Mid-Season Basketball Report
757Gameday.com Mid-Season Basketball Report:
By: Matt Aiton
Basketball Power Poll:
1. Phoebus (9-0, 6-0) - The Phantoms are the hottest team in the 757 since the start of their season. With the football team winning the State Title in mid December, the basketball team started a little late and hasn't looked back since. Recently the Phantoms ran the table in their bracket of the Ronald Curry Christmas Classic with impressive wins over W.T. Woodson, Poly Tech High and a really good I.C. Norcom team in the championship. Since the tournament, Phoebus has edged Hampton 69-68, handled Heritage 74-40, beat Denbigh 62-50 and squeaked by Bethel 56-54. All solid victories to put them at the top of the Peninsula District Standings. The Phoebus Phantoms are the team to beat right now in the 757 and won't go easy with high scoring from Peninsula District Player of the Year candidates, Brian Darden and DaShaun Stitt.
2. King's Fork (10-2, 8-0) - Last years defending champs have certainly made a strong case for believing another State Title is in reach. King's Fork beat previously undefeated Great Bridge 71-58 on Jan. 5th, this after walking away from the Stop DWI Holiday Classic in New York with only one loss. DaVante Gardner and Jay Copeland give the Bulldogs plenty of size and smarts in the paint. With challenging games against Nansemond River, Indian River and Great Bridge still left on the docket, look for King's Fork to impose their will and enter the post season riding a 13 game winning streak. The Indian River game will be the true test of this team's talent on Jan. 22nd. The two faced each other earlier this season with King's Fork coming away with a victory 71-55. King's Fork has a nine game winning streak against Indian River and will be in for a fight.
3. Indian River (10-1, 7-1) - This one loss team has a real shot at winning the Southeastern District Title this season. The only loss of the year came at the hands of #2 King's Fork 71-55 on Dec. 17th. They will meet again on Jan. 22nd for what should be the game of the year in maybe all of the 757. The Braves will have to face Great Bridge twice, Booker T. Washington and Nansemond River once to finish the year. Those are the key games for this team in order to give themselves a good shot at winning the State Title this year. This team has played excellent basketball all year long indicated by their record with only one loss. But I'm sure that if Indian River can somehow beat King's Fork, the Braves will be brimming with confidence as they enter the post season.
4. Bethel (9-3, 7-2) - With two out of the next three games being against some of the best teams in the 757, the Bruins will be tested to say the least. Bethel traveled to Phoebus on Jan. 9th and lost 56-54. The Bruins will host Kecoughtan on Jan. 12th, and play Maury at Virginia Wesleyan College on the 15th. Kecoughtan beat Bethel to start the season 64-47, but with Kecoughtan losing two straight before beating Hampton, the Bruins will have a good chance to avenge their early season loss. Over the Christmas break, the Bruins lost to Menchville in the championship game of their bracket in the Ronald Curry Christmas Classic, but turned around and beat the Monarchs six days later. With only one non-district game coming against Maury, Bethel should go into the Peninsula District Tournament knowing exactly how they compare to the top teams in the PD.
5. New Kent (11-0, 9-0) - This is the only AA high school to make the top 10 Power Poll by being only one of two undefeated teams remaining in the 757. The Trojans have made it look easy thus far this season by defeating their opponents by an average of just over 16 points per game. New Kent defeated Tabb to open the season and will face them again on Jan. 15th in what should be the game of the year for the Bay Rivers District regular season. Tabb is playing inspired basketball and has the best shot at knocking the Trojans from the ranks of the unbeaten. But New Kent won't go easy with an up tempo offense and the athletes to execute it. The Trojans have a legitimate shot at entering the Bay Rivers District Tournament undefeated and are a true threat to bring home the AA State Title.
6. Landstown (8-2, 7-0) - The Eagles behind Julian Norfleet and Reggie Williams have had a great season so far with their only two losses coming in the Stop DWI Holiday Classic in New York. Landstown should win their next nine games going into their last four games against Ocean Lakes, I.C. Norcom, Tallwood and Salem to end the season. That four game stretch will truly determine how good this team's regular season went. If the Eagles can take three or possibly all of those games, they will be in great position to make a run into the State Tournament and should end up being champs of the Beach District. Right now Landstown is leading the Beach District standings with Tallwood losing to Bayside on Friday.
7. Tallwood (8-2, 6-1) - Only the Maury Commodores and the Bayside Marlins have beaten the Lions of Tallwood this season. With plenty of games remaining on their schedule the Lions will have to fight extra hard to remain near the top of the Beach District standings. With games against Landstown, Kellam, Ocean Lakes and two with Salem, Tallwood will have their hands full. Senior guard, Aaron Clark makes this team go. His smart ball handling and sound play have guided the Lions to one of their best starts in school history. This team plays well together and will be tough to beat down the stretch as they will look to enter the Beach District Tournament on a roll and continue that streak into the Regional Playoffs. The Lions lost to Bayside on Friday to give them their first loss in the Beach District. On February 22nd, look out for what promises to be one of the best games of the year when Tallwood will travel to Landstown for what could determine the Beach District Regular Season Champion.
