As I am sure you all will agree, the frigid weather so far in December has made a mess out of everyone's basketball schedule, and even when your team was playing, you may have understandably felt too cold to go. But we are about to get a reprieve from those bitter temperatures, just in time to get serious about the season.
Back in football season, the pattern was usually to have four district games on a Friday night with the ninth team either off or playing a non-district game. So starting tonight, the 16th, we will follow that same pattern on many Tuesday and Friday nights. So here is the line-up for Tuesday night the 16th, as in less than 24 hours from now!
ALLEGHANY AT WAYNESBORO: At this point, we don't know enough about the Cougars to have a feel for how good they might be. Over the weekend, they squeezed out a one-point win at home over Parry McCluer. They have also played Rocktown but the last time I looked for that score, I saw conflicting reports about who had won it. Waynesboro will be its usual pesky self and Coach Spears will get the most out of them but I suspect the Cougars will be too much and will have a happy bus ride back home.
FORT DEFIANCE AT BUFFALO GAP: Contrary to what I initially thought, the Indians do have Gio back for his senior season. That alone will be enough to keep them in most games. Buffalo Gap on the other hand does not appear to have a go-to guy, at least not one that I saw Friday night. The rivalry aspect of this may keep it close for awhile, but look for another visiting team win here.
RIVERHEADS AT WILSON: As you may recall from my pre-season preview, I did not have much hope for my own team. That is mainly because they graduated their top four scorers from last season. But I may have to change my tune, because tonight's game at SD was one of the most poised and focused Riverheads games I have seen in quite some time. Their assignment Tuesday will be to give that same level of effort in the Hornet Hive. I still think the Green Team may be the best in the district, so I have to go with them to win this one, but if my Gladiators can stick with them anywhere near as close as they did to the Cougars tonight, I will have to start eating some crow and feeling more optimistic about the season.
ROCKBRIDGE AT STUARTS DRAFT: The Wildcats are another team that I put in my bottom tier and so far I have not read anything about them that changes my mind. So look for the Cougars to feed off the momentum from tonight's Riverheads win and possibly put the Cats away a little bit easier and with much less drama down the stretch.
STAUNTON AT BROADWAY (non-district): This is another game where we just don't have much to go on. I believe Staunton may have played only one game so far, an easy win over Harrisonburg, and I think that Broadway may have lost three or four already. But then again, those losses may have involved stiffer competition. I will go with Staunton to win this one, based mainly on its winning tradition, giving us three out of five wins for visiting teams on this particular Tuesday.
Back in football season, the pattern was usually to have four district games on a Friday night with the ninth team either off or playing a non-district game. So starting tonight, the 16th, we will follow that same pattern on many Tuesday and Friday nights. So here is the line-up for Tuesday night the 16th, as in less than 24 hours from now!
ALLEGHANY AT WAYNESBORO: At this point, we don't know enough about the Cougars to have a feel for how good they might be. Over the weekend, they squeezed out a one-point win at home over Parry McCluer. They have also played Rocktown but the last time I looked for that score, I saw conflicting reports about who had won it. Waynesboro will be its usual pesky self and Coach Spears will get the most out of them but I suspect the Cougars will be too much and will have a happy bus ride back home.
FORT DEFIANCE AT BUFFALO GAP: Contrary to what I initially thought, the Indians do have Gio back for his senior season. That alone will be enough to keep them in most games. Buffalo Gap on the other hand does not appear to have a go-to guy, at least not one that I saw Friday night. The rivalry aspect of this may keep it close for awhile, but look for another visiting team win here.
RIVERHEADS AT WILSON: As you may recall from my pre-season preview, I did not have much hope for my own team. That is mainly because they graduated their top four scorers from last season. But I may have to change my tune, because tonight's game at SD was one of the most poised and focused Riverheads games I have seen in quite some time. Their assignment Tuesday will be to give that same level of effort in the Hornet Hive. I still think the Green Team may be the best in the district, so I have to go with them to win this one, but if my Gladiators can stick with them anywhere near as close as they did to the Cougars tonight, I will have to start eating some crow and feeling more optimistic about the season.
ROCKBRIDGE AT STUARTS DRAFT: The Wildcats are another team that I put in my bottom tier and so far I have not read anything about them that changes my mind. So look for the Cougars to feed off the momentum from tonight's Riverheads win and possibly put the Cats away a little bit easier and with much less drama down the stretch.
STAUNTON AT BROADWAY (non-district): This is another game where we just don't have much to go on. I believe Staunton may have played only one game so far, an easy win over Harrisonburg, and I think that Broadway may have lost three or four already. But then again, those losses may have involved stiffer competition. I will go with Staunton to win this one, based mainly on its winning tradition, giving us three out of five wins for visiting teams on this particular Tuesday.