The new Timesland top 15 is out and plenty of changes were made after four major meets were held over the weekend.

Among the highlights:

*Blacksburg put four runners under two minutes in the boys 800 meters at the MileStat Elite Classic in Richmond.

*Nick Link of Blacksburg ran 4:16.05 in the 1,600, while Noah Combs clocked 9:22.88 in the 3,200. Blacksburg’s Emily Beaty ran 5:06.22 in the girls 1,600.

*William Byrd’s Marcellus Fletcher went 46 feet in the triple jump at the Joe Curcio Invitational in Lynchburg where Alexis Brown of James River tossed the shot 38-10 and Liberty’s Nicole Smith threw the discus 121-8.

2013 TIMESLAND TRACK AND FIELD CHECKLIST

NOTE: Rankings are based on major invitationals and postseason meets. Meets include are Knights Invitational, Raleigh Relays, Big Red Invitational, Vince Bradford Relays, Mike Brown Invitational, Falcons Track Classic, Colonel Classic, Judy Thomas Invitational, Frank Carver Invitational, All-American Relays, Amherst Invitational, Tri-Cities Track Classic, Buffalo Invitational, MileStat Elite Classic, Joe Curcio Invitational and Bearcat Invitational.

BOYS
100 meters
1. Khalil Bonds, William Fleming (Colonel), 11.03
2. Andrew Storms, George Wythe (All-American), 11.10
3. Brandon Carter, Martinsville (Colonel), 11.18
4. Ryan Layman, George Wythe (All-American), 11.40
5. Arius McConnell, Salem (All-American), 11.41
6. Tanner Reed, Christiansburg (Colonel), 11.43
7. Riley Blevins, Marion (Thomas), 11.48
8. Joey Augustin, Christiansburg (Curcio), 11.53
9. Jamaal Preston, Liberty (Big Red), 11.55
…..Travis Hedgepeth, George Wythe (All-American), 11.55
11. Ryan Sims, Blacksburg (Knights), 11.57
12  Josh Pearson, Bassett (Buffalo), 11.58
13. Patrick Shulz, James River (All-American), 11.64
14. Ryan Kelly, Hidden Valley (Colonel), 11.65
15. Davonta Womack, Salem (Curcio), 11.67 Read more »

Northside’s Tierra Saunders took over the 2013 Timesland lead in the girls 400-meter run with an impressive clocking of 57.66 seconds last week in winning the event at the Amherst Invitational in Amherst.

William Byrd’s Marcellus Fletcher is the new Timesland leader in the boys triple jump at 44 feet, 11 inches.

Those were among the top performaces over the weekend in Timesland.

The updated Timesland track checklist is below.

NOTE: Rankings are based on major invitationals and postseason meets. Meets include are Knights Invitational, Raleigh Relays, Big Red Invitational, Vince Bradford Relays, Mike Brown Invitational, Falcons Track Classic, Colonel Classic, Judy Thomas Invitational, Frank Carver Invitational, All-American Relays, Amherst Invitational and Tri-Cities Track Classic.

BOYS
100 meters
1. Khalil Bonds, William Fleming (Colonel), 11.03 2. Andrew Storms, George Wythe (All-American), 11.10 3. Brandon Carter, Martinsville (Colonel), 11.18 4. Ryan Layman, George Wythe (All-American), 11.40 5. Arius McConnell, Salem (All-American), 11.41 6. Tanner Reed, Christiansburg (Colonel), 11.43 7. Riley Blevins, Marion (Thomas), 11.48 8. Jamaal Preston, Liberty (Big Red), 11.55    Travis Hedgepeth, George Wythe (All-American), 11.55 10. Ryan Sims, Blacksburg (Knights), 11.57 11 . Josh Pearson, Bassett (Colonel), 11.59 12. Patrick Shulz, James River (All-American), 11.64 13. Ryan Kelly, Hidden Valley (Colonel), 11.65 14. Elijah Onks, George Wythe (Thomas), 11.69 15. Fe’zahn Scott, Patrick Henry (Knights), 11.71    Dean Sayers, Hidden Valley (Colonel), 11.71 Read more »

Congrats to Ryan Gravley of Carroll County, Tay Taylor of Salem, Caleb Tanner of Floyd County and Sa’Mone Moore of Covington.

They have been named basketball players of the year in their respective regions.

The list is below:

BOYS BASKETBALL
REGION IV
First team
Ryan Gravley, Carroll County, sr.; Dylan Hodson, Hidden Valley, sr.; Paris Jamison, Martinsville, sr.; Josh Hess, Abingdon, jr.; Mack Owens, Abingdon, sr.
Second team
Troy Mann, Salem, jr.; Chris Hampton, Magna Vista, sr.; Michael Ayares, Blacksburg, sr.; Joey Augustin, Christiansburg, sr.; Ethan Richardson, Marion, sr.
Player of the year
Ryan Gravley, Carroll County.
Division 4 coach of the year
Brad Hawks, Carroll County.
Division 3 coach of the year
B.J. Lasley, Abingdon.

