Rod Johnson's High School Football Thoughts

We are just a few days away from the start of the season, and here are the thoughts of statewide football editor for Virginia Preps.com, Rod Johnson.

When compiling a preseason AAA Top Ten ranking for the state, the first question that you ask yourself is, "who are the best teams in the state?" and the subtext to that question is, "who will win the Division 5 and Division 6 state championship games this season?"

As a guy who majored in history in college, I like to look for patterns in the past to see if that can help predict the future and, in looking at the past five seasons, an interesting (and not surprising) pattern emerged -- teams winning a state championship at the AAA level performed very well the previous season.

By "very well", I don't mean an 8-2, or 9-1 record or something like that, I'm talking playoff experience well. Note that the last ten state champions (five from D5 and five from D6) all have, at worst, played in the regional championship game the season before.

That's good news for fifteen teams who meet that qualification coming into 2009 (Liberty-Bealeton has moved to Division 4) -- Oscar Smith, Varina, Oakton, Meadowbrook, Woodbridge, Ocean Lakes, Chantilly, Phoebus, Osbourn, Dinwiddie, Stone Bridge, GW-Danville, Hanover, Edison, and Lake Taylor.

Now, determining who will rank in the top ten and where they will rank is a simple procedure of talking to sources and arguing amongst the regional writers until we reach a place where everyone is comfortable. Those results can be seen here. Those rankings predict a repeat performance for Oscar Smith in Division 6 and a second state championship win in four years for the Osbourn Eagles who drop to Division 5 this season after losing the D6 title game last season and winning it in 2006.

However, letting the past five years predict the future, we get very different results.
No team has repeated as state champs in the past five years.

Sorry, Oscar Smith and Phoebus, you're fighting against a tough history as the bulls eyes on your backs have been too much for most teams to overcome. Thirteen teams left in contention.
Only one state runner up has returned to the title game to win it the following year (Landstown 2004).

That puts heat on Dinwiddie and Osbourn. Landstown had Percy Harvin on their roster, neither the Generals or Eagles seem to have a five-star talent like that on their roster this season so let's bump them. Eleven teams remaining.

Three teams have won their region, lost in the semis, then come back to win it all (Oscar Smith 2008, Phoebus 2008, and Hampton 2005).

Since it has only happened out of the Eastern Region and no team from the Tidewater area fits that description this season, we are going to eliminate the programs who are in that situation from the other quadrants of the state -- Varina, Oakton and Stone Bridge.

That leaves us with eight teams, all regional runners up from last season: Meadowbrook, Woodbridge Ocean Lakes and Chantilly in Division 6 and GW-Danville, Hanover, Edison and Lake Taylor in Division 5. Good news for those programs -- six of the past ten champions in AAA football lost in the regional championship the season before -- '04 Meadowbrook, '05 Oakton, '06 Osbourn, '06 Phoebus, '07 Westfield and '07 Stone Bridge all completed that run.

Three did it in Division Five and three did it in Division Six. It has happened in all four regions of the state, most often in the Northern where three of the six winners have followed that path including both 2007 champs.

The past two years have brought us regional sweeps with the Northern pulling the trick in 2007 (Westfield and Stone Bridge) and the East matching the feat in 2008 (Oscar Smith and Phoebus). For that to happen again, the tandems would be...
Meadowbrook and Hanover (Central)
Ocean Lakes and Lake Taylor (Eastern)
Chantilly and Edison (Northern)
Woodbridge and GW-Danville (Northwest)

Going back to the top ten rankings for the best teams in the state, VirginiaPreps has ranked both Ocean Lakes and Lake Taylor as top ten teams.

Another Eastern Region sweep? I wouldn't predict it, but recent history is on their side.

Rod Johnson's High School Football Thoughts

Even on vacation, Rod Johnson can help out "The Sports Buffet Podcast". He penned this from the Outer Banks.

I'm lucky enough to be writing this blog from a deck at a beach house in the Outer Banks as I'm taking a long weekend vacation before the madness of the football season kicks into full gear and, during times like these, one comes to realize how much enjoyment one can get from the simple things in life -- family, food, nice weather, a walk on the beach and a backyard swimming pool (okay, perhaps that last one is a luxury item, but the point remains).

I bring that attitude to this blog entry because, I think, with the season kicking off in just over a week, it may be time to remind ourselves of the simple things that we can enjoy about the football season -- seeing the lights over neighborhood treelines on a Friday night, watching a future college or pro star play a game with his childhood friends probably for the last time, and catching a glimpse of a player who won't play at the next level reach his athletic peak with a touchdown that he will exaggerate about to his grandchildren.

Make no mistake about the fact that high school football is no longer a pure game. The amount of coverage from TV, radio, newspapers and Internet (including Virginia Preps.com, where I am the state editor) is insane relative to the fact that most of the players being covered are 15-, 16- and 17-year old kids who are still learning how to drive, ask out a girl and understand who they are and the adult that they will become down the road.

Arguments on message boards abound about high school football much the same way that fans argue about their pro and college teams. Rankings of teams and players are debated (sometimes hotly) as interest in and the business of covering high school football continues to grow.

Yet, as I sit here enjoying a simple weekend, I wonder why that attitude can't carry over into the season. Why can't we spend our Fall worried more about players who, for the most part, are enjoying the peak of their athletic careers. Sure, the select few are going to go on to bigger and better things, but years from now, do you want to remember where a player was ranked and who was ranked ahead or behind him? I know I don't.

I'd rather remember Percy Harvin not as the #1 ranked player in the nation but rather as the player who made my jaw drop in amazement almost every time that I saw him but none moreso than the 2004 state championship game where he singlehandedly carried his team to his school's first state championship.

I want to remember Phillip Sims for his outstanding performances in the state playoff games not for the arguments had about whether he should be ranked ahead of or behind Justin Hunter. I care about those rankings now but ultimately all that matters in the end is what happens on the field of play, so let's focus on the purity of that.

The real football season starts soon, let's enjoy the players and their play on the gridiron. That's what brought us all together to being with anyway.

Check out more from Rod, at the source for High School Sports, Virginia Preps.com

Womack to Play Basketball at Averett.

The Sports Buffet Podcast has learned that Dan River's Terrence Womack will continue his basketball career at Averett University next year. Womack was a key contributor to this past year's Dan River Wildcats, who were the Group A Division 2 runner up this past season.

Rod Johnson's High School Football Thoughts

Rod Johnson, of Virginia Preps.com, is always kind to contribute greatly to "The Sports Buffet", here is his blog entry this week.

I looked at the calendar the other day and realized that in less than two weeks, teams will begin scrimmaging. In fact, by the time that your read this blog entry, we'll be just over a week away from pads-popping practices against opponents. That means the start of the season is even closer than I thought. In about three weeks from now, I'll be spending weekends tracking down game scores that matter and, most importantly, I'll be travelling the state trying to check out the biggest games.I won't make all of these, but if gas and hotel money was no object, here's what I'd be doing...

August 28 - Venice (Fla) @ Oscar Smith...the Tigers will carry the Virginia state flag on the field against a Florida program sending their quarterback to the University of Florida next season. Those who can't make the game (sure to be a sell out) will be able to check it out on ESPNU, it's that big.

September 4 - Westfield @ Stone Bridge...Anything less than a regional championship at these two schools and people walk away disappointed. Any discussion of either of the AAA state championships starts with these two programs as each routinely ranks among the top ten teams in the state. Can't wait to see who plants their flag atop the NR mountain early.

September 11 - Varina @ Dinwiddie...the top-ranked team in the Central Region visits last year's Division five state runners up in a game that will surely test each of them early in the season.

September 18 - R.E. Lee (Staunton) @ Harrisonburg...Seeing the big line of Harrisonburg battle R.E. Lee's speed and athleticism would be fun and it would give us a nice early season look at two teams looking to establish themselves as AA contenders.

September 25 - C.D. Hylton @ Battlefield...As the Bulldogs try to climb back atop the Northwest Region mountain, they be racing Battlefield to the peak because the Bobcats have been on the verge of a deep playoff run for a couple of seasons now.

October 2 - Amherst County @ Pulaski County...A rematch of the stare semifinal game that wasn't decided until late in the fourth quarter smack dab in the middle of the season? Perfect!

October 9 - Westfield @ Oakton...the Concorde District is almost indisputably the best in the state and these two programs have been the best in the district for a couple of years now. No doubt the Northern Region powerhouses will give the crowd a game to remember and it may be only their first meeting of the season.

October 16 - Green Run @ Ocean Lakes...the Dolphins play host to the Beach's district's second place team last year and the one expected to most challenge them for this year's title. Division I athletes abound in this game with the Stallions carrying three with offers and Ocean Lakes carrying at least four.