8. Great Bridge (10-1, 7-1) - With their first loss of the season coming from the hands of King's Fork at the start of January, the Wildcats have been one of the steadiest teams around. They play strong defense and have great leaders. Briante Weber is an easy Player of the Year Candidate for the Southeastern District. This team will be greatly challenged down the stretch with games against Indian River on Jan. 12th, Norfolk Christian on Jan. 16th, King's Fork to start February and then Indian River once more on Feb. 9th to end the season. Great Bridge will have to put their loss at King's Fork behind them and play crisp ball if they want to win the Southeastern District Title. This team is very capable of winning out and putting themselves in a great position to make this years State Tournament.
9. Kecoughtan (7-2, 7-1) - No team has been hurt more in the standings of the top 10 than the Warriors. After two straight surprising losses, Kecoughtan beat Hampton 60-49 on Friday. The Warriors now must regroup with one of the toughest schedules to end the season in the 757. With two games against Phoebus, three out-of-district games which include a trip to Maryland to take on Montrose Christian, a trip to T.C. Williams and one of the best teams in Virginia, Benedictine of Richmond coming to visit, add in the rest of their Peninsula District schedule and the Warriors will know exactly how good their team is come tournament time. Look for Kecoughtan to some how find a way and take two of the three out-of-district games and finish strong to earn a two or three seed in the Peninsula District Tournament. This is a talented team with tons of potential that still could take home this years State Title.
10. I.C. Norcom (9-3, 4-2) - With three losses coming at the hands of Phoebus in the final of the Ronald Curry Christmas Classic, Booker T. Washington in mid December, and Maury earlier this season, and key victories against King's Fork, Norfolk Christian and other 757 teams, the I.C. Norcom Greyhounds have had mixed results up to the mid-point of the season. The Greyhounds are a hard fighting, strong, talented basketball team that has a shot at competing for a spot in this years State Tournament. The rest of their schedule is favorable with games against Lake Taylor and Maury at home, but their games at Booker T. Washington coming up on Jan. 22nd, then Landstown on Feb. 6th, will test this team and they will need to find a way to win those games if they want to have a good shot at taking this years crown home to Portsmouth. I.C. Norcom is still the only local team to take down last years AAA Division 6 State Champion King's Fork, when the Greyhounds defeated the Bulldogs 50-45 to start the season.
Predictions:
District Winners and Players of the Year:
Southeastern District: King's Fork - The Bulldogs have too much experience and size to be stopped in the Southeastern District. They will find a way to win the tough games and take care of business in the other games. The key game will be on Jan. 22nd when Indian River comes to visit. This team is undoubtedly a favorite to repeat as State Champs.
Player of the Year: DaVante Gardener - King's Fork
Eastern District: I.C. Norcom - I still like the Greyhounds to win the Eastern District. They lost at Maury earlier this season by 2, and will play them again on Jan. 15th. I.C. Norcom will also get Lake Taylor at home, but the Greyhounds will still have to travel to Booker T. Washington. This team has the talent and determination to take those games and stand alone atop the Eastern District to be this years champs.
Player of the Year: Sim Frazier - Maury
Beach District: Landstown - This Eagle team has tons of talent, and with Bayside upsetting Tallwood, Landstown is in perfect position to take home this years title. Their game against Tallwood on Feb. 9th will be the game that should decide the district. The Landstown Eagles have too much talent and should enter the Regional Tournament with a great regular season to build on.
Player of the Year: Julian Norfleet - Landstown
Peninsula District: Phoebus - With a real chance at bringing home a State Title in football and basketball, the Phoebus Phantoms are a special team with outstanding talent and tremendous poise. This school is carrying itself with great swagger right now and has a real shot at running the table and bringing home the AAA Division 5 State Basketball Championship this year.
Player of the Year: Brian Darden - Phoebus
Bay Rivers District: Tabb - This pick will be very surprising to many people. With New Kent ranked at #5 in the Power Poll and being only one of two undefeated teams remaining in the 757, the Trojans are the popular pick. But there is just something special about those Tabb Tigers. With their two losses coming to start the year, Tabb hit their stride winning 10 games in a row. They will face New Kent on Jan. 15th at home for what will determine if Tabb can win the Bay Rivers outright. This team has a Player of the Year candidate in Emmanuel Jones to go along with a solid supporting cast all brought together be a great coach in Doug Baggett. I just think this team will have what it takes to win the Bay Rivers in 2010.
Player of the Year: Emmanuel Jones - Tabb
If anyone would like to contact me personally my email is team8n13@yahoo.com.
