"Upon Further Review" by Jim Sacco

Monday, February 19, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 2/19/2007

Waynesboro football coach Danny Dorton stepped down last week. So, I’m wondering, do you think the new head coach will get a little more support from fans and a lot more than 23 players on the team?

Hey, I’m just asking.

And another thing: Am I the only person out there who thinks Waynesboro boys basketball team mailed it in against Broadway in the Valley District semifinals? Does it scare any Little Giant fans out there that this team can turn it on and off at will and, in big games, it usually seems to be off?

Next question: How far could Broadway go if the Gobblers scored the second Region II berth with a win over Robert E. Lee tonight?

And: How short will Waynesboro’s stay in Region II land be, despite a first-round home game, if it doesn’t get its act together?

Isn’t this the way it should be?: Thankfully, two of the four district finals turned out to be win-or-go-home games, not the usual VHSL flair that sometimes pits two teams in the finals with neither team having anything to lose (expect another trophy.) Tonight’s Broadway/Lee game should be barnburner and Sunday’s Riverheads/Buffalo Gap was a good one. Why? Because the loser went home and the winner moved on to the region.

So: When will the VHSL (and districts and regions for that matter) get on the ball and make all tourney finals like this? Not just the one for the ultimate crown.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 2/16/2007

Thankfully, the Valley District had a back-up plan and stuck with it. When the ice came, they moved everything back, put the boys semifinals tonight, the girls on Saturday and the title games Monday.

Sadly, the Shenandoah District is acting more bush-league by switching days like they’re going out of style.

I guess there’s no use being a Group A district if you can’t act like one, eh?

Here’s what I’m saying: I’m not about to blame the athletic directors because they sound pretty frustrated themselves regarding the whole thing. But as of 4 p.m. today (Friday) they still don’t know where or what time they’re going to play TOMORROW’S semifinals and have even less of a clue regarding the finals. (Updated at 4:11 p.m.: A fax just came to the office. Ready for Saturday’s semis? Girls semifinals will be played at Bridgewater starting at 7 p.m., boys semis will be at Eastern Mennonite starting at 7 p.m.)

What the ...? Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you don’t have both a son or daugther playing basketball at a Shenandoah school Saturday. You’ll have to choose which one you love more.

OK: So why did Saturday’s games at higher seeds “go out the window”?

So, I’m wondering: Was there a point where someone in the Shenandoah thought to call the Valley District to see how they would be dealing with Mother Nature?
Oh and here’s the NEW, UP-TO-DATE-UNLESS-SOMETHING-ELSE-POPS-UP-WE-DIDN’T-PLAN-FOR Shenandoah Schedule:
Saturday’s Semifinals
Boys at Eastern Mennonite University
Riverheads vs. Page County/Buffalo Gap winner, 7
Luray vs. Wilson Memorial/Stonewall Jackson winner, 8:30

Girls semifinals at Bridgewater
Stonewall Jackson vs. Riverheads/Luray winner, 7
Wilson Memorial vs. Buffalo Gap/Page winner, 8:30

Sunday’s Games (ready to skip church??)
Championship games at Eastern Mennonite
Girls championship, 2 p.m.
Boys championship, 30 minutes after

Anyway here’s my picks for tonight’s games:
Valley Boys
Waynesboro over Broadway
Rockbridge over Robert E. Lee
Shenandoah Boys
Wilson Memorial over Stonewall
Page County over Buffalo Gap
Shenandoah Girls
Buffalo Gap over Page County
Riverheads over Luray

OK, now: So what do you think?

See you Monday.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 2/15/2007

What’s a sports editor to do when the lingering problems from an ice storm push district tournament games back for a third straight day?

Well, first, that sports editor should give you the rescheduled dates and times.

So, like a good sports editor, here are the dates and times:
FRIDAY’S GAMES
BOYS HOOPS
Valley District tournament at James Madison University
Waynesboro vs. Broadway, 7
Robert E. Lee vs. Rockbridge, 8:45
Shenandoah District tournament
Stonewall at Wilson Memorial, 7
Buffalo Gap at Page County, 7
GIRLS HOOPS
Shenandoah District tournament
Page County at Buffalo Gap, 7
Luray at Riverheads, 7
SATURDAY’S GAMES
BOYS HOOPS
Shenandoah District tournament
Page/Gap winner at Riverheads, TBA
Wilson/Stonewall winner at Luray, TBA
GIRLS HOOPS
Valley District tournament
at James Madison University
Turner Ashby vs. Fort Defiance, 7
Waynesboro vs. Spotswood, 8:45
Shenandoah District tournament
Gap/Page winner at Wilson, TBA
Riverheads/Luray winner
at Stonewall, TBA

But, hey: There’s no guarantee they’ll get those games in tomorrow. We’ll keep you posted.

Despite e-mails from Waynesboro basketball fans: I’m still sticking with Rockbridge winning the the Valley District boys tournament and Broadway as my dark horse.

And lookie who plays Waynesboro Friday in the semifinals: Broadway.