October 23 - Phoebus @ Hampton...a crowded and loud neighborhood battle that features two schools who circle each other year round as fans ask the kids about the game at street fairs, McDonald's, school and the barber shop. There is no escaping this game.

October 30 - Chancellor @ James Monroe...two AA regional powers square off in a late season meeting as both likely prepare for postseason runs. The Battlefield District championship could be on the line in this one so bragging rights and the postseason will be in play.

November 6 - Franklin @ Sussex Central...The defending Division I state champions travel to meet the #5-ranked Tigers in a game played just weeks before the playoffs start. Both teams should be primed for a battle.

November 12 - Varina @ Highland Springs...the two highest ranked teams in the Central Region meet up just one week before the playoffs start. The game might decide who gets in and who is left out or it could just be a prelude to a second meeting. Either way, the action will be intense and playing it on a Thursday night could raise the stakes even further as a huge crowd will gather.

What will Rod have next week? What do you want to ask Rod? E-Mail me at TheSportsBuffet@verizon.net and we'll forward along your question to Rod for use in a future blog.

Jefferson Forest LB Andrew Brown commits to the University of Richmond

Jefferson Forest LB Andrew Brown contacted me tonight with the information that he has committed to the University of Richmond.

Brown, the 45th ranked best senior in the state for 2010 according to Virginia Preps.com, told me that he decided on the University of Richmond because "Richmond's academics and the relationships that I had with all of the coaches were the biggest factors in my commitment to Richmond".

Congratulations to Andrew Brown and we'll keep in touch with him throughout the season.

Rod Johnson's High School Football Blog

Rod Johnson of Virginia Preps.com has agreed to submit a blog for us each Tuesday during the high school football season (and hopefully every Tuesday) for the rest of Rod's life. Got a question for Rod that you'd like him to answer in a future blog, e-mail me at TheSportsBuffet@verizon.net and we'll pass along the question to him. Now heeeeeeeeeres Rod.

By the time this blog entry is being read, the countdown clock for the beginning of the high school football season on the front page of www.VirginiaPreps.com will be somewhere around the 23-day mark. That's right, just over three weeks until the first game in Virginia kicks off and, like most of you, I can't wait!
Like any other season, there's plenty of great storylines to track and plenty of questions to answer.
Let's take a look at some of them...
1. It's been seven years since the Central Region has sent a team into the Division Six state championship game but with both Varina and Highland Springs ranking among the top four teams in the Division Six preseason poll, is it time for a Richmond-area team to make a title run? Hard to say given that a state semifinal game against the top-ranked and reigning state champion Oscar Smith Tigers could be on the docket.
2. Speaking of Oscar Smith, on August 28th, the second day of the football season, the Chesapeake-based program will become the first Virginia school to play a nationally-televised game on ESPNU as they take on Venice High School from Florida. How well will the Tigers carry the flag for the Commonwealth? Tune in to see.
3. The Stone Bridge Bulldogs have built one of the most powerful programs in the state but lost 20 of 22 starters from last season's team. How will the young, relatively unknown youngsters answer the call this season. Can they carry on the tradition or is this the year that some programs get their revenge on a the Northern Region power.
4. The Osbourn Eagles played in two of the last three D6 state title games and now they dropped down to Division Five. Ranked the #3 team in the state in our preseason poll, what impact will they have on the championship picture?
5. Is Region I capable of sweeping the AA state championship games? Powhatan appears to be loaded and ready to severely test Amherst and Broad Run in Division 4 while defending champion James Monroe looks strong enough to repeat as Division 3 champs.
6. Broad Run won the Division 4 state championship this year but have a new challenger rising up within their own region as Division 5 Northwest regional champion Liberty-Bealeton has been re-classified as a D4 squad setting up what could be a classic regional final contest provided both advance that far.
7. All this talk about possible state champions leads us to the Amherst Lancers who ruled the roost in both 2006 and 2007 before losing the 2008 Division 4 title game. Ranked the #2 team in the state, they're certainly favored to get back to the title contest, but we'll all be watching to see if they are ready to recapture their stranglehold on the division.
8. Salem and Pulaski have split their last two playoff meetings in Region IV and with both ranked in the top ten preseason poll, are they lined up for a rubber match to determine who is the power program in the area now?
9. In Region A, is Essex, the top-ranked team in the Single A state set to cruise into the D2 state semifinals with no other in-region program ranked in the top ten while Sussex Central, Colonial Beach and defending state champion Franklin provide one of the more exciting races for the Division 1 regional championship?
10. Is a possible Region B sweep in order this year as William Campbell (D1) and Gretna (D2) ranked among the top three in the state for Single A ball? It was just two years ago when Gretna and Buffalo Gap pulled it off.
11. In Region C action, Giles appears to be a legitimate state contender in D2, but will an underdog candidate emerge in the D1 race with no teams ranked in the top ten? Holston, Eastern Montgomery, Galax and Bath County seem to have the most potential but there's room for plenty more contenders out there.
12. It's been five years since a Region D team has won a Single A state championship (Gate City, 2003); can preseason region favorites Gate City or Clintwood make a run at the D2 title?

Remember check out Virginia Preps for all your high school sports need, whether it is sounding off on a message board or reading the latest on recruiting, Virginia Preps.com quenches your high school sports thirst. Questions, comments for me, you can send to TheSportsBuffet@verizon.net

Talking with Zack McCray (Brookville Defensive End)

High School Football, it's here! Practices being today, and check out your local newscast (if you are in the state of Virginia), and if a station is worth it's salt, they will have previews now up until the season (the DVR will be working, so I can watch WDBJ, WSLS and WSET). With that being said, I wanted to talk to one of the highest rated prospects in the country who makes his home in Central Virginia: Zack McCray of the Brookville Bees.

Bob Alvis: Before we talk about this season, let's first go back and talk about your commitment to the Virginia Tech Hokies. What were the biggest factors that made you commit to Virginia Tech?

Zack McCray: There were a few big factors in choosing Virigina Tech, that helped them stand out from the other schools. One, was the fact that they are not really deep at the defensive end position. It was really close between a few schools, but the potential to see playing time as a freshman helped make up my mind. Playing for Bud Foster and a top 10 defense was quite appealing! I also like the fact that its close to home. This allows my parents, grandparents, family, friends, and coaches the ability to support me, as well as Logan (Thomas) and I together. I have a great relationship with the Virginia Tech coaches and it felt comfortable, like family. Also, Virginia Tech is a National Championship contender, bowl contender and winner, and ACC contender and champion.

BA: Obviously, the first priority this season is the Brookville Bees, but how much are you going to bend your cousin's (Logan Thomas) ear to find out what college freshman go through their first year of Division 1 football?

ZM: My first priority like you said is Brookville, but on Saturdays I will be at almost all of the Virginia Tech games supporting my cousin and my future team. I think it is definitely a benefit and advantage for me to have Logan there at Virginia Tech. I will definitely bend his ear, so to speak, knowing what to expect, and the do's and don'ts. So, by the time I get to campus next summer it will be an easier transition from high school to college, both on and off the field.

BA: You are a nominee for the Titan Trophy. What would winning the award that goes to the best rising senior in Central Virginia mean to you?

ZM: It is an honor to be considered for the Titan award. There are so many great players in the area. I give credit to God, my family, coaches, teammates, and community for helping me get to this point. I have been blessed with God given talent and abilities and have gone the extra mile by working out above and beyond what is expected. I have been blessed with a wonderful Brookville team, teammates, and coaches to showcase my talents. Just as in receiving a full scholarship to VT, you could say by being nominated for this award, my hard work has paid off and been acknowledged. To be honored by my community, would be a great honor.

BA: Last year you couldn't mention Brookville football and not talk about Logan Thomas. It seems like this year that could be the case but just insert Zack McCray's name in there. Do you feel that you are the face of the program and are you comfortable with that responsibility?

ZM: (Laughing) I don't know if i would say the face of the program. We have so many good players on this Brookville team and a great group of seniors that will help lead the team. I am motivated and comfortable to lead by example on this Brookville team and to take any responsibility that I need to help my team win. I'm comfortable with being the one people look to in both good and bad times, both on and off the field. I hope to be a great role model and mentor to my younger teammates.

BA: I know it's hard for you to tell another guy from another school what to do, but for those guys who are top recruits and haven't committed to a school yet, what advantages do you think committing before the season would give those guys?

ZM: The advantages to committing to college before my senior season for me were the following. 1) It allowed me to relax (physically and mentally), 2) enjoy my summer(vacationing and spending time with my family and friends) and 3) focus on my senior season (lifting and working-out). Otherwise, I would still be traveling to colleges, still attending and competing in camps and combines, and fielding many calls, texts, and emails from colleges and coaches. Also, I don't have to worry about having to prove anything. I can just play my hardest, have fun, and focus on my team, as opposed to focusing on just myself.

