Five things you should know about this season
Season of uncertainty
As of now, no one truly knows what this year’s high school basketball season will look like. The Beach District announced it will have a winter sports season. The Bay Rivers District has already started its season, despite one school division — Williamsburg-James City County — canceling winter sports. All other Hampton Roads school divisions have paused winter sports. “In a year of extreme uncertainty and lack of preparation that we usually have,” said Kellam coach Norman Hassell, “it is truly hard to predict anything.”
Jamestown, Lafayette and Warhill not playing this winter season
In November, Williamsburg-James City County Schools canceled the winter sports season because of a coronavirus surge. But Jamestown coach Chris Brown said though his team won’t compete in the Bay Rivers District, his team will play this winter in the Boo Williams Winter League. “Basketball is going to happen,” he said. “We can’t play as Jamestown High School this year. We won’t play for a VHSL state championship. But for the kids, especially my two seniors,
I feel like we’ll be able to give them their senior year of basketball. It’s very frustrating.”
Many new coaches taking teams’ reins
Hampton Roads will have several new coaches, with Tabb’s Tom Sweeney, First Colonial’s Jimmy
Domanski, Ocean Lakes’ Mario Mullen, Deep Creek’s Craig Frost and Catholic’s Bobby Steinburg. Mullen, who led Bayside High to two state basketball championships and later played for Old Dominion, hopes to turn the Dolphins’ program around. Domanski replaced longtime coach Mark Butts, who stepped down after 23 seasons. Butts said the program is in good hands. “Jimmy is a very hard-working, dedicated and knowledgeable of the game,” Butts said about Domanski, who also played for him. “He will put in the time and do what it takes to run a successful program. The guys will always play hard for him. He will do a great job.”
Several teams begin season as defending state champions
Norview and Green Run were co-champions of Class 5. Wilson and King’s Fork were co-champions in Class 4. And Lakeland was a co-champion with Cave Spring of Roanoke in Class 3. “Being declared/awarded the 2020 Class 3 state championship for boys basketball has created a sense of eagerness, excitement and euphoria among the returning and aspiring players,” said Cavaliers coach Clint Wright Sr. “Having the trophy, banner and rings will be historic, symbolic reminders for years to come.”
Reunion gives Peninsula Catholic high hopes in TCIS
Peninsula Catholic coach Trevor Dorsey calls this season’s team “the most talented team I’ve had at PC.” He already had some quality players, but he benefited from several transfers to form a strong team that includes Travon Gray, Chris Brown, Carlton Canaday, Peyton Mann, Stylz Gardner, Malcolm Velmar and Javon Sawyers. “All of these kids have known each other for years,” Dorsey said. “All decided to transfer over and play together . ... In four years this program went from bottom-dweller to very legitimate contender in the conference and the state level.”