REGION C
First team
Caleb Tanner, Floyd County, jr.; Isaiah Phillips, Radford, jr.; Tyler Crockett, Glenvar, sr.; Asher Dillow, Bland County, sr.; Charlie Fitzgerald, Parry McCluer, sr.
Second team
Reid Sturgill, Chilhowie, sr.; Brandon Lemons, Floyd County, sr.; Isaac Baltazar, George Wythe, sr.; Colby Hill, Graham, soph.; Jeremy Williams, Glenvar, soph.
Player of the year
Caleb Tanner, Floyd County.
Division 2 coach of the year
Rick Cormany, Radford.
Division 1 coach of the year
Nelson Fox, Parry McCluer.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
REGION IV
First team
Tay Taylor, Salem, sr.; Brittany Allen, Richlands, jr.; Ebony Reynolds, Patrick County, soph.; Taylor Blevins, Abingdon, soph.; Andrea Venable, Bassett, sr.
Second team
Tessa Foley, Salem, sr.; Taylor Catron, Tazewell, sr.; Darian Thornton, Christiansburg, sr.; Hailey Singleton, Hidden Valley, fr.; Cassie Richardson, Richlands, sr.]
Player of the year
Tay Taylor, Salem.
Division 4 coach of the year
DeWayne Harrell, Salem.
Division 3 coach of the year
Dennis Palmer, Richlands.

REGION C
First team
Sa’Mone Moore, Covington, jr.; Danielle Catron, Chilhowie, jr.; Kasey Uecker, PH-Glade Spring, sr.; Brooke Bostwick, Auburn, jr.; Maggie Wilbourne, Glenvar, soph.
Second team
Amanda Hollandsworth, Floyd County, jr.; Ashley King, James River, sr.; Sarah Whisman, Fort Chiswell, sr.; Sydney Lindsey, Galax, soph.; Carley Lytton, Floyd County, soph.
Player of the year
Sa’Mone Moore, Covington.
Division 2 coach of the year
Alan Cantrell, Floyd County.
Division 1 coach of the year
Mark Pifer, Covington.

Hidden Valley and James River are off to a good start in pursuit of the 2012-13 Wells Fargo Cup, emblematic of the top overall athletic program in each of the VHSL’s three classifications.

The Titans are No. 2 in Group AA with 105 points after a runner-up finish in volleyball, a fourth-place finish in girls cross country and a sixth-place effort in boys cross country.

Points are distributed on a 50-45-40-35-30-25-20-15 basis for top-eight finishes in state competition.

Grafton leads the Group AA standings with 117 1/2 points. Blacksburg is tied for third with 100, while Christiansburg and Salem are tied for fifth with 87 1/2.

Blacksburg and Hidden Valley have combined to win six of the last seven Group AA Cups, with the Bruins winning four times during that span including last year.

James River has 102 1/2 points, trailing only Wilson Memorial’s 142 1/2 in Group A. The Knights picked up 45 points for a runner-up finish in golf, 35 in girls cross country and 22 1/2 in volleyball.

Radford is seventh in Group A with 75 points. Giles is tied for eighth with 72 1/2 points.

Chantilly leads the Group AAA standings with 120 points. Patrick Henry is tied for 35th with 22 1/2 points.

The standings will be updated following the winter season, which includes basketball, wrestling, swimming and indoor track.

 No more high school football in 2012 on Fridays this year following tonight’s games across the state.
 This has to be the best weather I’ve seen in 35 years of running around Southwest and Central Virginia football fields.
 Next week, the games move to Saturday. Timesland will have at least one state semifinalist: the winner of tonight’s game between Salem and Christiansburg.
 Who else will still be standing?