BA: Now talking about this year's Brookville Bees team, what do you feel is a strength of this team that most people might not feel to be a strength of this team coming into the season?

ZM: Defense. I think the last few years our offense has been the main focal point of the program and this year I see the defense taking over.

BA: How hungry do you feel this team is going into the season considering the way last season ended?

ZM: I feel that we are hungrier, ever since we lost in a close game (State Championship against James Monroe, 50-46) at the end of the season. Most of us were in the weight room the next Monday after our loss. We were already pushing and encouraging each other, because none of us ever want to feel the disappointment that we felt after that game.

BA: Obviously, people think that it is going to be tough to replace Logan Thomas, but who else is going to be tough to replace off last year's team?

ZM: I feel like ALL of our last year seniors will be missed in one way or another. Besides Logan, I feel like Devin Bolling, Stacey Houston, Corby Weiss, Jarrett Bateman, and Corey Patterson will be most missed.

BA: We talked about who is going to be tough to replace off last year's team, who do you feel is ready to step up this season and who should people keep an eye on when they watch the Bees on Friday nights?

ZM: (Laughing) Keep an eye on Everyone! We have a very successful JV team moving up, but in particular from last year's squad, Lorenzo Smith, Ben Simmons, Michael Leeman, Zach Burns, David Brandt, Brett Woolard, and Alec Thompson. They all had good seasons last year and I just expect this one to be even better. We lost 21 seniors this past season. We will have a young team with lots to prove.

BA: The Seminole District is not an easy league to play in. What are your thoughts on the district this year?

ZM: I think it will be a very challenging season from beginning to end in the Seminole District. With some coaching changes and E.C. Glass coming into the district, it will be interesting to see the outcome. Everyone better be ready for each and every game because from top to bottom, there will be great competition. I believe it will come down to the final game to decide the season standings and play-off picture. I think the district is too difficult to predict games this early on in the season.

BA: Final question Zack, define a successful 2009 season for the Brookville Bees.

ZM: A successful 2009 season for the Brookville Bees is to WIN STATES! This will be our goal from the outset, nothing else can even compare. Last year we got there, this year we want to win it, no if's, and's, or but's.

BA: Thanks for your time and we look forward to talking to you for The Sports Buffet's blog and podcast throughout the season.

ZM: Thank you for everything and I look forward to talking to you in the future.

Follow the Bees all year long on this blog and "The Sports Buffet Podcast". For your one stop shopping, head to The Sports Buffet Podcast.

Talking with Michael Rocco (Liberty Christian Academy Quarterback)

High School Football is here. Practice starts today, and one team looking to capture a state title is the LCA Bulldogs. I had a chance to catch up with the signal caller of the Bulldogs, Michael Rocco for this talk about the LCA Bulldogs headed into the 2009 season.

Bob Alvis: When looking for a college to decide on, what were the important factors that made you think this would be a good fit?

Michael Rocco: The coaches and people. I also looked for the quality of competition, the quarterback tradition, and the christian presence.

BA: Why Louisville? What other schools were you deciding between?

MR: Louisville fit all those things and fit my needs well. I was offered by Louisville, Penn State, and Liberty. I was also being recruited by North Carolina, Wake Forest, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

BA: What advice did you receive from the football members in your family (your brother Chris, your father Frank, and your uncle Danny)?

MR: They were all involved in my decision making process, and there was an agreement between all that Louisville fit me best.

BA: Was it important to you to commit to a school before the season began? Why or Why not?

MR: It was nice to have the decision out of the way so that I can now on my senior season.

BA: Now looking ahead to this season, what do you feel are the team's strengths coming into the season?

MR: We have several key players with playing experience, but we also have many young players that will need to step up into key roles.

BA: You guys are going to play the Gretna Hawks this season. How big of a game do you feel that is, when most of your opponents are not known by football fans around here, but people certainly know the Gretna Hawks.

MR: We are excited to play Gretna and will be prepared for the challenge. They are one of three state champions that we play to open the season.

BA: What are this team's goals coming into the season?

MR: Our goal is to win the state championship this year.

BA: Most quarterbacks don't have the luxury to ask their brother or father questions about the position. How beneficial is it being in a football family?

MR: It is a great privilege to be blessed with such a knowledgeable family. It has meant a great deal to me to have their support and guidance through my career. They have provided me with everything i could have ever wanted in growing process as a player. I owe everything to my dad and family who have been there for me in my career.

BA: Final question, define a successful season for the LCA Bulldogs as a team and a successful individual season for Michael Rocco for the 2009 season.

MR: To reach our goals of winning the conference and the state. Also, for me to lead the team in accomplishing these goals while giving God all the glory.

BA: Thanks for your time and best of luck this season.

MR: Thanks for the interview opportunity, and my dad (Coach Frank Rocco) says hello.

I am psyched that the high school season to begin. The podcast is on track to be back very, very soon. But, fear not if you aren't a listener, you will still be able to read as I am prepared to blog all season long. If there is something (or someone) you want to hear on the blog or podcast, e-mail me at TheSportsBuffet@verizon.net

Talking with Andrew Brown (Linebacker-Jefferson Forest)

High School football practice gets underway this Monday. Football Friday, 1st & 10-The Highlight Show and Friday Football Extra will be back and a part of our Friday nights before we know it. With that being said, I decided to talk to Andrew Brown of Jefferson Forest. Brown is listed as a top 50 prospect by Virginia Preps and will be making a decision soon about what college he will attend next year. We spoke about that upcoming decision, the upcoming season and more.

Bob Alvis: Before we get into talking about the upcoming season, let's talk a little about your future. You are a top 50 prospect for 2010 according to Virginia Preps, you are in the running for the Titan Trophy (given to Central Virginia's best rising senior). When your football career started in high school, did you ever imagine that you'd be at this point headed into your senior year?

Andrew Brown: I had no idea, people always told me when I was younger that I shouldn't take football so seriously and just have fun because I wouldn’t go to the next level. I had a dream ever since middle school ball to play college football and it looks like its finally coming true. My parents and Coach Rice told me when I was younger that if I wanted it bad enough, I could do it, I just needed to put the work into it. Ever since that day I was in the weight room and on the track working everyday trying to achieve my personal goal. I am just grateful that I’ve received all this support and my hard work has finally seemed to pay off.

BA: Talking about the recruitment process, what type of school is a good fit for you? What types of things are you looking for outside of the football program.

AB: Academics have definitely been a major issue for me. I have always taken my school work very seriously, as I was accepted and currently attend Central Virginia Regional Governor’s School. I also have been on the honor roll every year I have attended Jefferson Forest. When I first realized that I had the potential to play college football, my Dad and I made of list of great academic schools from around the area that I would visit. I am either looking to major in business or nuclear engineering.

BA: When do you plan on making your decision of where you will be attending and what schools are on that short list?

AB: I plan on making my decision as soon as possible. I have narrowed my college selection down to University of Richmond, the Naval Academy, and Liberty University. I have received full football scholarships to all three schools and I have great relationships with all three coaching staffs. I am planning to make my decision in the next week or so.

BA: Why is it important to you to commit to a school before the season begins?

AB: I have taken a lot of time to visit all three of these schools, and I believe I have enough information to make an educated decision. I would like to make the decision before the season begins so that I can focus on my senior season. Also, I don't want it to become a distraction for my teammates so that we can focus on the big goal at the end of the road.

BA: Talk about your summer. It seemed like back in the day a lot of guys just lifted during the off-season but now there are all types of camps and everything else going during the summer, what has your summer looked like?

AB: We had great numbers at weekly work outs, which was great as you could see the great improvement in our team’s size and speed at the end of the season. I have camped at about 5 different schools which included my top college choices. I thought the camps were a great tool in helping me decide where I want to play football. My summer has been busy but it’s also been a lot of fun.

BA: Practice starts on Monday for most schools in the state. Be a reporter and preview your team for me this season.

AB: Coming into this season we are going to be very strong on both sides of the ball and very deep in most positions as well. Our offense is switching from the traditional Power I to the Spread offense. Our quarterback, Hunter Hannell, is very experienced and will have the chance to throw the ball a lot more than in the past. Our wide receivers are almost all seniors and are very experienced. Our running back, Rashad Hall, is one of the fastest running backs in the state(4.3 40). Our offensive line is young, but we have incredible size and speed. Our offense should put up great numbers. Our defense is incredibly talented this year as our linebacker core is one of the best in the state. Our two outside linebackers are returning seniors in our 4-3 defensive except our middle linebacker, Tyler Rosser, who I will replace in the middle as I move from defensive end. Our defensive line is young, but very athletic and our secondary is very experienced. We are underrated coming into this season. We have the weapons this year to return to the Region finals and advance to states.

