The Bay Rivers District boys basketball season tips off Wednesday night with a few certainties and many more unknowns.
Count on a loaded Bruton team that features a nice mixture of returning starters and talented newcomers to be strong once again, along with two-time defending district champion Grafton that lost a bunch but still has a few holdovers who helped the Clippers reach each of the past two state championship games.
As for the rest of the district, most teams are young with minimal experience.
Take York, which does not have a single senior on its roster. The success of others like Warhill, which has four freshmen among its six underclassmen, or perennial contender Tabb, which lost nearly every starter and returns no one that averaged better than five points last season, will depend on how fast young and inexperienced newcomers catch on. Ditto for Jamestown and Lafayette, who each have some solid pieces to build around but severely lack experience in the back court.
The only other certainty is that, as we enter the first year of the Virginia High School League’s new postseason realignment, the regular season does not have much value to most coaches other than preparing their teams for the postseason.
Each team — no matter their regular season record in the Bay Rivers District — will advance to play in their respective conference tournament with a shot at earning a regional tournament berth. There are two regions and eight conferences in each of the VHSL’s six new classifications, which are decided by a school’s enrollment size.
Four area teams — Tabb, Grafton, Smithfield and Jamestown — fall under Class 4A and will compete in the Conference 19 along with Powhatan. Lafayette, Warhill, York, Poquoson and New Kent will compete in 3A’s Colonial Conference 25. Bruton, the district’s smallest school, will compete in Conference 33 of Class 2A.
Below is a brief outlook for area teams in the Bay Rivers District. Each matchup is set to tip off 7 p.m. today.
BRUTON
Coach: Joe Dillard
2012 record: 20-6
2013 season opener: @ Lafayette
After finishing second to Grafton in the Bay Rivers District the past two years, could this be the Panthers year to steal the crown? Second-year coach Joe Dillard thinks so, and believes his team has a legitimate shot at capturing the inaugural Class 2A state title this winter. It’s hard to question those aspirations given that, in addition to returning almost every key player from last year’s team, the postseason competition will be much weaker than what they faced en route to coming within a last-second shot of advancing to the former Group AA Division 3 state final last year. Senior wing Marcus Carter, arguably the most dynamic player in the district who averaged 16 points and six rebounds last season and is a terrific defender, highlights the returning starters. Joining Carter are sharp-shooting guard Lonnie Swinton and athletic forward Kapri Doucet, who will shift down to play in the post since last year’s starting forward, Bilal Wallace, is sitting out to concentrate on football. Forward Mike Sangalang and 3-point specialist Larry Legapsi have varsity experience and will provide depth along with a slew of talented newcomers.
GRAFTON
Coach: Jeremy Jordan
2012 record: 28-3
Season opener: vs. Grafton
Grafton graduated all-state forward Elijah Moore, do-it-all point guard Tyler McMillan and athletic forward Jesse Santiago, who were integral pieces on Grafton’s state runner-up teams the past two seasons. But the Clippers return two talented starters in senior point guard Joey Miller and junior forward Evan Sperling, who should help the Clippers remain near the top of the pack in the district and contend for a conference championship. Coach Jeremy Jordan said freshman guard Cle’von Green will play a big role this season, as will senior wing player Isaiah Moore and junior forward Preston Kiedinger.
JAMESTOWN
Coach: Lee Underwood
2012 record: 10-12
Season-opener: @ Grafton
Head coach Lee Underwood said he was pleased with his team’s performance at the Rotary Jamboree over the weekend, which included an impressive win over Williamsburg Christian Academy. The Eagles have plenty of height, as four players — including returning starters Trey Neville and Connor Swain — stand 6-foot-3 or taller. They will have to overcome a lack speed and experience in the backcourt with senior Daivon Turner the only returning guard with varsity experience. The Eagles’ height will allow senior Logan Evans (6-foot-2), who was forced to play in the post last season, to move out to the wing where he will provide consistent perimeter shooting. Underwood called this year’s group a “fun one to coach” because of their unselfishness and cohesiveness, but said achieving their goal of winning a regional tournament game will come down to how quickly his young guards can mature.
LAFAYETTE
Coach: Dan Downs
2012 record: 7-16
Season opener: vs. Bruton
With all-region forward John Fitchett – who averaged better than 20 points per game last year – graduated, first-year coach Dan Downs said the scoring the basketball will have to be a group effort. Monday’s season-opening 54-51 victory over fellow Conference 25 member Colonial Heights, in which senior Mark Rivera scored 18 points while five others chipped in with six or more, was a good start. But Downs said perimeter shooting must improve as many of the Rams points came from slashing to the basket and at the free-throw line. C.J. Miller, a transfer from James Monroe, will play a key role alongside point guard Dequan Harris, sophomore forward Jason Adderty, junior post player Daquan Jacobs and senior guard Bryce Losty.
TABB
Coach: Doug Baggett
2012 record: 15-12
Season opener: @ Poquoson
For nearly three decades, a Doug Baggett-coached team has been disciplined, well-coached and competitive. That should remain the case this year even though the group returns no player that averaged more than five points per game last season. Terrell Sheffey is the top holdover from last year and one of few returners — along with Colston Horton — with varsity experience.
WARHILL
Coach: Justin Hayes
2012 record: 16-8
Season opener: vs. Warhill
Warhill has one of the best players in the district in Devonte Dedmon, an all-region guard who averaged just under 18 points per game last season, but coach Justin Hayes worries where the scoring will come from when opponents double-team his senior star. With six underclassmen on the roster — four who will see consistent playing time – Hayes said he will need significant contributions from junior post players Cameron Adahl and Holden Lipscomb.
YORK
Coach: Bobby Pearce
2012 record: 7-14
Season opener: @ New Kent
Despite having no seniors on the rosters, York does return two starters in 6-foot-8 junior forward Eric Harp, a double-double threat who showed promise as a sophomore last year, and athletic 6-3 junior wing player Jaylen Riggsbee. Losing brothers Evan and Maxwell Trice, who started as underclassmen last season before moving to Florida during the offseason, is a blow for third-year coach Bobby Pearce, but he sees potential in junior guard Joe Riddick and a few other former junior varsity players. Football standouts Colin Mandrick and Josh McFadden will provide strength and physicality in the post, too.
