Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers. I hope you all are stuffed and just getting revved up for Black Friday to work it off.
For those of you not wanting to fight the holiday traffic this weekend, fear not. The Wild Bill late-night product Christmas stocking stuffers return next week with an assortment of items sure to please.
No matter a pair of Loudmouth pants or one of our unique recommendations, you’ll be convinced your gift won’t be a duplicate given by another. Even The Chief will be sitting pretty this year.
On to high school playoff football, where the best of the best move on.
We entered last weekend with three ” Big-11 ” teams still in the high school football state championship hunt.
All three advanced with impressive wins, so the contests gets tougher in week-3. Here’s the lineup.
GEORGE WASHINGTON-DANVILLE (12-0) at SALEM (12-0) GROUP 4A quarterfinal SAT. 1:00 pm
We learned a couple things last Friday night. Salem is a very good football team. And, Salem isn’t invincible after their close call with Woodgrove. There will be no room for error this Saturday for the Spartans. GW is undefeated for a reason.
NORTHSIDE (10-2) at MAGNA VISTA (11-1) GROUP 3A quarterfinal FRI. 7:00 pm
Magna Vista will be looking for payback after being eliminated last year by the Vikings in a frigid 19-7 slugfest at Jim Hickam Field. This time it moves to Ridgeway, where nothing comes easy for the visiting team. Can Tra’ Jackson continue his magic?
GLENVAR (11-1) at GILES (12-0) GROUP 2A quarterfinal SAT. 1:30 pm
Glenvar’s only loss of the season was to….you guessed it, Giles. Giles dominated in the regular season matchup. Another trip to Giles might be just as imposing for the Highlanders. Glenvar looks for the huge upset Saturday.
Congratulations get a shout out to the Cave Spring volleyball team for their run to the state final last Saturday in Richmond before losing to talented Warhill. The Knights took the opening set, before Warhill’s height, power at the net and serving prowess took over for a 3-1 win. Great careers for Cave Spring seniors, Charity Klimaitis, Tessa Klimaitis and Sydney McTigue. For you volleyball scouts looking ahead to 2015, Cave Spring returns 9 juniors from this year’s squad. Ouch!
Local high school basketball is set to tip off in early December, and The Star will again be at court side to bring you the top ” Big-11 ” games. It once again looks like a number of talented squads will come from the ” Big-11 ” ranks.
Now, a look at local college basketball. The local scene offers fans a great chance to see the college guys and girls, without leaving the Roanoke Valley.
VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE:
Head coach Ray Bare’s VWCC Rapids, a member of the NJCAA, play their home games at the gym on the Colonial Ave. campus. Local players on the team include Trevor Price (PH), Chris Jones (Wm. Fleming), Nicholas Alterio (Faith Christian), Robert Hudson (Salem), Ben Munsey (Hidden Valley) and Quashawn Robertson (Wm. Fleming)
December home games include Dec. 4-Guilford Tech CC -7pm ; Dec. 5- Thomas Nelson CC – 7:30 pm ; Dec. 13- Central Carolina CC – 3 pm ; Dec. 19- Wake Tech CC – 5 pm
ROANOKE COLLEGE:
Head coach Page Moir looks to have a strong team in place for a run at the ODAC title. The Maroons play home games at the Bast Center on the Roanoke College campus. Dustin Hassell (Lord Botetourt) is the local member of the team.
December home games include Dec. 6-Eastern Mennonite – 2 pm ; Dec. 16 – Ferrum College – 5 pm.
HOLLINS UNIVERSITY:
Jim Phillips looks to lead to Hollins women to new heights in the ODAC with home games at the Hollins campus off Williamson Rd. The sole local player is Jewell Parfitt (PH).
December home games include Dec. 3-Shenandoah- 7 pm ; Dec.6- Sewanee – 2 pm ; Dec. 9 – W&L – 7 pm.
ROANOKE COLLEGE WOMEN:
Roanoke was off to a 4-0 start under first-year head coach Carla Flaherty. Home games are at the Bast Center on the Roanoke College campus. Local players include Taylor Carter (Northside), Kanisha Wiley (Glenver) and Hannah Ward (Lord Botetourt)
December home games are scheduled for Dec. 3- Lynchburg College-7 pm; Dec. 7- Sewanee- 1 pm.
Finally, to the mailbag where one die-hard and frustrated Hokie wants a prediction.
Dear Wild Bill: Any predictions for the Virginia Tech football situation ? (Andy/Roanoke)
Win or lose Friday night vs UVA, I don’t think it will be pretty. I’ve been told by a couple reliable sources, who both spoke on the condition of anonymity, that at minimum, a couple of coaches will be goners. Isn’t it amazing how the win in Columbus, which was pitched as a Tech return to national prominence, has turned into a total coup d’etat ? And, any bowl will be nothing short of a farce.
Until next week, send you bowl of questions to [email protected]
– Bill Turner