My Valley District Player of the Year: I got to go with Marcus Mayo at Rockbridge.

On the girls side?: Waynesboro’s Devon Brown.

But what about the Shenandoah?: I expect Stonewall’s Hovatter to get it, but wouldn’t be surprised to see Wilson’s Brandt get the nod.

I will make no Tim Hardaway jokes. Sorry.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Let’s wait another night, again

Ah, Mother Nature is a cruel and heartless mistress when it comes to basketball season.

Thanks to the ice, we’re going to have to wait another night to get more basketball.

If the weather holds up, here’s the schedule for the rest of the week:

Wednesday’s boys games will be played Friday at James Madison University’s Convocation Center: Broadway vs. Waynesboro at 7 p.m. and Lee High and Rockbridge County at 8:45 p.m.

The girls games planned for Friday will be played on Saturday night at JMU.

The championship games will be played Monday: boys will play at 7 p.m. and girls will play at 8:45 p.m.

Both the Shenandoah District boys and girls will not play at Eastern Mennonite University, but will play at high seeds on Thursday.

For the girls its: Page County at Buffalo Gap 7 p.m. and Luray at Riverheads also at 7.
The boys games are Stonewall Jackson at Wilson Memorial, 7 p.m. and Buffalo Gap at Page County at 7 p.m.

Semifinals for both boys and girls in the Shenandoah will be Friday at high seeds. With the titles games on Saturday at Eastern Mennonite University.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 2/13/2007

Where the ice at?

It’s not here yet, and we’ve got a super-early deadline. So I’m gonna go short with today’s Daily Pooch Punt and only tell you guys how tomorrow could (to blazes with you, Mother Nature) unfold if the basketball gods smile upon and let the local schools play.

Here’s the deal for tonight:

BOYS HOOPS
Valley District Semifinals
at James Madison University
No. 1 Waynesboro vs.
No. 5 Broadway, 7
No. 2 Rockbridge vs.
No. 3 Robert E. Lee, 8:45
Shenandoah District
quarterfinals
at Eastern Mennonite University
Stonewall vs. Wilson Memorial, 7
Page County vs. Buffalo Gap, 8:45
GIRLS
Shenandoah District
at high seeds
No. 5 Luray at No. 4 Riverheads, 7
No. 6 Page County at
No. 3 Buffalo Gap, 7

Any questions? Good.

See you tomorrow. 

Monday, February 12, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 2/12/2007

They’re calling for snow and a bunch of ice late tonight into tomorrow! Did you get your bread and milk?

I didn’t. But here are my opinions on the Valley and Shenandoah district tournaments. Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think.

Valley girls

No. 1 seed with Region II berth already locked up: Turner Ashby.

Favorite heading in: Turner Ashby. They’re the No. 1 team in Group AA for a reason.

Who is gonna win it: Turner Ashby.

Who is gonna join TA in Region II: Waynesboro.

Dark horse: Robert E. Lee. The way this team has been playing there’s no telling what they could do. They beat No. 2 Waynesboro twice.

Valley Boys

No. 1 seed with Region II berth already locked up: Waynesboro.

Favorite heading in: I’m going to have to with Rockbridge. When Marcus Mayo is on, the Wildcats are the team to beat.

Who is gonna win it: Rockbridge.

Who is gonna join Waynesboro in Region II: Rockbridge.

Dark Horse: Robert E. Lee or Broadway. Lee coach Paul Hatcher isn’t happy the fans have abandoned his up-and-coming team. Plus, they’re playing some good ball right now. Broadway is THE toughest defensive teams in the Valley and should be labeled “The Team Nobody Wants To Play.”

Shenandoah Boys

No. 1 seed with Region B berth already locked up: Riverheads.

Favorite heading in: Riverheads.

Who is gonna win in: Riverheads.

Who is gonna to join Riverheads in Region B: Buffalo Gap.

Dark horse: Wilson Memorial. Now if this was next year (which we know it’s not) Wilson Memorial would be the hands down favorite. But they’re too young this year to make a run. However, barring injuries, transfers and such, this is the team of the future in the Shenandoah.

Shenandoah Girls

No. 1 seed with Region B berth already locked up: Stonewall Jackson.

Favorite heading in: Stonewall Jackson.

Who is gonna join Stonewall in Region B: Wilson Memorial.

Who is gonna win it: Wilson Memorial.

Dark horse: Watch out for Buffalo Gap!

Update

Look for the Daily Pooch Punt around 5 p.m. today with predictions on the Valley and Shenandoah district tournaments.

Holla.   

Friday, February 09, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 2/9/2007

I feel fine today.

So, how do other people feel?

