Region 2D Predictions? Boys

[Yoder 21]

What difference does it make if John Marshall waits up the road !

[BandanaVTDavis4321 1,717]

48 minutes ago, Yoder said:

What difference does it make if John Marshall waits up the road !

Because I would still like to be the 2nd best team or team that finishes runner up compared to the team that loses in the region title or quarterfinals or state semi's. The really crazy part is that Bruton and Greensville County are the 2nd and 3rd best Class 2 teams in the state, but are unfortunate enough to be in the same region as JM and 1 of those 2 (Bruton or Greensville County( will not even get to advance to the state tournament and out of the region.

[Yoder 21]

7 minutes ago, BandanaVTDavis4321 said:

Because I would still like to be the 2nd best team or team that finishes runner up compared to the team that loses in the region title or quarterfinals or state semi's. The really crazy part is that Bruton and Greensville County are the 2nd and 3rd best Class 2 teams in the state, but are unfortunate enough to be in the same region as JM and 1 of those 2 (Bruton or Greensville County( will not even get to advance to the state tournament and out of the region.

2nd place is just the first loser ! Feel good place’s don’t get you nowhere !

[TheDuke 13]

Somebody should stand up to JM and do something crazy at the state final game.

What if you inbound the ball straight to them every time you got it? Let them just shoot layup after layup for 32 min. Make a total mockery of the game.

It would probably make sportscenter when they beat a team 300-0 or whatever it would be.

That would embarrass JM and the VHSL so bad they would do something and it would be the end of JM in class 2. 

[pdfan 101]

10 hours ago, BandanaVTDavis4321 said:

Whoever finishes 1st or 2nd in 2D has a very reasonable chance of playing for a state title against JM. 2C ain't pretty either. Floyd, Radford, Martinsville? Martinsville and Radford are shadows of what they once were. About 9 teams in my opinion from the west that on any given night, are within 3 to 4 points of each other. VH and GC kind of......kind of.....stand out in 2D, but not really. There's no major separation there. 

Martinsville is terrible this year. How they won 15 games I'll never know. If they played in the Three Rivers district they would have been lucky to win 8 games. Jmo

[BigWinners 1,643]

Didn’t GC just beat Union by like one at GC? And Union beat them in BSG. I don’t think GC is just gonna roll bc they’re playing at home. They aren’t that good, every team is really close in talent. I could see GC winning it all or losing in round two. Graham/Wise aren’t that far from GC at all. Wise almost got them the last time they played IIRC. 
 

I expect GC to make the final and play VHS but nothing besides RV beating VHS would shock me. 

[BandanaVTDavis4321 1,717]

10 minutes ago, BigWinners said:

 

I expect GC to make the final and play VHS but nothing besides RV beating VHS would shock me. 

Agree 100%. That's the only game that would have me scratching my head.

[BigWinners 1,643]

1 hour ago, BandanaVTDavis4321 said:

Agree 100%. That's the only game that would have me scratching my head.

And even that wouldn’t be a total groundbreaking upset. I don’t think any one team is 20+ points better consistently than the others. I firmly believe VHS is a top two team in 2D but if the Cats got in foul trouble or were ice cold shooting, the Pack could maybe keep it close. 
 

I don’t expect Marion to upset GC either but the Canes have a great win this year. RV doesn’t have a signature win and lost to all the top teams they played IIRC. 

[pakdastands 20]

19 hours ago, BlueDevil4Life2008 said:

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   

 

 

 

TOO funny!

[IRISH-FAN18 323]

GC will put it to Marion. Union will beat Lebanon. VHS will beat Ridgeview, Graham's on possible upset alert tonight against Central.

Honaker handles TS. Grundy whips TW, Chilhowie mauls Hurley. PH & Eastside will be a good one; could go either way.

[BandanaVTDavis4321 1,717]

I agree with all the above except Union is also on upset alert. I don't even know if Central and Lebanon are upsets. If one or both wins, I would call it a win over a somewhat closely matched opponent.  On an average day, I don't think Union, Lebanon, Graham, and Central are outside 6 points to 7 points of each other, and 6 to 7 points in basketball isn't much. It's not enough for team A to beat team B 90 percent of the time. The margin or chances are more narrow than that.

I'll go GC, Union, VH, and Graham. 

[Comegetsum 18]

Is all the boys games tonight? 

[BandanaVTDavis4321 1,717]

44 minutes ago, Comegetsum said:

Is all the boys games tonight? 

Yep. I'm viewing from NFHS. Hopefully the schools come through and have the cams ready.

[Comegetsum 18]

Graham was in control almost all game tonight.   

[Gridiron60 2,555]

34 minutes ago, Comegetsum said:

Graham was in control almost all game tonight.   

Ray had a game & 1/2 and I believe Disibbo had 4- 3pointers and was open several other times. It was a good game for the GMen! I worry about them getting in foul trouble though if they’re not careful. I’m a little surprised Baker didn’t bring up a couple of JV players. 

[Gridiron60 2,555]

On 2/19/2024 at 5:26 PM, TheDuke said:

Somebody should stand up to JM and do something crazy at the state final game.

What if you inbound the ball straight to them every time you got it? Let them just shoot layup after layup for 32 min. Make a total mockery of the game.

It would probably make sportscenter when they beat a team 300-0 or whatever it would be.

That would embarrass JM and the VHSL so bad they would do something and it would be the end of JM in class 2. 

That would be hilarious! 