BA: Your coach Don Rice is one of my favorite coaches to interview because he is always straight forward and doesn't sugar coat things. Does he carry that quality over to the field? What type of coach is Coach Rice to play for and what do you like about the man?

AB: Coach Rice is a great coach. Being a former marine, he makes his practices like boot camp. It forces us to become brothers on the field, as we learn to respect each other and our coaches. I have a high level of respect for the whole coaching staff at Jefferson Forest and I believe that is due to Coach Rice.

BA: Full disclosure, I was a student manager at Jefferson Forest when I was in high school, there is a lot of tradition at Jefferson Forest, especially on the defensive side of the ball. How important do you think it is that the players know the tradition and how important is it to uphold it?

AB: Everyone who lives in Forest knows, if you’re a football player in the Jefferson Forest football program, you are a hard nose kid and you will never back down to anything. Saying that, I don’t think we really think about the tradition, we just live it. If our coaches believe you can start on our defense, they know you will keep the tradition alive. I personally believe due to our defensive mentality that we will always be a dominating force on defense as long as that mentality stays alive.

BA: Who is someone from your team and from around the area (maybe a guy that you have seen at camps or something) that you expect to have a big season and why do you think they will have a big season?

AB: I am excited to see how Mike Rocco (LCA Quarterback and Lousiville commitment) does this year. We keep in touch and he is a great kid from a great family over there at LCA. I am glad my defense doesn’t have to face him. Mike is a very talented quarterback who surprises people not only with his arm but his overall athleticism as he shows it off on the defensive side of the ball playing safety. I’m excited to see how well he does.

BA: Year in and year out the Seminole District is a very strong league, how important is it to win those non-district games to have a strong case for the playoffs? Especially, when there's a chance with such a strong league that everyone could have a slip in district play.

AB: Non-district games are very important and they are must wins for our football team this year. Not necessarily in a sense of playoffs, but they are very important in order to prepare us for the Seminole district this year. We are going for it all or nothing this year, and we are preparing to win every Seminole district game this year in order to prepare us for the playoffs.

BA: Final question and I look forward to communicating with you throughout the season, define a successful season for yourself, and then a successful season for the Jefferson Forest Cavaliers.

AB: I believe all-state linebacker is my personal goal. Then, as a team nothing but a state championship will define a successful season. We have the potential to be dominant this year.

We look forward to keeping up with Andrew all season long through the blog and his podcast, and we look forward to hear his college choice when he decides it.

The Value of 7 on 7

Rod Johnson, statewide football editor for Virginia Preps.com recently shared his thoughts on the value of 7 on 7. Here is what he had to say.

The end of summer is here (for football players) as training camps open up next week for squads from one corner of the state to the other. With the end of summer comes the end of the 7 x 7 passing leagues and tournaments.

A few years back, the publishers, editors and staff at VirginiaPreps.com made the decision to start covering the events throughout the summer and to attend as many events as we could despite common objections / questions like...

Why cover touch football events?
Does it really matter who wins those events?
With no linemen playing and no pads on, is it really football?
Without disagreeing with those sentiments and without answering the objections individually, I will respond by saying that I find value in the events as they help form my opinion about which teams have talent coming together as one and which teams might be struggling to reach their potential.

There are three things that I look at while attending the passing events...

1. Watch the athletes run and compete.
Nothing beats seeing a kid play live and watching how fluidly he moves, he well he competes against kids of the same caliber, how he fights for the ball in the air, how he reacts to the long days in the heat, etc... There really is no substitute for standing on a sideline and watching a kid play to judge his speed, fluidity and competitiveness.

2. Watch teammates interact with each other.
Successful coaches and teams constantly talk about team chemistry and how important it is to their continued success. The tricky thing about team chemistry is that it cannot be measured statistically and there's really no way to put a value on it to compare one team's chemistry against another's. However, it is something that, if you have been around enough teams, can be sensed as you watch the players interact with each other and with other teams. You can get a sense of a team's confidence, their dedication and the seriousness with which they work. For lack of a better term, you get a sense of a team's "personality".

3. Watch the coach's coach.
No single piece of information is more important to gather at a 7 x 7 event then this! Every successful team that I have seen over the past seven years has had a coaching staff with similar characteristics -- organization, setting a fast pace, always pushing for more hard work, preaching excellence, concerned about getting better at a 7 x 7 rather than focusing on winning the event.

Attend an event next summer and watch for the teams who are working drills when there is free time before an event, watch for the teams whose players support each other versus the teams who point fingers at each other, and watch for the teams whose coaching staffs who talk to their players after every play rather than watching from the sideline. Don't worry about who won the event, you'll know who the good teams will be.

Got a question for Rod? E-Mail us at TheSportsBuffet@verizon.net and maybe we can start feeding some questions to Rod out of the mailbag. He is always hungry to talk football.

Talking with Dwayne Hamlette (William Campbell Head Coach)

Dwayne Hamlette was an assistant coach under Brad Bradley during Bradley's tenture at William Campbell. It's now Hamlette's ship with Brad Bradley manning the waters at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke. Recently I spoke with Coach Hamlette, as the season fast approaches. The Generals open their season at home on the 28th of August against Cumberland.

Bob Alvis: For people not familiar with your athletic or coaching background, bring the folks up to date of who Dwayne Hamlette is in the world of his athletic career.

Dwayne Hamlette: I played football in the mid 90s for William Campbell, also played baseball and basketball. This will be my 9th year coaching at William Campbell and first as a head coach.

BA: This is your first head coaching job at the Varsity level. What are you most looking forward to about the challenge and what do you think will be the toughest aspects of your job?

DH: I look forward to the challenge of maintaining the tradition that has been started here. I think the toughest aspect is always not to put too much pressure on myself. I am my biggest critic.

BA: You played for Kevin Saunders, who is now at Gretna. What type of coach was Coach Saunders to play for?

DH: Hard nosed. He coached us hard and we played hard. He is the guy you love to hate but you played hard for him.

BA: Cecil Phillips was also an assistant on that squad. He just competed his first year at Amherst. Tell us some things we may not know about Coach Phillips and what are some things you have learned from him that you hope makes you a good coach?

DH: Coach Phillips is one of those guys you can trust and always lean on. We have often had communication since he coached me at William Campbell and kind of lost communication, when he moved back to the Tidewater area we kept in touch and now since he is at Amherst we talk often. I learned from him to make sure the kids know that you will always be there for them, whether during the time they play for you or even once they leave your program....always keep the door open for them to return.

BA: Many people may not know this but Ben Martin (Appomattox) is your brother in law. How hard is it to seperate football from family, when a family member is another coach in the district?

DH: (Laughing) Usually when Ben and I are together we are discussing football, there is only one week that we are not going to talk but before and after that I will be one of his biggest fans. I think our wives would like us to concentrate on family a little more when we get together (Laughing).

BA: We talked about some great coaches you played for. Well, you coached with a great one in Brad Bradley. What did you learn from Coach Bradley and Coach John Earich (Assistant Head Coach)?

DH: I learned from Coach Bradley, never be out worked. I also learned how to manage not only kids, but a program. Coach Bradley taught me how to deal with on and off the field issues with professionalism. I learned from Coach Earich, how to make sure you get through to kids and also let the kids know that you are in their corner. I learned a ton of football from two good football minds!

BA: Talk about the 7 on 7 tournament a few weeks back at Amherst. How was it to beat Patrick Henry and Amherst on the way to the championship?

DH: We wanted to go to the Amherst Shootout and compete. Our kids did a good job of playing the entire length of games, whether we were down or up. I was really impressed how the kids took coaching on the fly and adapted and played. The defense seemed to be covering every corner of the field. To beat Patrick Henry in the semis was a good feeling, to be able to compete against a guy that you have been in battles with is strange but good. It's always nice to get one up on (Coach) Bradley whether it's Playstation or 7 on 7. The Amherst squad was very althletic and Coach Phillips and his staff had his guys in the right position on day. I'm glad we were able to win the championship and to have our kids understand that yes we can take the momentum into practice, but we still have a lot of learning to do. The fact that we were able to walk away with a 7 on 7 championship has no bearing on our win-loss record this fall.

BA: You kept most of the staff intact from last year's team. Talk about your staff and who is on the staff. How important was it to you to keep the staff intact?

DH: With any coaching change you want to try and keep some normalecy if you are able to. We were able to keep our defensive coordinator in John Meadows, which I was estactic about. Coaches (Andy) Haga, (Shea) Boyd, (Trevor) Freitas have all been on staff and will assume some different roles this year. A new addition to the staff is Jason Hudnall. I have a dedicated staff that will not only prepare our kids for Friday nights but for life in general.

