Split divisional playoffs in Group A and AA have opened the door for five area boys and girls basketball teams to qualify for the state playoffs, which tip off tonight when Brookville meets Cave Spring in a Division 3 quarterfinal at 8:45 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center.
"We're all excited, including me," coach Chris Young said of the Bees reaching state for the first time in 21 years. "We started the season saying this is where we wanted to be and I think our players are prepared. They're excited, full of energy, and hopefully we can come out, execute our game plan and get a W."
A win against Cave Spring (22-6) wouldn't be as stunning as Brookville's 48-43 overtime upset of Robert E. Lee (22-4) in the Region III quarterfinal last Tuesday in Staunton. In that game, Logan Thomas scored 12 of his game-high 26 points down the stretch to help erase a 12-point second-half deficit.
“Logan had a huge game,” Young said.
But the Region IV champion Knights, featuring 6-foot-11 senior Josh Henderson, could be considered favorites against the Bees (19-6) in an arena where they’ve played four or five times previously this winter.
“They’re very talented,” Young said. “It’s a big challenge for us. (Henderson) is a quality player and they have a couple guys around him who are 6-4 or 6-5. Plus, they have good guard play, with a lot of guys who can shoot the ball really well.”
Brookville’s perimeter shooters, including Jared King and Josh Spigner, may need some time to fine-tune their depth perception from 3-point range in the cavernous Civic Center.
“The baskets are still 10 feet tall (but) it does create a little bit of a difference,” Young said.
He hopes to get balanced scoring from the Bees inside and out, with Corby Weiss and Alec Thompson needed to produce along with Thomas inside.
“We’re going to have to have contributions from a lot of guys (and) find a way to stay out of foul trouble,” Young said. “We’ll look for whatever they give us. If Logan scores 40, that’s great. If we have five guys score in double figures, that’s (even better).”
Though the Knights will have a decided home-court edge, the Bees will bring plenty of fans for the late-night showdown, filling up at least one spirit bus.
On Saturday in Salem, Liberty, which beat Brookville in last week's Region III final after losing to the Bees in the Seminole District tournament, plays Marion in another Division 3 boys quarterfinal before Staunton River's girls take on Hidden Valley in a Division 4 opener at 7 p.m.
Altavista's girls and boys teams will play in a Division 1 doubleheader against Franklin at Longwood University starting at 2 and 3:45 p.m., respectively.
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