Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 19, 1995 TAG: 9510190090
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Despite the fact that Region III teams dominate Division 4 rankings, Division 3 teams have the best chance to win Piedmont District and Seminole District titles.
William Campbell, which took control by beating Amherst County and Liberty in the Seminole District, finishes the season against Buckingham County, Nelson County, Staunton River and Altavista.
Since only Staunton River (3-3) has a .500 record in that group, the Generals appear to be in as the Seminole District title winner. Coach Kevin Saunders might have been so confident this past Friday, that instead of scouting his team's next opponent on an open date, he went to the Radford-Giles game.
``That's what assistants are for,'' said Saunders, who played at Radford and had family visiting there for the weekend.
In the Piedmont, only Fieldale-Collinsville, a Division 3 team, is unbeaten. If the Cavaliers get past Dan River Friday, their last three games are against three teams - Gretna, Bassett and Laurel Park - that all have winning percentages of .500 or worse.
Thus, the winner of the William Byrd-Salem game will be in good position to win the Blue Ridge District andwill play host to any Region III games regardless of the Virginia High School League point standings because the Byrd-Salem winner will be the only district champion in the field. If the Terriers or Spartans reach the state semifinals or finals, they'll be home for those games also because it is Region III serves as host.
Liberty, by virtue of defeating Jefferson Forest, has a good chance for a wild card berth along with the William Byrd-Salem loser and Amherst County. There will likely be three Division 4 wild card teams in the Region III playoffs.
Martinsville, by losing to Fieldale-Collinsville, is in trouble for a wild card spot in Region III Division 4 and can't afford another loss. Going unbeaten the rest of the way might not be enough for the Bulldogs if the Salem-William Byrd loser doesn't lose another game or if Liberty finishes 8-2.
In the Group AAA Northwest Region, Cave Spring (5-1) lost a tight hold on getting a possible Division 6 wild card berth if it doesn't win the title. Now, the Knights must either win the district title or upset Salem and lose only to Pulaski County to have a decent shot at a wild card.
Pulaski County and Patrick Henry are also alive for a wild card berth if they don't win the title. It's too close to call for Roanoke Valley District teams. Even William Fleming isn't out of wild card contention.
In Group AA Region IV, just figure on the winner of Blacksburg-Christiansburg going to the tournament. I won't even comment on wild card possibilities for a region that will have its final year of putting 8 out of 12 teams in the playoffs. The Blacksburg-Christiansburg loser still has a chance as a wild card.
In Region C, look for James River and Bath County to make it out of the Pioneer District. James River's victory over Parry McCluer was bad news for Radford, which lost to Giles and will have a struggle to make the tournament as a wild card team. James River, Lebanon, Giles and Grayson County (if it wins the Mountain Empire District), might form the Division 2 tournament.
Bland County, Bath County, Covington and Parry McCluer are Timesland teams with a chance to make the Division 1 tournament from Region C. Bath County will probably make it, but the Chargers finish with a demanding schedule against Buffalo Gap, Parry McCluer and then the Pioneer District title game at James River the last weekend of the season.
GILES NOT KICKING: It's hard to believe that Giles lines up and runs for extra points with a kicker on the roster like Jeremy Saunders.
After the Spartans had run for a couple of extra points in Friday's 37-0 victory at Radford, Saunders came on to boot field goals of 22 and 32 yards. So how come Giles doesn't go for the gimme PAT kick?
``Our philosophy is that if we can make 50 percent of the two-point conversions, it's like 100 percent of the kicks. So we'll go for the two,'' said Giles coach Steve Ragsdale.
The Giles coach didn't win all these years by being foolish. He still believes in kicking, which is why Saunders gets his chance.
``You still have to have a strong kicker for the right situations, such as field goals,'' said Ragsdale.
And if Giles scored a late TD to tie the score, it would be interesting to see if Ragsdale would kick or run.
TOUGH BLUE RIDGE: After the first four league games, it's apparent the Blue Ridge District girls' basketball race is not for the faint of heart. In less than two weeks, every team had a district loss.
Northside had thrown in the big shock, beating Salem. The inconsistent Spartans turned around and shot down William Byrd. The Vikings established themselves as a team that can play with the preseason big three - Salem, William Byrd and Lord Botetourt.
In the best game of the first two weeks, William Byrd rallied to beat unbeaten Lord Botetourt in overtime.
Coming into this week, Salem and Lord Botetourt were to square off against one another Tuesday. Tonight, the second round of the district season starts with William Byrd going to Northside, a team it has beaten twice in hotly contested games. One of the games didn't count in the district standings.
While the Blue Ridge teams beat up on one another, the two clubs that emerge next week as regional representatives will have a good shot to win the state.
CRESTAR FIELD: Patrick Henry boys' basketball coach Woody Deans has lined up another outstanding field for the Crestar Roundball Classic Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Salem Civic Center.
Science Hill (Tenn.) of Johnson City, which returns most of its team that finished ranked in the top 10 of the final USA Top 25, takes on William Fleming in the opener at 3 p.m.
After that, Salem plays G.W. Danville, expected to have the strongest team in the Group AAA Northwest Region at 4:45 p.m.; Patrick Henry meets Coolidge (D.C.) at 6 and then Northside plays perennial Central Region power Petersburg at 7:45 p.m.
NEW HOME: Salem is going ahead with plans of playing Northside and William Byrd, its two toughest Blue Ridge District boys' basketball opponents, at the Salem Civic Center this winter.
In return, the Spartans will have to play in the band-box gyms at Northside and Byrd, giving those two teams a huge advantage. The Spartans also will be playing three NationsBank Holiday Hoops Classic games in the civic center as well as in the Crestar Classic, giving Salem six games at the site.
The benefit? The Blue Ridge District tournament is set at the civic center and Salem should be most familiar with the floor. Of course, Northside, in the Crestar and Holiday Hoops, and Byrd, in the Holiday Hoops, are playing five and four games, respectively at the civic center.
PREP SCHOOL STARTER: Philip Buchy, a lineman from last year's Roanoke Catholic state championship squad, didn't earn a Division I scholarship. He did receive attention from the Air Force Academy. Buchy is now starting at tight end for the Air Force Academy Prep School and he hopes this leads to a football career and education from the Division I Falcons.
Memo: also ran in Current.