The holiday tournaments are over, its back into into district play. Right out of the gate after the break, there’s an intrigiung battle to keep an eye on that has the making of a track meet on the court. The guard matchups in Fluvanna and Monticello’s clash Tuesday night are incredible. Both teams boast backcourts that have made huge waves early this season.
And that’s exactly why the battle at Monticello may come down to who can figure out how to out-rebound the other squad.
Fluvanna’s guard tandem of YaYa Anderson and Jamal Tolliver will take on Jhalil Mosley and Denzel Terry, with Tolliver the only senior in the group. There will be a lot of trapping and pressing most likely in this one, but someone is going to have to rebound to get the job done.
So far, Monticello has struggled mightily on the boards, giving up a slew of offensive rebounds in their losses to Charlottesville and Albemarle earlier in the season. But Monticello has beaten Western Albemarle and William Monroe since, and did battle with probably the best Group AA team in the state, Brunswick, during the holidays. The Mustangs now get a chance to test themselves against the red-hot, unbeaten Flucos. This has a chance to be a big stepping stone for Monticello, but it also gives Fluvanna an opportunity to make a statement to the rest of the district that they’re in control.
Look for the Flucos to be ready for the trapping style employed by the Mustangs as that much the same approach Prince Edward brought to the table. Anderson and Tolliver should be able to figure it out eventually as they did against the Eagles, and if T.J. Dudley crashes the boards, Monticello will have to find an answer fast.
Boys Top Five
1. Blue Ridge (7-0) — The Barons took a long break over the holidays, but we’re a week out from a big clash with local rival Miller School. That game is part of seven-straight road contests for Blue Ridge that should tell us a lot about this season’s edition of the Barons.
2. Fluvanna County (9-0) — Fluvanna County had one close call during it’s 2010 stint, a two-point win over Spotsylvania in early December. In the second game of the Fluco Holiday Bash, Fluvanna beat Spotsy by 12. The Flucos are getting better every game and that’s going to make life tough on future opponents.
3. Fork Union (5-0) — Fork Union took a break over the winter holidays, but a tough stretch including a local matchup with STAB on Friday.
4. Albemarle (8-3) — Albemarle had a solid outing in the NBC29/Daily Progress Holiday tournament, falling in the title game against a talented, hot-shooting Culpeper squad. Andrew Mann continues to be a force for the Patriots — he had 19 against Culpeper.
5. Buckingham County (4-1) — The Knights last played back on December 21, but they continue to prove their depth with sophomore Cam Johnson leading the way with 22 points in a win over Prince Edward. He buried 12 of 14 free throws.
Lurking — Charlottesville (5-3), William Monroe (5-4), Woodberry Forest (4-4)
Girls Top Five
1. St. Anne’s-Belfield (5-1) — The Saints long break ends Wednesday at home against Highland this week. Look for STAB to continue to get contributions from a developing supporting cast around star Sarah Imovbioh.
2. Western Albemarle (8-3) — Western’s loss to Spotswood in overtime during the NBC29/Holiday Classic was a clear indicator that the Warriors are headed in the right direction, and the Liberty Christian loss in the consolation game was more indicative of a hangover from the hard-fought game against the Blazers. Expect Western to bounce back at home Tuesday against Orange County.
3. Miller (5-2) — Shorthanded and undermanned, Miller made a big impression at the NBC29/Holiday Classic with a run to the final and a monster victory over Albemarle in the first round. The Mavericks hit the road Friday to take on Cape Henry in a road battle.
4. William Monroe (11-2) — Monroe played solid in a hard-fought win over East Rockingham in the first game of the Holiday Ball, but the Dragons were out of gas against Page County in the final. The break should’ve done Monroe well as they finally got more than a day or two off between an incredibly busy December slate. They face Louisa Tuesday.
5. Orange County (4-3) — The Hornets beat Kettle Run in Eastern View’s Holiday tournament’s third-place game. Now they dive back into the district pool with a clash against first place Western Albemarle.
Lurking — Charlottesville (5-2)
