Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502220019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Blue Ridge District administrators are hedging on a move from Region III to Region IV, citing the excuse that they want to see the results of a vote to include ninth-graders in the enrollment figures used to determine a school's classification. That issue will be decided in March.
Blue Ridge District officials feel either that vote, which if approved might make some Group AA-size schools in Region III Group A schools, or a decision to drop by some Group A-size schools playing in Group AA might balance the number of schools in Region III and Region IV.
``There were a lot of mixed feelings [at the Region III meeting two weeks ago] when that was discussed,'' said Joe DeVault, Magna Vista's principal. ``You get mixed signals when you talk to them [the Blue Ridge District]. There's still a lot of opposition, and I sense a lot of it comes from Rockbridge County and Alleghany because of the distances involved.''
The thing DeVault doesn't understand is thatAt one point, four Henry County schools - Bassett, Magna Vista, Fieldale-Collinsville and Laurel Park - plus Patrick County and Martinsville were ready to move from Region III to Region IV to balance the regions. Then, the Blue Ridge District entered the picture and the Region IV schools, given a choice, said they would prefer to have the Blue Ridge come in as a league.
DeVault's group was left with the impression the Blue Ridge schools would go to Region IV, even though not everybody in Region IV or the Blue Ridge was happy with that arrangement.
``It was obvious Region IV preferred the Blue [Ridge] when they stepped in at the last minute,'' DeVault said. ``It continues to bother me that, as a group of principals, we can't make a decision. Everyone is so concerned with their own specific situation, it's very difficult for them to look beyond that at what's good for the region and Group AA.''
Bob Patterson, William Byrd's principal, says the Blue Ridge is waiting to see what happens because there has been an indication the Group A-size schools in Region III might form their own district. This could achieve some of the balancing of regions the Virginia High School League is seeking.
``If things stay like they are, then you'll see three six-team districts in Region IV, with the Blue Ridge being one of them,'' Patterson said.
Meanwhile, teams in Region IV hope the impasse doesn't come to an end before October and the imbalance continues for another two years. That way eight of 12 Region IV football teams will make the state playoffs and two of the three New River District teams always will qualify for Region IV tournaments in all other sports.
``It won't go on that long,'' said Patterson, who believes the VHSL will step in and do the balancing if the regions don't.
WHAT A WAY TO GO: If a basketball coach had his wish for the final regular-season home game of his career, would it be to see three officials who had called many of his games through the years?
There are some coaches, who when they retire, don't want to see any ghosts from their past wearing striped shirts.
For Husky Hall's recent finale at Martinsville, Ernie Bradd, commissioner of the Southwest/Western Officials' Association sent Jim Haupt, Tom Berry and Sam Irvin to call the Bulldogs' game against Dan River.
``No one asked me to do it. It's something I decided to do,'' Bradd said. ``I put them on the game because they've been calling [games] for him so long.''
FORFEIT: As if Rockbridge County's program needed this, the Wildcats took a forfeit rather than make up a non-district boys' basketball game against R.E. Lee-Staunton.
Ordinarily, cancellation of a non-district game this late in the season would have meant nothing. However, Region II seeds teams in its tournament based on their overall record, so a victory - or lack of one if a game isn't played - could have affected the Leemen.
So Rockbridge County took the loss and has an overall record of 0-21. Coupled with the girls' basketball program's winless fall, the Wildcats are 0-42 on the court during the 1994-95 school year.
WHAT A FIND: Carlisle didn't need any help, the Chiefs added 6-foot-2 transfer Bryant Redd last week from Morehead (N.C.) High School. Playing at a private school, Redd was eligible immediately and scored 50 points in his first four games with Carlisle.
``He's very talented, there's no question,'' said Jeff Adkins, the Chiefs' coach. ``He gives us more depth. We press a lot and we tend to get in foul trouble.''
Adkins said he had never heard of Redd until he walked into Carlisle.
``Here's a kid wanting to prove himself and do better in school,'' Adkins said.
By the way, Carlisle runs buses into North Carolina and has numerous students from the Reidsville and Madison areas.
by CNB