BA: Another new wrinkle for a first team head coach is dealing with factors off the football field, such as the media, ordering equipment, dealing with parents and so forth and so on. What do you feel may be one of the most challenging aspects off the field?

DH: I really don't see any of those issues as challenges. I look forward to dealing with the media and parents/supporters. I would guess that ordering equipment would be the one thing that I'm not use to, but I am adjusting well.

BA: Final question, I think lots of people consider the Dogwood District wide open with the departures of two state championship winning coaches in (Chris) Thurman and (Brad) Bradley. Do you feel that way? If not, who is the team to beat?

DH: The Dogwood has tons of athletes at every school. Right now everybody is 0-0 and in contention so we will see how everything plays out.

BA: Coach, best of luck this season and thanks for your time.

DH: Thank you. We look forward to seeing all the fans out supporting the Generals this fall.

More interviews and previews with fall high school sports coaches to come. Also, look for the podcast portion of "The Sports Buffet Podcast" to reappear in the next few weeks. If you have a suggestion or comment, e-mail me at TheSportsBuffet@verizon.net

High School Football in Virginia: The Class of 2010

I spoke with Virginia Preps.com's Football editor Rod Johnson recently about the overall impression that the Class of 2010 might not be as loaded with talent as Va fans are accustomed to. Here were Rod's thoughts on the topic

In recent years, as Virginia's national reputation has grown as a state producing a number of top notch Division I college prospects on an annual basis, expectations have grown that each year's class will match the previous season's talent output. As recruiting analysts study the Class of 2010, the early word on the street was that the annual crop was not as strong as year's past and certainly not as strong as the insanely deep Class of 2011.

Sometimes, when something is said often enough, the opinion seemingly becomes fact. However, upon closer inspection, maybe the problem with the Class of 2010 isn't that the talent is not on par with previous seasons, it might just be that the talent is not at the 'sexy' positions.

A quick survey of the top fifty prospects in the state (as ranked by VirginiaPreps.com) reveals that there are only three quarterbacks, three wide receivers, and four wide receivers -- a scant 20% of the list. Of those top ten 'sexy' position players, only four rank among the top thirty prospects which is generally near the point where the list drops from BCS prospects to mid-major level talent. Both the total number of offensive skill players and the number ranked among the best in the state are lowering than in years past and much lower than next season's expected rankings.

But, does that mean that this class lacks the depth and talent of seasons gone by?

I say no.

The Class of 2010 is stacked with in-the-trench players like few before them. Nearly half of the top thirty (fourteen!) prospects play on the line of scrimmage and that's not counting the consensus top-ranked player Ego Ferguson who had not transferred into Hargrave at the time our last rankings were completed! Heck, five of the top seven players are hands-down kids including Zack McCray, Mark Shuman, Evan Hailes, Quentin Spain, and Nick Acree and each of them held dozens of BCS offers!

The problem with the in-the-trenches prospects is that the average fan is willing to acknowledge the importance of having studs on the line but few understand what it takes to be a great lineman. Face it, few of us watch the line play during a game and, with no true statistics available to help us compare one guy against the guy next to him, there's no quantifiable way to say that Player A is better than Player B. Most coaches, even at the college and pro level, are hesitant to say which lineman played well in a game until they break down the film to see who missed which blocks or assignments.

It's easy to look at a 6-foot-6, 300-pound prospect who runs a 5.0 forty and attempt to project him as a top player because he is already bigger, stronger and faster than most human beings we encounter in our daily lives. Surely, a guy that size can routinely throw around an average citizen. The problem is, they won't be blocking someone that size, they'll be matching up with the rare players who match them in size, strength and speed. There's a scant few people who can accurately project how well a player will play under those circumstances.

Without handy statistics to point to and without having constant video input of a player's performance (like we get from QB's, RB's and WR's), it's tough to get excited about that big guy who your college signed. Thus, a class replete with big men is less 'sexy', less exciting, and less quantifiable than those loaded with skill players.

But that does not necessarily mean that they are less talented.

The Buffet's Return

The target date has been set. "The Sports Buffet Podcast" has set the target date for the podcast portion of "The Sports Buffet" to relaunch on Monday August 3rd. The features that I mentioned in a previous post on October 24th, 2008 are still the features that you will be hearing on "The Sports Buffet Podcast".

Until then, I will be updating my blogs on a regular basis. I have three blogs, one relating to high school sports, one dealing with the general sports world (non high school sports) and one that just deals with the general world and my thoughts as a whole. Also, if you are a Facebooker, you can type in The Sports Buffet Podcast in the search box in the top right and become a fan of the podcast.

I want thoughts and suggestions from you on what you want to hear! E-Mail me at TheSportsBuffet@verizon.net or leave me a message or post on Facebook. If you haven't contacted me and volunteered to help with "The Sports Buffet" whether it be as a reporter or blogger, you can offer your services to me there as well.

Look forward to serving you up some good things on "The Sports Buffet". Stay tuned for more exciting news and updates that will be coming to "The Sports Buffet".

Altavista High School Boys Basketball Team Camp

Friday and Saturday at Altavista High School, Altavista Middle School and the Altavista YMCA, you basketball junkies will have a chance to check out some hoops to quench you summer thirst. The teams participating will be

Altavista Colonels
Rustburg Red Devils
Nelson County Governors
Liberty Minutemen
Prince Edward Eagles
Patrick County Cougars
Dan River Wildcats
Fluvanna Fighting Flucos
Spotswood Trailblazers
E.C. Glass Hilltoppers

Friday June 26-Altavista High School
Noon: Altavista-Rustburg
1:00: Nelson County-Liberty
2:00: Prince Edward-Patrick County
3:00: Dan River-Fluvanna
4:00: Patrick County-Rustburg
5:00: Dan River-Jefferson Forest
6:00: Altavista-Prince Edward
7:00: Fluvanna-E.C. Glass

Altavista Middle School Gym
Noon: Prince Edward-Spotswood
1:00: Dan River-E.C. Glass
2:00: Altavista-Central Lunenberg
3:00: Nelson County-Jefferson Forest
4:00: Prince Edward-Central Lunenberg
5:00: Fluvanna-Liberty
6:00: Patrick County-Spotswood
7:00: Nelson County-Dan River

Altavista YMCA
Noon: Patrick County-Central Lunenberg
1:00: Fluvanna-Jefferson Forest
2:00: Spotswood-Rustburg
3:00: E.C. Glass-Liberty
4:00: Altavista-Spotswood
5:00: Nelson County-E.C. Glass
6:00: Rustburg-Central Lunenberg
7:00: Jefferson Forest-Liberty

Saturday June 27th
Altavista High School Gym
9:00 AM: Patrick County-Liberty
10:15: Altavista-Central Lunenberg
11:30: Altavista-E.C. Glass
12:45: Liberty-Spotswood

Altavista Middle School Gym
9:00 AM: Altavista-Jefferson Forest
10:15: Fluvanna-Rustburg
11:30: Patrick County-Jefferson Forest
12:45: Dan River-Rustburg

Altavista YMCA
9:00 AM: Prince Edward-E.C. Glass
10:15: Dan River-Spotswood
11:30: Prince Edward-Liberty
12:45: Fluvanna-Central Lunenberg

The Sports Buffet Podcast Ready to Come Back

After attendind the Spring Jubilee a few weeks ago at Radford University, it got my blood boiling again to relaunch The Sports Buffet Podcast. I was honored to be the play by play voice for WKDE's coverage of Rustburg baseball for the state semifianls and state championship game. I also got a chance to see the Dogwood District capture their 3rd straight softball title, as Tim Fenn's Altavista Colonels were able to best Glenvar in the title game. Jedd Zarring and the Jefferson Forest Cavaliers played another epic soccer game with their long distance rival, the Blacksburg Bruins. Then another set of Cavaliers captured a state baseball championship as the Chatham Cavaliers hit their way to a state title.

In the next few weeks, look for podcasts to be added, but until then, go to The Sports Buffet Podcast, check out the blogs, links and more. As always your comments and suggestions are welcome (and encouraged), send them to TheSportsBuffet@verizon.net

Updates on "The Sports Buffet"

Just a few updates on "The Sports Buffet Podcast", the page should be seeing some major updates in the next week or two. Hopefully, there will be new blogs, and the page will be updated on hopefully a more daily basis. The podcasts part of the page however will probably not be consistently updated until August. Features that will be on the website (eventually) will include (but not be limited to)

* High School Sports
* College Sports
* Professional Sports
* Podcasts
* Blogs
* Links
* Historical Info on High School and College Sports
* Schedules
* Standings
and much more.

Stay tuned to "The Sports Buffet Podcast" to fill your sports hunger.

