) and Fuller are back, giving coach Jim McGee a nucleus any coach would like. Senior guard Jordan Barnette is a capable 3-point shooter when given space. Graduation losses include another good 3-point threat, C.J. Arms, and physical forward Brett Clayburne. Another concern is this program’s traditional late start, thanks to the football team’s sixth consecutive trip to the regional finals. TAZEWELL After a long 2006-07 season, the Bulldogs offered hope for improvement at its end, chalking up two wins over Graham and nearly stunning Grundy in the SWD tourney semifinals. "Their young guys were playing well at the end of the year," Rife said. "They scared the heck out of us." Second-year coach Lee Walker’s team remains underclass-dominated but could realistically get out of the basement this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue12 10 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 jan. 4 buddy.. you better be ready tax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaX 10 Report Share Posted November 28, 2007 Ill be there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesL_CcLB34 10 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 ummm i have a real problem with that article it says... there stay lasted long enough to take a 63-51 beating at virginia high.. first of all it wasn't a beating it was a close game and we were leading by maybe 8 at halftime and leading til the end of the 3rd too maybe. and also i'm guessing they shot a few free throws at the end of the game to make the lead a bit bigger it should have been," before they were beat at virginia high" and since when is 12 points a beating in basketball anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeper1 10 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 good writers are hard to come by in this area. get used to poopy coverage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmitt 10 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 didn't pocahontas play well against Taz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue12 10 Report Share Posted December 1, 2007 i heard that game was wild and crazy man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokieball 10 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 i watched tazewell play the other night and they didnt look very good...they turned the ball over alot but tax played well coming off the injury and darrel played well also,but i dont see them doing much damage in the district Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EH31 2,518 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 is darrell wess left handed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dral_11 10 Report Share Posted December 3, 2007 no man i'm right handed but i use my left alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawg30 10 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 hey man that was our first actually game.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EH31 2,518 Report Share Posted December 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] no man i'm right handed but i use my left alot [/ QUOTE ]yeah i was just wonderin cause you're pretty good with your left hand. it makes it alot cooler that youre right handed haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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