James Lucas after scoring a career-high 20 points to push Waynesboro boys basketball to its first Valley District title in seven years:

Waynesboro coach C. Jay DeWitt, who has taken more heat than a skillet during the lean years at Waynesboro:

Riverheads boys basketball, which clinched a Region B berth, and Shenandoah District title, with its win over Buffalo Gap:

The rest of the Valley District boys teams with the way Robert E. Lee has been playing (and they’ve been playing very well, by the way):

Riverheads’ football standout Will Painter is heading to Southern Virginia, an NAIA school. Why didn’t any Division I programs pick this kid up? Oh well, this is how those DI schools should feel:

Wilson Elizabeth Brandt after Thursday’s 17-point second-half performance against Riverheads:

The gift for the Mediocre Valley District (clink link and scroll down to Jan. 28th entry) champion could be a first-round Region II date with AP No. 2 Handley:

Small sports staffs now that the Valley will start both the boys and girls tournaments on Monday due to expected snow on Tuesday:

See you on Monday:  

Trying to get things straight

Your favorite (or not) local sports blogger is currently trying to figure out district seedings and such.

Look for today’s Daily Pooch Punt around 5:30 p.m.

Holla.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Waynesboro wins first Valley title in seven years

Thanks to a 65-54 win at Turner Ashby, the Little Giants boys basketball team has scored the automatic berth to the Region II tournament.

Daily Pooch Punt: 2/8/07

So, it’s an hour and a half until game time for the Little Giants boys basketball team and I’m wondering: With their first Valley title in seven years just a win away, what could be going through their minds.

Maybe, let’s win this one at Turner Ashby because, do we really want to have to travel to Rockbridge on Friday to lock up a Region II berth?

Oh ...

And another thing: If Waynesboro does win the regular-season title, how good are its chances of advancing in Region II?

Or: Will the Mediocre Valley (remember, not my words) really prove to be mediocre because Robert E. Lee is down?

Hey, I’m just asking.

Pick your poison: If you’re a Mediocre Valley team, who would you rather play? Millbrook or Handley? Discuss.

So, who says signing day is only about football?

Is there a tougher rivalry in the area than Wilson Memorial and Riverheads girls basketball?

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor (Hampton High School) signed with Virginia Tech on Wednesday. The Richmond Times-Dispatch described him as “Vick-like.” Does that mean they should lock up the young girls, hide the Ron Mexico jerseys and hand out the “Super Secret” water bottles? Hey, I’m just asking.

Go ahead and remember the hot-dog position players. But why does it seem that the best quality players Waynesboro football produces are the line grunts (think Jordan Purvis, Stanley Barbour). That’s why Jeremy Sweet was named the team’s MVP by the Waynesboro Quarterback Club.

Tonight’s the night

The seven-year wait can end tonight for Waynesboro boys basketball.

After two days of postponments, the Little Giants are set to travel up the Bridgewater, where they’ll take on Turner Ashby.

With a win, the Little Giants win their first Valley District title since 2000 and score that automatic berth to Region II.

Speaking of Region II, here’s what some team could be facing.

Daily Pooch Punt will be posted soon.

Holla.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Daily Pooch Punt: 2/7/07

This sports editor won’t bore you with non-local stories regarding his mood changes whilst watching his beloved Bears lose the Super Bowl to the Colts.

This sports editor won’t talk about how his fiance almost became his ex-fiance with a mere toss of the hat (a hat, this sports editor might add, that almost hit his fiance in the face—on accident of course).

Nor will this sports editor moan and complain about the shoddy play calling that cost his Bears their second Super Bowl title (and first since 1986).

Nope you won’t get any of that here.

Not from this sports editor.

However, while this sports editor is upset over the loss, he’s not as upset at this guy. (Thanks to Fark.com for the link.)

She started out as a mom wanting to get involved. It turned into eight years of coaching Wilson Memorial golf. Deb Hederich will be missed and is an example to parents who would rather get involved than complain.

Thank you, snow. Because of the weather, the game we all looked forward to in the mediocre Valley District (hey, not my words, just hit the link and scoll down)—Waynesboro at Rockbridge—might not mean a thing. Since the game has been pushed back to Friday, all the Little Giants have to do is beat Turner Ashby tonight (not an easy task) to win their first Valley title since 2000. Thanks.

Finally: Sure, Waynesboro coach C. Jay DeWitt wouldn’t be a bad choice, but a poster on http://www.VirginiaPreps.com is right on for my pick of the Mediocre Valley’s (see link above) best boys basketball coach—Broadway’s Dwight Walton.

Discuss and leave comments at will.

OK, now what?

Look for today’s Daily Pooch Punt late this evening around 6:34:20 p.m. (Now that’s exact, baby).
Why so late?
Well, thanks to snow we’ve had no local games the past two nights and I don’t want to bore you with stories about throwing my hat that almost hit my almost-ex fiance whilst watching the Bears lose the Super Bowl.

Check back then for more nuggets of joy and information. 

Thursday, February 01, 2007

My heart has been broken!

She stole my heart when, as Ali Mills, she kissed Daniel LaRusso in the parking lot of the Family Fun Center in Karate Kid.

I knew it was love when she pranced around her bedroom as Chris Parker, only to have her heart broken by that jerk Mike Todwell in Adventures in Babysitting.

Oh, Elisabeth Shue, how could you pick the Colts over the Bears? Just scroll down on this link. You’ll see this wretched temptress tear my heart asunder.