Region B Hoops Fans

Somewhat obsolete now, but there is a great site done by Tom Horn, Athletic Director at George Mason High School, that outlines the Region B Basketball Tournament.

Check it out by clicking on Region B Basketball Tournament and you can follow the tournament online with the updated brackets.

Previewing Tonight's Matchups

I asked several coaches what worries them about their respective opponent's tonight. Here's what I heard.

- What worries you about your opponent tonight?
James Carter (Buffalo Gap Boys Head Coach; Faces Altavista)
The big man inside. If we help they have great shooters that will make you pay. If we don't help Jordan can really hurt us inside.

Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach; Faces Lord Botetourt)
They are a mirror image of us. They are big and athletic at their big positions.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach; Faces Lord Botetourt)
They press and trap, both full and half court, we need to take care of the ball. On offense, we need to defend the three point line especially Grace Blaylock- she can flat out stroke it and has very good range.

Jeff Monroe (Liberty Boys Head Coach; Faces Northside)
Northside is very well coached. They are fundementally sound on offense and defense.

- What do you feel as a team, you have been doing well lately?
James Carter (Buffalo Gap Boys Head Coach; Faces Altavista)
We have been playing better half court defense.

Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach; Faces Lord Botetourt)
We have a lot of resiliency. Our guys don't quit.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach; Faces Lord Botetourt)
I feel like we have been doing a very nice job at the defensive end of making teams work for points.

Jeff Monroe (Liberty Boys Head Coach; Faces Northside)
I think our team defense has gotten better.

- Who has impressed you, or stepped up lately from your group around the end of the season or since postseason has started? What have they done lately, to where you would classify them as the player that has stepped up?
Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach; Faces Lord Botetourt)
Logan (Thomas) has put us on his shoulders. He has led in all areas. His teammates have responded to his leadership and have given consistent team effort.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach; Faces Lord Botetourt)
Talisha Watts has really stepped up. She has been averaging a double double over the last six games.

Jeff Monroe (Liberty Boys Head Coach; Faces Northside)
Carlton Payne has really stepped his game up to another level. He has been more vocal as a leader, and has been working really hard to to get the ball.

- What did you think you did well in your last game, and what do you want to improve on from last game?
James Carter (Buffalo Gap Boys Head Coach; Faces Altavista)
We were able to control the tempo, and play solid half court defense. We can always improve on the defensive end of the floor. We need to be more efficient on the offensive end of the floor.

Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach; Faces Lord Botetourt)
We rebounded the ball well and executed on the offensive end. We must do both tonight against Lord Botetourt.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach; Faces Lord Botetourt)
Again, I thought we did a nice job at the defensive end making them earn points. We need to do a better job of taking care of the ball and make fewer turnovers.

Jeff Monroe (Liberty Boys Head Coach; Faces Northside)
I thought we played well against Brookville in the tournament game, we just didn't finish it.

Tonight's Games

Listed below are just some of tonight's Regional basketball games.

Boys
Region B Division 1 at Eastern Mennonite
6:00 (2) Riverheads vs. (3) Cumberland
8:00 (1) Buffalo Gap vs. (5) Altavista

Region B Division 2
7:00 (4) Buckingham at (1) Madison County
7:00 (3) Goochland vs. (2) Dan River at Amherst

Boys Region III Division 3
7:00 at Jefferson Forest: Liberty vs. Northside
7:00 at Brookville: Brookville vs. Lord Botetourt

Region IV Division 3 Final
Cave Spring vs. Marion 6:30 at Graham Middle School

Girls
Region III Division 3
7:45 at Northside: Brookville vs. Lord Botetourt
7:30 at Stuarts Draft: Rustburg vs. Robert E. Lee

Region IV Division 3 Final
Patrick County vs. Graham 8:15 at Graham Middle School

Look for more analysis and matchups to be posted later on today.

Are Spring Sports Teams Hurt By Winter Team's Success

Some teams have made the Regional Tournaments that wouldn't have made it under the "old" system. I asked two coaches their thoughts on the success of their boys basketball teams.

Scott McGarry (Nelson County Baseball Coach)
We are missing 5 guys. That makes it hard to complete tryouts in terms of final cuts and early roster decisions. It also causes us to shuffle guys defensively which limits time at what will be their primary position once everyone is here. It does hurt the basketball players who pitch as they are not throwing early season bullpens. Since this is just the second year and basketball won the state title last year, things seem “normal” right now because we went through it last season; although, it just involved 2 players then. Despite the difficulties, I certainly support the basketball program. It would be nice to continue to deal with the problem another week.

Jason Kilbourne (Altavista Baseball Coach)
Divisional play has not affected our start at all. Our basketball team has such a strong tradition of advancing to post-season play, that our coaching staff understands that the basketball players that want to play baseball will be out late. I don't mind these prospective players getting out there late. I love the fact that they are participating in other sports.

I then asked both coaches do they think that their sport should have divisional play, and why or why not.
Scott McGarry (Nelson Baseball Coach)
I would love to have divisional play in baseball. The excitement that postseason play provides along with the increase in fan support and awareness is an experience you want for all high school athletes. While I acknowledge the problems that can surface with win-loss records those years some teams in some of the regions struggle, the split divisions provides championship opportunities for twice as many teams/schools/communities. Having witnessed the first team state championship outside of track in school history last year, that opportunity can do amazing things. While we have qualified for regionals in the past in our baseball program, we could become a perennial playoff team under the divisional system. That could be great.

Jason Kilbourne (Altavista Baseball Coach)
I feel like I understand all sides (VHSL, AD's, coaches) of our current situation. From our program's perspective, I would love to have divisional play but I am not going to be consumed by something that is out of my control. We will continue to compete with who is on our schedule and see where that takes us.

Just an interesting take from two coaches who are dealing with not having their kids at practice due to expanded regional play.

High School Basketball Scores

Courtesy of the Message Boards at Virginia Preps.com

Region III Division 3 Boys
Brookville defeated Robert E. Lee, 48-43 in OT in Staunton. The Bees will now play in the 2nd Region III Division 3 Semi at Brookville on Friday, when they take on Lord Botetourt.

Northside defeated Fort Defiance, 37-36 in OT in Roanoke. Northside will now play in the first Region III Division 3 Semi at Brookville on Firday, when they take on Liberty.

Region III Division 4 Boys
Broadway defeated Jefferson Forest, 40-38. Broadway will take on Spotswood on Friday at Northside.

Amherst defeated Harrisonburg, 61-54. Amherst will take on William Byrd on Friday at Northside.

Region B Girls Division 1
Altavista defeated William Campbell, 54-53 at Altavista. Generals led most of the way. William Campbell missed the front end of 3 1 and 1's in the last 1:30. Altavista will play the winner of Amelia and Manassas Park on Thursday at Amherst.

Buffalo Gap defeated Riverheads, 51-33 at Swoope. The Lady Bison will continue their quest of defending their state title on Thursday, when they play the winner of Central Lunenberg and Stonewall Jackson at Eastern Mennonite.

Region B Girls Division 2
George Mason defeated Appomattox, 66-22 at Falls Church. The Lady Mustangs will play Dan River on Thursday at Eastern Mennonite.

Dan River defeated Buckingham, 62-42 at Ringgold. The Lady Wildcats will travel to Eastern Mennonite on Thursday to take on George Mason.

Strasburg defeated Wilson Memorial, 66-43 at Strasburg. The Lady Rams will make the trip down to Amherst on Thursday to take on Randolph Henry or Clarke County.

Region III Division 4 Girls Basketball Tournament

Tournament begins tonight with higher seeds hosting. Quarterfinals game time's are 7:00

Jefferson Forest at William Byrd
Spotswood at Harrisonburg

Semifinals are Friday at Spotswood High School
Turner Ashby vs. Jefferson Forest-William Byrd winner (6:00)
Staunton River vs. Spotswood-Harrisonburg winner (8:00)

Finals will be Saturday night either at Spotswood High School or at Northside

Region III Division 4 Boys Basketball Tournament

Quarterfinals take place tonight at 7:oo

Harrisonburg at Amherst
Broadway at Jefferson Forest

The Semifinals will take place on Friday night at Northside, with the semifinals taking place at 6:00 and 8:00.

William Byrd vs. the winner of Harrisonburg and Amherst
Spotswood vs. the winner of Broadway and Jefferson Forest

Finals are Saturday night at Northside at 7:00

Region III Division 3 Boys Basketball Tournament

The Region III Division 3 Boys Basketball Tournament gets underway tonight. Quarterfinals are tonight, Semifinals take place on Friday, and the finals take place on Saturday.

