James Wood, Sherando, Ready To Rumble
(WINCHESTER, VA) - If you have plans for Saturday, Feb. 20th...break them. Come down with some unexplained illness. Fake your own kidnapping, only to miraculously return Monday morning in time for work or school. You don't want to be anywhere but James Wood High School at 8:15 for the Northwestern District Championship matchup between the host Colonels, and the Sherando Warriors.
While this game won't have much impact on the overall standings in the state, the gym at JW will be absolutely electric.
James Wood got this far by upending John Handley High, a team that has seen more than its fair share of District success on the hardwood, by utilizing their strengths in key areas. Scrappy perimeter play by Chad Potter and Chris Skinner sets the tone, Trae Tinsman handles the low post, and Brock Lockhart wreaks absolute havoc all over the court, driving opposing players to a point of frustration they're likely never to experience again.
Lockhart also scores points, dropping 18 on the Judges.
He also makes free throws. Why? Because he goes to the line A LOT. As a physical player, Lockheart can mix it up with some of the bigger bodies on the court, but he does it cleanly. Clean enough to cause the afforementioned frustration, and get the benefit of the doubt on more than a handful of foul calls.
On the opposite bench Saturday night will be the #1 seeded Sherando Warriors, fresh off a 9 point victory over the fairly talented Skyline Hawks.
Like the Colonels, there are several key game changers on this squad, starting with 6'7 sophomore Center Terry Wood. With a significant height advantage, Wood can hang on the low post and just wait to be fed, scoring quickly and easily over even the tallest players the Colonels could put on the floor.
Feeding him the ball will be James Bowens and Charles Hudnall, two talented guards who can slash quickly to the rim from the perimeter, and drop a few three-pointers if and when they're needed.
The matchup to watch in this game will be between Lockhart and Wood. While Wood stands nearly a foot taller than Lockhart, he'll have trouble matching the intensity and toughness of the Colonels' two-sport star, which could lead to foul trouble for Wood, or just a sub par performance at the very least.
If Wood is taken out of his comfort zone, the Warriors may be forced work him farther away from the basket, which is where his inexperience and inadequacies as a shooter are easily exposed.
This would heavily favor the Colonels, and possibly give them enough of an advantage to earn the District crown.
Be sure to tune in for exclusive coverage of the Northwestern District Championship right here on the Gameday Broadcast Network, as we go live at 8pm sharp, with tip off scheduled for 8:15pm.
