Region D Boys Basketball Top 5 Going Into Holiday Tournament

[PV2WISE2VCU]

5: John I Burton: On the list due to record but I really think they are a mystery and are going to be a mystery for most of the season. The Raiders play the weakest schedule in the area and they are going to rack up the wins. The LPD is not very good either, with the exception of Union (who has a losing record to this point) they won't face much in league play. Burton has a solid starting five, Deaton, Hunter, Beaty, Robinette, and Maggard are all capable. Burton's problem could be depth and the ability to guard teams with two post players. I'd love to see them play Twin Springs or Hurley so we could better gauge them.

4: Virginia High: I am putting Virginia High here due to potential. Thus far, they have struggled with some of the weaker teams in the area while having Hurley on the ropes only to lose at home. The Bearcats season will come down to regional seeding, they really need to win the Clinch Mountain District title for seeding points. It's almost as if Virginia High is having a hard time recovering from the home loss to Hurley. The squeaked by an Abindgon team they had previously hammered by four points before beating Eastside (who has had two scoreless quarters already) 67-63. The Cats had defeated Eastside by 18 two weeks prior.

3: Twin Springs: Luck, skill, and coaching have the Titans number three on my list. Finch and the foreign exchange student are one of the best duos in the region. Each kid has the ability to play inside and out, Finch can be deadly from the perimeter as a shooter while the exchange student can handle the ball and cause problems getting into the lane. The Titans have to be thinking it's a special season, Twin Springs has already won two overtime games while winning another by two points. We are early in the season but, at this point it seems abundantly clear that Twin Springs and Hurley are destined for a meeting in the regional title game.

2: Hurley: Fresh off a trip to the state tournament, Coach Cooper and the Rebels are poised to make a run at the state title. The Cooper boys and Waynick will pose match up problems for any team in the state at the D1 level. In addition, Hurley already has the biggest win in the region with a win at Virginia High earlier this month. Unlike other D1 contenders, Cooper's bunch is not afraid to be challenged. The Rebels will head to Bristol next week to compete in the Arby's Classic where they will undoubtedly pick up a few losses. The Black Diamond District will have some challenges as Honaker and Haysi have fielded quality teams but it would be a shock if the Rebels are not one of the top two seeds in the regional tournament.

1: Gate City: Austen Arnold is hands down the best player in the region and Coach Vermillion's defense and depth will send most teams into submission early. Arnold has help too, Ervin is more than capable than scoring 20 points on a given night. Thus far, Gate City has not been tested; the Blue Devils hammered Burton in a benefit game while blowing out Central and easily handling Abingdon. The only game that has been within ten points is a 72-63 win at Wolfe County, Kentucky. In my opinion, this is the best team Gate City has fielded since they made a final four run a few years back. Local teams should be thankful the Devils aren't at full strength or Gate City could beat most teams in the region by 30.

[stainless]

5: John I Burton: On the list due to record but I really think they are a mystery and are going to be a mystery for most of the season. The Raiders play the weakest schedule in the area and they are going to rack up the wins. The LPD is not very good either, with the exception of Union (who has a losing record to this point) they won't face much in league play. Burton has a solid starting five, Deaton, Hunter, Beaty, Robinette, and Maggard are all capable. Burton's problem could be depth and the ability to guard teams with two post players. I'd love to see them play Twin Springs or Hurley so we could better gauge them.

4: Virginia High: I am putting Virginia High here due to potential. Thus far, they have struggled with some of the weaker teams in the area while having Hurley on the ropes only to lose at home. The Bearcats season will come down to regional seeding, they really need to win the Clinch Mountain District title for seeding points. It's almost as if Virginia High is having a hard time recovering from the home loss to Hurley. The squeaked by an Abindgon team they had previously hammered by four points before beating Eastside (who has had two scoreless quarters already) 67-63. The Cats had defeated Eastside by 18 two weeks prior.

3: Twin Springs: Luck, skill, and coaching have the Titans number three on my list. Finch and the foreign exchange student are one of the best duos in the region. Each kid has the ability to play inside and out, Finch can be deadly from the perimeter as a shooter while the exchange student can handle the ball and cause problems getting into the lane. The Titans have to be thinking it's a special season, Twin Springs has already won two overtime games while winning another by two points. We are early in the season but, at this point it seems abundantly clear that Twin Springs and Hurley are destined for a meeting in the regional title game.