Tuesday Night's Games (All Games at 7:00)

Fort Defiance at Northside

Brookville at Robert E. Lee

Friday Night's Games (at Brookville High School)
Fort Defiance-Northside Winner vs. Liberty (6:00)
Brookville-Robert E. Lee Winner vs. Lord Botetourt (7:30)

Championship Saturday Night at 8:00 at Brookville High School

Region B Boys Tournament

The Region B Boys Basketball Tournament begins on Wednesday night. Here is the layout of both tournaments, Division 1 & 2.

Division 1
Quarterfinals-Wednesday Night (All games at 7:00)
# 8 Nelson County at # 1 Buffalo Gap
# 5 Altavista at # 4 Page County
# 6 Manassas Park at # 3 Cumberland
# 7 Central Lunenberg at # 2 Riverheads

Semifinals on Friday
Nelson County-Buffalo Gap winner vs. Altavista-Page County Winner at Eastern Mennonite (8 PM)
Manassas Park-Cumberland winner vs. Central Lunenberg-Riverheads winner at Eastern Mennonite (6 PM)

Division 2
Quarterfinals-Wednesday Night (All Games at 7:00)
# 8 George Mason at # 1 Madison County
# 5 Appomattox at # 4 Buckingham
# 6 Clarke County at # 3 Goochland
# 7 Wilson Memorial at # 2 Dan River

Semifinals-Friday Night
George Mason-Madison County Winner vs. Appomattox-Buckingham winner at Madison County (7 PM)
Clarke County-Goochland winner vs. Dan River-Wilson Memorial winner at Amherst (7 PM)

Finals are Saturday at Eastern Mennonite. D-1 starts at 6, D-2 at 8 PM.

Region B Girls Tournament

Here's the Region B Tournament schedule for girls basketball in Division 1 & 2.

Division 1 (All Games at 7:00)
# 8 William Campbell at # 1 Altavista
# 5 Manassas Park at # 4 Amelia
# 6 Riverheads at # 3 Buffalo Gap
# 7 Central-Lunenberg at # 2 Stonewall Jackson

Semifinals-Thursday
William Campbell-Altavista winner vs. Manassas Park-Amelia winner @ Amherst (6 PM)
Riverheads-Buffalo Gap winner vs. Central Lunenberg-Stonewall Jackson winner @ Eastern Mennonite (8 PM)

Division 2 (All games at 7:00)
# 8 Clarke County at # 1 Randolph Henry
# 5 Wilson Memorial at # 4 Strasburg
# 6 Buckingham at # 3 Dan River
# 7 Appomattox at # 2 George Mason

Semifinals-Thursday
Randolph Henry-Clarke County winner vs. Wilson Memorial-Strasburg winner @ Amherst (8 PM)
Buckingham-Dan River winner vs. Appomattox-George Mason winner @ Eastern Mennonite (6 PM)

Finals are Saturday at Eastern Mennonite, with the Division 1 game starting at 11 AM and the Division 2 game will begin around 1 PM.

Boys Basketball: District Semifinals Schedule

Group A
Dogwood District-Wednesday
(4) Altavista at (1) Dan River 7:00
(3) Chatham at (2) Appomattox 7:00

Bull Run District at Madison County
(2) George Mason v. (3) Clarke County 6:30
(5) Manassas Park v. (1) Madison County 8:00

Shennandoah District
Quarterfinals-Tuesday
(6) Stonewall Jackson at (3) Riverheads 7:00
(5) Luray at (4) Page County 7:00

Semifinals-Thursday at Eastern Mennonite
(1) Buffalo Gap v. Page-Luray winner 7:00
(2) Wilson Memorial v. Riverheads-Stonewall Jackson winner 8:30

James River District-Wednesday
(4) Cumberland at (1) Goochland
(6) Central Lunenberg at (2) Buckingham

More to come later on.

Dogwood District Boys Basketball Tournament

The Dogwood District Boys Basketball tournament will get underway tonight at higher seeds, as the quarterfinals get underway. Here are the matchups

# 5 Nelson County at # 4 Altavista
# 6 William Campbell at #3 Chatham
# 7 Gretna at # 2 Appomattox.

The winner of the Nelson County-Altavista game will play at Dan River on Wednesday, while Appomattox will host Chatham-William Campbell winner. If the Hawks beat Appomattox, Gretna will travel to the winner of William Campbell and Chatham.

Seminole District Boys Basketball Pairings

The Seminole District boys basketball tournament begins tonight with higher seeds hosting tournament quarterfinals.

# 7 Staunton River at # 2 Brookville 7:30
#6 Heritage at # 3 Amherst 7:00
# 5 Jefferson Forest at # 4 Rustburg 7:30

Tournament Semifinals Wednesday night at Brookville

I believe it would be
Jefferson Forest-Rustburg winner vs. Liberty at 6:00
Heritage-Amherst winner vs. Staunton River-Brookville winner at 7:30

Things could get very interesting depending on a few things, as two teams have to advance from Division 3 (Liberty has won the district, so they are one) and Amherst is already representing Division 4, being the highest rated team in D-4

Seminole District Girls Basketball Tournament

It gets underway tonight. Some schools are doing doubleheaders (boys also begins tonight, higher seeds host quarterfinals.)

Here's the lineup
# 7 Amherst at # 2 Brookville 6:00
# 6 Liberty at # 3 Rustburg 6:00
# 5 Heritage at # 4 Jefferson Forest 7:00

Wednesday's Semifinals at Staunton River
Heritage-Jefferson Forest winner vs. # 1 Staunton River 6:00
Rustburg-Liberty winner vs. Amherst-Brookville winner 7:30

Friday Championship
6:00 at Brookville (followed by the Boys at 7:30)

Consolation will probably not be needed. The way it works in Region III (and I will correct myself if I am wrong), is the top two teams get in from Division 3 and Division 4. Staunton River is already guaranteed one spot in Division 4. If Brookville defeats Amherst tonight, then the winner of Heritage and Jefferson Forest would automatically get the other Division 4 spot. Brookville is already guaranteed one Division 3 spot (being the highest Division 3 team), and the winner of Rustburg and Liberty would get the other regional spot.

Girls Basketball: Dogwood District Tournament Pairings

Depending on what happens tonight in the boys, Dan River-Chatham game tonight, may affect the date of the girls tournament. If Dan River beats Chatham tonight, the girls tournament will remain on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. If the Cavaliers beat the Wildcats in the Boys Varsity matchup tonight, then the girls will commence on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with the Boys taking over Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The girls bracket
1 seed-Altavista has a bye.
From everything I have gathered there is a tie between 3 and 4 (Appomattox and Chatham). With that being said here are the tournment matchups. Seed in (parenthses)
(7) Nelson County at (2) Dan River
(6) William Campbell at (3) Appomattox
(5) Gretna at (4) Chatham

Tonight's matchups
Altavista at Nelson County
Appomattox at William Campbell
Dan River at Chatham

Boys Basketball: Dogwood District Standings

Here are the Dogwood District standings heading into tonight's season finales. If Chatham beats Dan River, there is a three way tie for 1st place which would neccesitate a playoff (because it determines a regional berth and seed). If a playoff is neccessary, the whole thing would be at Altavista High School. Saturday's tilt would feature Dan River against Chatham, with the winner meeting Appomattox on Monday night. The boys tournament would then take place Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, while the girls would play Monday-Wednesday-Friday. If no playoff is needed, the Boys action will be Monday-Wednesday-Friday and the girls would be Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday. All games at higher seeds.

(Overall Record in Parenthses)
Dan River 10-1 (17-3)
Appomattox 9-2 (18-3)
Chatham 9-2 (14-7)
Altavista 5-6 (10-9)
Nelson County 4-7 (9-11)
William Campbell 2-9 (3-13)
Gretna 0-12 (0-18)

Nelson County at Altavista
Chatham at Dan River
William Campbell at Appomattox

Seminole District Playoff Note

To clear up any confusion, any time you have a tie for a district title, you must have a playoff. The regular season meetings do not matter. The playoff must be had, to break the tie, because it is for a berth in the Region III Tournament. With that being said, the reason Staunton River was chose as a site is as follows. Brookville would have been the first site to be chosen, because that is where the Seminole District Boys semis and finals are being played. However, Brookville is not a neutral site, so they went to choice two, which was Staunton River. Staunton River was chosen as a site for two reasons. A) They are hosting boys and girls consolation games in the Seminole District tournament and B) They are hosting the girls tournament.

Any questions? I'll do my best to try and clarify.

Boys Basketball: This Week in the Dogwood

It's a full week in the Dogwood District Boys Basketball action, there will be Dogwood games every night this week (weather permitting) with the exception of Wednesday.