[BandanaVTDavis4321 1,717]

JM won't have anybody do that unless it's a team that plays them 2 times in a row (goes to two state title games) in a row and loses to them and then on year 3, that team is like, "enough is enough."  As long as it's one team here or another team there from the West that makes it every year, it ain't happening.  For example, if Gretna won the West, you can be assured they are playing for that title game.  Their coach would rationalize it as, "this our is one time chance for our kids and win or lose, they made it to the title game and will remember it forever and our seniors."  Martinsviille in Region C if they win the west?  New Coach for them and Martinsville has been out of the picture for years and wants to get back to old form and has I think 4 or 5 seniors on the team.  Do you think he's setting this out? Not hardly.  Same for Union, Graham, Virginia High, and now GC doesn't have Scotty V anymore.  GC ain't setting it out either.  Only way to stop this is with luck.  Martinsville or Radford, GC, Union, Graham somebody become dominant in the West and make the title game 2 years in a row and get beat, then if this same teams makes it again on year 3...........then there's a chance in year 3 for them to set it out, otherwise it's not happening.

[TheDuke 13]

That's what so sad about our country now. As big and bad as everybody pretends to be, they go right along with whatever the powers that be say. 

It took years before the women swimmers finally stood up and basically put an end to the trans gender men beating them. 

How long will the principals and ads of our 50 or so class 2 schools allow this mockery to go on. 

All it would take is for them to have a meeting and pick a few people to go to the vhsl and tell them they will not be participating in the state final game as long as JM is in the situation it is now. 

That would put an end to it. 

[1inStripes 932]

I just hope whoever makes it to Richmond has good guards and tries to run 4 corners on JM.  Play keepaway as much as possible and then possibly draw fouls and hit FTs if JM wants to be aggressive.  Would still be a tough thing to do but would like to see it tried with good ball handlers.

[BigWinners 1,643]

Why is everyone blaming JM? They just follow the rules as the VHSL sets them. The blame all lies at the feet of the VHSL. Make them fix it. 

[Fairlawncat 252]

More of the blame should be placed on opponents or all the other teams. I think other Class 2 teams, ADs, admins should put more pressure on VHSL. I think Coach Cormany was wrong for having us play JM for the title game last year. We should have set it out. 

[1inStripes 932]

35 minutes ago, Fairlawncat said:

More of the blame should be placed on opponents or all the other teams. I think other Class 2 teams, ADs, admins should put more pressure on VHSL. I think Coach Cormany was wrong for having us play JM for the title game last year. We should have set it out. 

Milan doesnt beat Muncie Central and no one knows who Bobby Plump is if they dont play the game.  The kids opportunities to play of a state title game are limited to begin with.  Taking the game away from them isnt the right call IMO no matter how people feel about the JM program.  Go and try to win.  You may make something unforgettable happen.  

[BandanaVTDavis4321 1,717]

1 hour ago, 1inStripes said:

Milan doesnt beat Muncie Central and no one knows who Bobby Plump is if they dont play the game.  The kids opportunities to play of a state title game are limited to begin with.  Taking the game away from them isnt the right call IMO no matter how people feel about the JM program.  Go and try to win.  You may make something unforgettable happen.  

I agree and disagree on this.  I agree if it's a first time event for the opponent or JM or a championship appearance where the team hasn't been there for many years such as Martinsville (possibly) this year.  But in Radford's case, Cormany had kind of been there and done that.  Had many deep runs and some titles.  I think there is harm is not giving kids a chance to play, but there is also a lesson learned.  Is the harm to the kids that don't play the game against JM greater than the continuous harm and unfairness that the VHSL is allowing annually with the JM situation?  That's the discussion that isn't 100% clear.  Many could see that both ways.  One could argue there is actually a lesson learned for the kids that don't play JM.  I can see both sides of this.

As for Milan and Muncie Central.  I got to hear Ray Craft from Milan speak in the 90's while at the Univ of Texas.  Incredible thing.  Milan, the true story was much different than the movie.  Sure, Milan was an underdog purely based on school size, but......most people don't know that Milan High went to the state semifinals in 1953, the year before they shocked Muncie Central in the state title game and Milan returned ALL 5 starters from the 1953 team to prepare for the 1954 championship season.  Milan also had 2 kids Plump (Chitwood in the movie) and Ray Craft both play major Div 1 basketball and not just play, they started.  Milan also had a third player play what would be Div 1AA ball back in the day, so yes, small school, major underdog against Muncie, but also much better prepared than the movie let on for 1954.  The difference in John Marshall versus a Gate City in 2024 compared to Muncie Central vs Milan in 1954 is FAR greater in talent disparity.  Milan only had like 160 kids in the school in 1954 compared to Muncie's 2,000 plus, but....the 5 guys they had on the floor weren't chumps.  They could play, including 40% of the starters playing major Div 1 basketball.  It was actually Ray Craft who led Milan in scoring in the title game with 14 points.  Of course Chitwood (Plump) his the job.  Here is the actual real footage, real video clip of the final shot and actually audio recording of the Indiana High School Play by Play Guy that was broadcast that day not just across Indiana, but all across the Midwest nearly 70 years ago to the day.

The real actual shot-video of Plump below

https://www.thestarpress.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/02/21/ihsaa-basketball-1954-ihsaa-state-championship-milan-muncie-central-restored/4822153002/

[1inStripes 932]

It’s fair to say that about a coach like Cormany who has been there and done that but the kids may have never had that chance and to rob them of that chance isn’t fair IMO. It’s just my opinion.  I never got to play in a state title game.  I have been fortunate enough to officiate one and coach in one. It was special in both of those accounts as an adult and I could tell it was just as special to my players. 

[pdfan 101]

I agree with you Stripes. I would dare say that most of the kids on Martinsville have never been to Richmond, so just the experience of the trip would be a lifetime memory. I remember when I was keeping the scorebook for the team when they won back to back in 14-15, when I see those young men in the community they don't talk about the games as much as they talk about all the fun we had on the bus trips or other things. Would they have a chance to win, not at all !! But in my opinion you still show up and give your best effort, the VHSL needs to straightened all this out.