2: Hurley: Fresh off a trip to the state tournament, Coach Cooper and the Rebels are poised to make a run at the state title. The Cooper boys and Waynick will pose match up problems for any team in the state at the D1 level. In addition, Hurley already has the biggest win in the region with a win at Virginia High earlier this month. Unlike other D1 contenders, Cooper's bunch is not afraid to be challenged. The Rebels will head to Bristol next week to compete in the Arby's Classic where they will undoubtedly pick up a few losses. The Black Diamond District will have some challenges as Honaker and Haysi have fielded quality teams but it would be a shock if the Rebels are not one of the top two seeds in the regional tournament.

1: Gate City: Austen Arnold is hands down the best player in the region and Coach Vermillion's defense and depth will send most teams into submission early. Arnold has help too, Ervin is more than capable than scoring 20 points on a given night. Thus far, Gate City has not been tested; the Blue Devils hammered Burton in a benefit game while blowing out Central and easily handling Abingdon. The only game that has been within ten points is a 72-63 win at Wolfe County, Kentucky. In my opinion, this is the best team Gate City has fielded since they made a final four run a few years back. Local teams should be thankful the Devils aren't at full strength or Gate City could beat most teams in the region by 30.

I'll have to agree with you on the No. 1. I watched Gate City aginst Central and I was very impressed by them. The Arnold kid was something to watch. I would never had though he scored 29 points that game. Also GC has a kid that handles the ball that I really liked his game. Not sure on his name but his No. is 11. Great passer and he see's the floor very well.

I've only read about Hurley. They seem to be right playing like they did last year so
No. 2 is a good spot for them.

As for the rest I have no idea. All I can say is that everyone else in the Region is good one night and off the next.

[Rich_Kotite]

Burton is a sack of horsepoop. They are very limited. GC beat them by 40-50 in an exhibition game just as GC beat Central from what I was told. They may make it to regions but I just don't see them as top 5.

I'd put Castlewood at #5 on potential alone. Edmonds, Kennedy, and Jessie are all better than anyone Burton has on their roster. It may take some time to mesh though. I'd be disappointed in Castlewood. I feel like they could be this years version of last years Powell Valley team that fell flat on their face with all of the talent they had.

[beamer_ball]

Would think probably Lebanon, Haysi, Honaker, and Castlewood each could fit into the 5th or so spot. Lebanon dropped their opener to Abingdon and the only other was a 7 point loss to Elizabethton. They beat Castlewood in the tournament at Va High by 23. Haysi with 2 losses also, one coming to Mt. Zion (NC) and a 1 point loss in overtime to Twin Springs. Should be a bit more from Burton this week with a little better comp.

[gchs_devils]

1) Gate City - D2 Region D winners / team to beat
2) Hurley - D1 Region D winners / Cooper brothers play with heart and are fly for white guys
3) Va High - lost to Hurley / still trying to mesh
4) Lebanon - sleepers of all sleepers
5) Twin Springs - good right now but havent played anyone worth playing /overrated / will get killed by Hurley in the playoffs

[fatherof4]

1) Gate City - D2 Region D winners / team to beat
2) Hurley - D1 Region D winners / Cooper brothers play with heart and are fly for white guys
3) Va High - lost to Hurley / still trying to mesh
4) Lebanon - sleepers of all sleepers
5) Twin Springs - good right now but havent played anyone worth playing /overrated / will get killed by Hurley in the playoffs

I agree with this with Castlewood a close 6th. Definitely haven't played that well so far, but has a load of talent.

[duckmeat]

If both Hurley and Gate City lose their opening round games in the Arby's, they will meet Thursday morning at 9am. Should be a good matchup, although I see Gate City winning that one.

The thing about Castlewood is that they have a load of talent, but they haven't played together long at all. We might not see them at their full strength until way down the road, if we see it all. Depends a lot on how they react to these losses in games they should win, etc. They looked absolutely lost when I saw them. Somebody needs to step up be the man on that team.

[CoeburnCane]

3: Twin Springs: Luck, skill, and coaching have the Titans number three on my list. Finch and the foreign exchange student are one of the best duos in the region. Each kid has the ability to play inside and out, Finch can be deadly from the perimeter as a shooter while the exchange student can handle the ball and cause problems getting into the lane. The Titans have to be thinking it's a special season, Twin Springs has already won two overtime games while winning another by two points. We are early in the season but, at this point it seems abundantly clear that Twin Springs and Hurley are destined for a meeting in the regional title game.

What? Twin Springs has a foreign exchange student? No way!!! lol...

[hogwild]

I would be more shocked these days if they didn't have one!

[CowboysFan84]

Seen the Lebanon and Burton game the other night. I hope that Lebanon had an off night because they looked horrible. I still dont see how they beat Castlewood by the margin they did, but then again Honaker beat Castlewood and Honaker was played well by Rye Cove for three quarters