As we sit here on Sunday morning, these are your district standings. Overall Record in parentheses

Dan River 9-1 (16-3)
Appomattox 9-1 (18-2)
Chatham 8-2 (13-7)
Altavista 4-6 (9-9)
Nelson County 3-6 (7-10)
William Campbell 1-8 (2-12)
Gretna 0-10 (0-16)

Monday Night
William Campbell at Nelson County

Tuesday Night
Gretna at Altavista
Chatham at Appomattox
Nelson County at Dan River

Thursday Night
Gretna at William Campbell

Friday Night
Nelson County at Altavista
Chatham at Dan River
William Campbell at Appomattox

If there is a cause for a 1 game playoff, it would be at Altavista next Saturday night.

Region B Tournament starts the week afterwards.

Region B Playoff Info.

The Region B Playoffs will commence in a few weeks with Boys & Girls Play. I am attempting to clear up some of the confusion about the Region play with the seeding criteria.


8 teams advance to the region, from the 4 Region B districts (Dogwood, James River, Bull Run & Shenandoah). The top 8 teams in each division will qualify (there are 12 Division 2 teams and 13 Division 1 teams). Here is the order in which teams are seeded


1. Regular Season District Champ & Tournament Champ
2. Regular Season District Champ
3. Tournament Champ
4. Tournament Runner-Up
5. Regular Season District Runner-Up Untied
6. Regular Season District Runner-Up Tied
7. Regular Season 3rd Place Untied
8. Regular Season 3rd Place Tied
9. Tournament Semifinalist
10. Regular Season 4th Place Untied
11. Regular Season 4th Place Tied
12. Regular Season 5th Place Untied
13. Regular Season 5th Place Tied
14. Regular Season 6th Place Untied
15. Regular Season 6th Place Tied
16. Regular Season 7th Place


Teams that qualify on the same seeding criteria (e.g. both teams qualify on line 6, Regular Season 3rd place) will be seeded according to the criteria that follows.
1. Regular Season Winning Percentage in District Games Only
2. Head-to-head results
3. Region Point Scale for District Wins (explained below)
4. Winning Percentage versus common opponents
5. Winning Percentage in games versus all Region B Tournament teams (both divisions)
6. Overall winning percentage
7. Region Draw


Region Point System
For regular season district contests, Region schools will be awarded:
6 points for a win over a Regular Season Champ
5 points for a win over a Regular Season Runner-Up (2nd Place team)
4 points for a win over a Regular Season 3rd Place Team
3 points for a win over a Regular Season 4th Place Team
2 points for a win over a Regular Season 5th place Team
1 point for a win over a Regular Season 6th place team
0 points for a win over a Regular Season 7th place team


Tournament Brackets
1 vs. 8; 2 vs. 7; 3 vs. 6; 4 vs. 5.
Semis: 1-8 winner vs. 4-5 winner; 2-7 winner vs. 3-6 winner
Finals: 2 semifinal winners meet


Tournament Dates, Location/Format
Location: Quarterfinals are held at the higher seeds choice of venue, which may include their own gym. Each district will select a site to use on a semi-final night of the tournament. The site should be located as close to Charlottesville as feasible but in no case farther then 75 miles from Charlottesville. These four sites may host two games in one night but all four sites will host at least one of the semi-final games. The finals will be rotated to one of the district sites. In 2008, Eastern Mennonite University will host all four final games.

Semifinal Site Selection
Teams participating in the tournament will rank each of the four Semifinal sites in order of their preference for playing games there. Assignment of games to sites will begin with the # 1 seeds preference, and continue until all games are placed at one of the tournament sites. In odd numbered years, the # 1 seed in Division 1 will have the first choice, then the Division 2 # 1 seed will have the second choice. Then, the # 2 seed in Division 1, the # 2 seed in Division 2 and so on. In even numbered years, the Division 2 team would get the first choice. The site assignment process may put Division 1 and Division 2 games at the same site as part of the doubleheader. For example, the Division 1 # 1 seed may choose site "A" and the Division 2 # 1 seed may also choose site "A". Those two games would be played as a doubleheader at site "A".

Eligible Sites
No specific criteria is in place but districts will submit their site (and alternate sites in case of weather) for approval by Region B. Non-member school facilities are preferred, however, member schools may serve as sites if necessary, pending approval by Region B.

Weather
Districts will secure a back-up facility in case weather requires all four tournament to play games on the same night.

Finals Format
Finals will be played in two sessions on Saturday. Thursday semifinal winners will play in the early session. Friday semifinal winners will play in the late session. The facility will be emptied between sessions.

High School Basketball 1st Half Thoughts

Most all high school basketball teams in the Central Virginia area and beyond have completed the 1st half of their district schedules. I got some thoughts from various coaches, boys and girls, to get their thoughts on the 1st Half of the season.


Who is your team's Most Valuable Player in the 1st half of the season?

Brandon Garrett (Nelson County Boys Head Coach)
Trey Barnett because of our lack of depth at the guard position. We lost four guards off last year's team.

Brantley Shields (Appomattox Boys Head Coach)
Kenny Scott has started playing really well the last two weeks. He has started to attack the rim and do some scoring for us, as well as defend and rebound. The past four games (Altavista, Gretna, Nelson County, Chatham) he has had a double double or a near double double.

Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach)
Logan Thomas: He does about everything. He is our leader in every statistical category, as he goes, we go.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach)
Emilee Dunton is our team leader. She leads us in points and assists. On defense, she guards the best guard on the other team, and usually holds them under their average.

Who has been the most pleasant surprise from your team for the first half of the season?

Brandon Garrett (Nelson County Boys Head Coach)
Cameron Coles: He has stepped up when our leading scorer (Trevor Martin) has been out or limited the last 5-6 games due to injury.

Brantley Shields (Appomattox Boys Head Coach)
Rionn Pradia has been a pleasant surprise to this point. He has committed to doing things other then just shooting. His defense has vastly improved and he has started attacking the rim more.

Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach)
Dan Wallace has really picked up his game the last two weeks. He has simplified his game in order to help out our team dramatically, especially defensively.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach)
Talisha Watts has been a nice surprise averaging double digits.

Paul Smith (Jefferson Forest Boys Head Coach)
The most pleasant surprise was our early season win against Brookville. It has been a while since JF has defeated Brookville. It was rewarding to get a win against a team that people would consider to as one of the favorites to win the league this year.

Matt Hildebrand (Rustburg Boys Head Coach)
Marshall Wood, a freshman, has contributed more than I thought he would, and in an area I didn't anticipate: defense.

What have you been most pleased/impressed with about your team in the first half of the season?

Brandon Garrett (Nelson County Boys Head Coach)
The fact that we have been competitive and played good defense.

Brantley Shields (Appomattox Boys Head Coach)
I have been pleased with our consistency to this point.

Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach)
It has been hard to find chemistry and an identity thus far. Out of 46 practices, we have only had 7 where our entire team has been healthy in order to participate. Our team has had some ups and downs, but we have always responded after a down moment.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach)
The ability to win close games. We have won an overtime and a double overtime game.

What does your team need to do better, or what have you been most dissappointed with so far this season?

Brandon Garrett (Nelson County Boys Head Coach)
The biggest dissappointment so far has been the fact that we have not been able to play a complete game for 32 minutes.

Brantley Shields (Appomattox Boys Head Coach)
The biggest dissappointment so far has been our lapses on the defensive blockout.

Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach)
We need to get the ball inside offensively on a regular basis.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach)
We need to play to our ability night in and night out. We need to continue to get better every day so we are playing our best basketball at tournament time.

What team has surprised you most so far this season and why?

Brandon Garrett (Nelson County Boys Head Coach)
No one has really surprised me in the district so far. I think it's working out like most people and coaches thought it would. I think Chatham may be a little better then some anticipated at the beginning of the year. They have a lot of size and they are very athletic.

Brantley Shields (Appomattox Boys Head Coach)
Dan River: Especially with their defensive intensity.

Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach)
Amherst is very well coached and they are getting a lot out of their players.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach)
No one has really surprised me. I thought it would be a fight forthe top four spots and it has been so far.

What team do you feel could play the role of sleeper in the 2nd half of the season?

Brandon Garrett (Nelson County Boys Head Coach)
I think Altavista could sneak up on Appomattox, and Dan River but it will depend solely on have their guards develop.

Brantley Shields (Appomattox Boys Head Coach)
Gretna is starting to play better.

Chris Young (Brookville Boys Head Coach)
Amherst has three players that can score. They also have depth and good role players.

Warner Dyke (Brookville Girls Head Coach)
I'm not sure about the second half, but I said before the season that I thought Rustburg was going to be really good this season. They are proving me right. I'm not sure how many people agreed with me before the season, but I think they would all agree now.

Look for more thoughts from these folks and more tomorrow, and be sure to check out a rapidly developing site, at The Sports Buffet Podcast.com