By Phillip Hines
MaxPreps.com
District tournament time is here for Hampton Roads boys’ basketball teams.
Who will pull out miraculous runs to keep their seasons alive? What surprise teams will upset the number one seed? These are all questions that will be answered by the end of next week.
The Bay Rivers District (AA) is solid from top to bottom, with the top-seeded Tabb Tigers entering the tournament having lost two of their last three games. The Peninsula District (AAA) has been dominated all season by two teams, the Bethel Bruins and Warwick Raiders. In fact, the Bruins only loss came at the hands of Warwick.
I'm not sure if it's the water in their cup or in the air that they are breathing in, but the city of Suffolk has witnessed one of its best seasons ever for boy's high school basketball. Three out of the top four teams in the Southeastern District (AAA) are from Suffolk: No. 1 Nansemond River, No. 3 Kings Fork and No. 4 Lakeland. Deep Creek is in the mix, holding down the No. 2 seed, but it’s clear that the Southeastern District tournament title will most likely be going through one city – Suffolk.
But what about the AAA Eastern and Beach Districts? The Beach is yet another district that’s solid at seeds one through eight, with Bayside and Ocean Lakes at the top. There is one name commonly known across America in the Eastern District and that would be the Booker T. Washington Bookers. Once nationally ranked, the Bookers have not exactly lived up to their potential, but can change all of that with a strong run in the playoffs.
Chesterfield Community has dominated the Tri-Rivers District (A) all season, but will face tough competition when battling against either Sussex Central or Surry County.
Private schools across Tidewater have felt the wrath all season of the Hampton Roads Academy Navigators, who boast the best private school record in the area.
Here is the breakdown by district:
Peninsula District (AAA)
The Bethel Bruins (21-1) clinched the district season title with a 58-56 win over Kecoughtan and its two-time player of the year, Ricardo Ratcliffe. The Peninsula District certainly has two teams that lead everyone else: Bethel and Warwick. The Bruins’ only loss this season came against Warwick (18-3) in an early-season match-up. Other notable teams to watch for in next week's district tournament are the Kecoughtan Warriors, Denbigh Patriots and Hampton Crabbers.
Southeastern District (AAA)
The city of Suffolk has flourished on the basketball court this season, only to have Chesapeake's Deep Creek steal the No. 2 seed in the Southeastern District. The Nansemond River Warriors (19-2) are a powerful team, one that clinched the season title with a big win against Deep Creek (18-3). The bottom half of the district is comprised of Hickory, Oscar Smith, Great Bridge and Indian River.
Eastern District (AAA)
There is no telling what lies ahead with this Norfolk-Portsmouth-based district, as the tournament could literally be up for grabs. The top team out of the Eastern District is the 2006 AAA state champion Booker T. Washington Bookers. The year that the Bookers captured the state title, they suffered a regular-season defeat to Wilson, which finished at the bottom of the district standings.
Beach District (AAA)
Anyone could win this title. The Beach District, better known for its football and baseball prospects, is headed by Bayside (17-5) and Ocean Lakes (16-5), but don’t discount Tallwood, Kempsville, and Green Run.
Bay Rivers District (AA)
The Tabb Tigers (18-4) and Poquoson Islanders (15-5) look to be the favorites entering the Bay Rivers District tournament next week, but there is no telling for sure as Grafton, New Kent, Jamestown and Lafayette are more than capable of knocking off the number one seed and winning the tournament. Tabb finished the regular season at the top of the district with a 60-54 win over the Bruton Panthers.
Tri-Rivers District (A)
Although this team has an 804 area code, Chesterfield Community (15-5) runs the floor and waxed the Tri-Rivers District this year. Don’t forget about the Surry Cougars, as they are historically known for their playoff streaks.
Private Schools
With the best private school record in Tidewater, Hampton Roads Academy (23-4) has meant business for the 2007-2008 season. But will its resilience hold up in the playoffs?
The Norfolk Collegiate Oaks (17-8) were the champions of the first Ronald Curry Christmas Classic, in which they beat the Hampton Crabbers of the Peninsula District. Cape Henry Collegiate poses a serious threat to HRA as they earned the No. 2 seed in this year's Tidewater Conference of Independent School's tournament.
In news from the Metro Conference, Atlantic Shores (23-6) is undefeated in its conference with a record of 13-0.
Phillip Hines is the editor of the Tidewater Sports Report. He may be reached at editor@tidewatersportsreport.com.
