Saturday, February 06, 2010
Weather wreaks havoc on high school sports events
varsity.roanoke.com
Timesland on Twitter
The Valley Shootout has become the Valley Snowout.
Today's scheduled high school basketball event at the Salem Civic Center -- featuring nationally ranked prep teams Oak Hill Academy and Christ School of Arden, N.C. -- was canceled Friday by the heavy winter storm that slammed the Roanoke Valley.
Part of the event has been rescheduled for Feb. 13 at Patrick Henry High School.
Cave Spring will play Christ School -- which is ranked No. 17 by USA Today -- at 7:45 p.m. next Saturday at PH, unless other conflicts arise. Shootout organizers also hope to pair Patrick Henry against one of the other invited schools -- most likely Miller School of Crozet -- in a 6 p.m. game next Saturday at PH.
So scratch these tasty matchups off today's menu:
Patrick Henry vs. Lake Norman, N.C.
Hargrave Military Academy postgraduate team vs. Fishburne Military School postgrads.
Oak Hill vs. Miller School.
Cave Spring vs. Christ School.
Event organizer Woody Deans was not surprised when forecasts of heavy snow for the weekend proved accurate.
"The inevitable is upon us." Deans said.
Cave Spring coach Billy Hicks said he would be willing to play Christ School on Saturday, even if the Knights are in a playoff game against Salem for the River Ridge District title Friday.
The matchup between 6-foot-11 Vanderbilt signee Josh Henderson and 7-foot Marshall Plumlee of Christ School was one of the Shootout's selling points. Moreover, Hicks and Christ School coach David Gaines were former teammates at Roanoke College.
Christ School features highly touted junior Tony Kimbro, the son of the former Louisville star by the same name.
"We were joking the other day," Hicks said. "I told him I wouldn't hold the ball on them if he won't run the score up on us."
Patrick Henry's involvement hinges on the Western Valley District race. PH could clinch the WVD on Thursday with a win at home against Franklin County, but if the Patriots are involved in a playoff, it would be Saturday on a neutral floor.
PH coach Jack Esworthy said he would welcome a game against Miller School, which features Maryland signee Mychal Parker.
Hicks said it is possible that if PH cannot participate, Christ School might come to Cave Spring for a single game Saturday.
"I'd be willing to do that," Hicks said.
Tournament organizer Steve Myers said Friday that tickets purchased in advance will be not be honored for any further games. Refunds for tickets purchased must be obtained through the Salem Civic Center, Myers said.
The snow forced Oak Hill -- ranked No. 8 by USA Today -- to cancel a trip to the Roanoke Valley for the second straight week. The Warriors were scheduled to play in the Member One Hoops Classic at Franklin County High School last Saturday before it was canceled.
In 2002, snow wiped out a scheduled game at the Roanoke Civic Center between Oak Hill and Cave Spring -- which would have featured a matchup between Carmelo Anthony and J.J. Redick.
"Life is like a basketball game, you've got to adjust," said Deans, who won two Group AAA titles as Patrick Henry head coach. "It's very disappointing to me."
Deans said he has secured the Salem Civic Center for Feb. 5 next year. The event might feature a different format with Hargrave absent.
This year's Hargrave team features N.C. State-bound Lorenzo Smith and Auburn signee Shawn Kemp Jr.
"We think we won't do the postgrads anymore," Deans said.
Prep wrestling
Three district wrestling tournaments scheduled for today have been postponed.
The Blue Ridge tournament at Northside has been reset for 5 p.m. Tuesday. The Piedmont tournament at Martinsville will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The Seminole tournament at Jefferson Forest is rescheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
The River Ridge tournament at Christiansburg is still scheduled for today, beginning at 5 p.m. Christiansburg athletic director Kirk Litton said there is a remote chance the tournament will be held next week if it is postponed today.
