The 2017-2018 Auburn varsity team includes: (from left) Brady Harris, Rusty Marshall, Austin Ford, Lukas Matthews, Daniel Brotherton, Chase Phillips, Dylan Akers, Carter Vance and Keith Kesling.
Blacksburg boys optimistic, Blue Demons look to new coach
Doug Day has had to wait a couple of weeks to get his full roster on the court after a playoff run by the Blacksburg football team, but when he does, the team will be loaded.
“I really like the makeup of the 2017-18 Bruins. I think once we get some game experience under our belts and grow into our roles, I feel like they can be a really good group,” he said.
Day has a been at the Bruin helm for the past 16 years. Last season, the Bruins marched into the regional playoffs before being eliminated. The team finished with a 14-11 record and will have to replace four starters.
The centerpiece for 2017 is Grant Johnston (6-4, junior) who played quarterback on the football team and last season was first team All-Conference 32’s player of the year in basketball. He was also named to the Region 3 first team.
In addition to Johnston, Blacksburg will also turn to Josh VanGilder, Drew Babcock, Luc Roccoforte and Cordell Croy.
“These five all have varsity experience and know what it takes to be successful on a regular basis. We will look to them to provide leadership and guidance to the younger players,” Day said.
The longtime Blacksburg coach feels every team in the River Ridge District will be talented and well-coached so the Bruins must come prepared to play our best game each and every night.
Things are changing in Christiansburg, but the question will be how quickly will it change in the win column. Mike Hunter takes over the varsity squad after being an assistant and coaching at the middle school level where he was a familiar face to many of the players on this year’s varsity team.
The Demons were 6-16 last season and the wins could be tough again. The key is that Hunter returns 10 players with some experience and feels good about this year.
“Once I knew I had the job, we went right to work. They guys have been working hard. They know it’s going to be tough, but I think they are buying into what we have going on. I am really excited to get the season started to see what we can do,” Hunter said.
Auburn moves to a heavy-loaded basketball district in the Mt. Empire where Galax and George Wythe stand on the top of the mountain.
Coach Terry Millirons feels for the most part the district competition will be a learning experience every week.
“With us moving into the MED this season, I am not familiar with most of the teams. I do know George Wythe will be returning a strong team. We have played Bland the last couple of years and they had a good, young team last season. Ft. Chiswell always has a solid team,” he said.
But none of this means Auburn will not be competitive. Millirons, who is in his seventh year at the school, lost seven seniors and four starters from last season’s squad. The team will just have to grow up quickly.
“We are a young and inexperienced team but we have a lot of guys that have played AAU since since they were in Elementary School. Once we play some games, we should begin to feel more comfortable, and I believe by the end of the season we will be a very tough team to play,” Millirons said.
The Eagles return Dylan Akers who was a consistent double-figure scorer last season who will have to step up and be a leader. He was both all-conference and all-region, and will direct the offense from the point.
The team will also turn to Keith Kesling and Lukas Matthews, who both played last season and came off the bench. Juniors Brady Harris and Carter Vance were both starters on the jayvee team.
Millirons will also see some help from three freshmen in Austin Ford, Rusty Marshall and Daniel Brotherton. The coach said there is a very high Ceiling for these three as the season progresses.
Josh Blevins is in his second season at Eastern Montgomery where the Mustangs return three starters to a team that went 10-12, a year ago.
Blevins is no stranger to the Pioneer District, which Eastern Montgomery is now a member as he previously coached at district-rival Parry McCluer.
Trey Wilson, Nick Bahnken and Will Rakes return to a team with some potential.
According to the coach, this group is completely different than last year. “They have the potential to upset some teams that feel like the pioneer district is theirs for the taking. This group wants to work and they have been working hard,” Blevins said.
Having four seniors who have been in the system for a year could also make the Mustangs a little more competitive. Rakes, Bahnken, Zach Sledd and Tyler Mannon gives the team something to build on.
“Hopefully, they will push the group to be as competitive as last year. Combine them with Sophomore Trey Wilson who led the team in points and rebounds last year and with some guys coming up from JV who had a great season last year it should be interesting to see who ends up standing out this year,” Blevins said.
He expects Covington to be the team to beat in district play “
“If Covington stays healthy, they will be a force in the district and the region. They have a solid group this year, after that it comes to any given a night a team can win. You can’t count any of the other teams, and I don’t see any of the other teams rolling through,” Blevins said.