REGION IV DIVISION 4
CHRISTIANSBURG (8-4) at SALEM (11-0)
Today, 7:30 p.m.
    Coaches: Christiansburg (Tim Cromer), Salem (Stephen Magenbauer).
    Last week: Christiansburg won 31-6 at Hidden Valley. Salem defeated Pulaski County 17-14 at home.
    Playoff history: CHRISTIANSBURG – Has won the last three regional titles … Lost to Briar Woods 28-27 in 2011 Division 4 state final … Has made playoffs 15 times with 14-14 overall record … Made first playoff appearance in 1981. SALEM – Owns six state titles including back-to-back Division 4 crowns in 2004-05 in Magenbauer’s first two years … Most recent regional title was 2007 … Lost to Magna Vista 36-35 in OT last year in region semifinal … Has made playoffs 25 times with 48-18 overall record and 12 region titles.
    Statistics: CHRISTIANSBURG – WB Joey Augustin (180-1,303 rushing, 21 TDs), RB De’Quan Green-Gause (170-1,263, 18 TDs), PK Jake Hamley (48 of 49 PATs, 3 of 6 FGs), LB Calvin Graham (91 solos, 4 sacks), LB Seth Wills (94 solos). SALEM – RB Devante Payne (147-627, 8 rushing TDs), RB Arius McConnell (100-495, 6 TDs), QB Matt Hill (106-161, 1,409 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs), WR Chad Fisher (55-840, 8 TDs, 6 defensive INTs).
    Quick kicks: Salem defeated Christiansburg 14-13 in Salem Stadium on Oct. 19 as Payne ran for 107 yards … Payne returned last week from a knee injury he suffered against Hidden Valley … Since 2004, Christiansburg has beaten Salem more times (4) than any other team … Cromer is 4-5 all-time vs. Magenbauer including a 13-0 playoff win in 2009 … Magenbauer’s record at Salem is 96-15 … Christiansburg’s other losses were to Pulaski County (17-14), Hidden Valley (28-0) and Cave Spring (37-24) … Augustin started five games at QB before being moved back to halfback. 
    Next week: The winner plays at home against either Amherst County or Heritage.
    Prediction: Salem 24, Christiansburg 21. Read more »

Greetings from Saturday morning after Round 2 of the VHSL football playoffs. I rolled back in after midnight from Lynchburg where Brookville whipped Northside 29-7 in a Region III Division 3 semifinal and Bees quarterback Kendall BeCraft went over the 9,000-yard mark in career passing yardage.

Just as I returned home around 12:30 a.m., an excited Bristol Herald Courier sports writer and proud John Battle High School alumnus Tim Hayes called me about the Trojans’ 37-14 drubbing of Giles in a Division 2 West Section second-round game. Even so, Hayes was somewhat surprised at the outcome, but not as much as I was. That’s why John Battle’s win is No. 1 today on my list of things that caught my eye last night. Read more »

 The kickoff times have been set for the 14 second-round VHSL football playoff games this weekend.
 Thirteen of the games are Friday night with the exception being Galax’s trip to Honaker, which will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.
 Here is the full VHSL schedule:

DIVISION 6
Central Region
Meadowbrook (9-1) at Varina (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
L.C. Bird (10-0) at Hermitage (10-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Eastern Region
Salem-Virginia Beach (10-1) at Oscar Smith (10-1), TBA
Western Branch (9-2) at Ocean Lakes (11-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Northern Region
Chantilly (8-3) at Westfield (11-0), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Oakton (7-4) at Centreville (8-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Northwest Region
Battlefield (8-3) at C.D. Hylton (8-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Colonial Forge (9-2) at Stonewall Jackson (9-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m. Read more »

It’s 10 a.m. Saturday, mere hours since I rolled back into Roanoke from Pearisburg where Giles senior Ian Mann put up more than three bills of rushing yardage and threw a TD pass in the Spartans’ 41-14 win over James River in the first round of the Division 2 West Section football playoffs.

Sixty-four games took place across Virginia on Friday night. Eight more are today, wrapping up the opening round. The Central Region finished its regular season last night. The Richmond-area Group AAA teams will join the playoff party next week.

Here’s what jumped out at me Friday:

1. Some Group A schools from the 434 and 804 struggled big-time.
Covington destroyed Rappahannock 51-28 on the road, while Parry McCluer handled Charles City 33-7 in the Division 1 East Section. Bath County nearly pulled off a second straight first-round win in losing at No. 2 seed Sussex Central 14-10. Also, in Division 2 Gretna was hammered at Grayson County 44-31, while Dan River got steamrolled 55-27 at home by Stuarts Draft. Division 2 East top seed Essex, unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in Group A by the AP, had a fairly close shave against 3-7 Luray before winning 28-12.
Was the Dogwood District that far down this year? It appears so after last night. William Campbell, at 3-7, saved some face for the league with a 41-22 win over West Point in Division 1 East. Altavista, seeded No. 4, hosts Surry County today, but this is an Altavista team that lost earlier this year to James River.
Conversely, the Shenandoah District had a pretty good night. Stuarts Draft, Riverheads and Wilson Memorial all had blowout wins. East Rockingham also won a Division 2 East game and will get its shot at Essex next week. The game between Riverheads and Wilson Memorial next week in Fishersville should be a monster. Read more »

The schedule for the first-round of the VHSL playoffs has been set for Timesland teams. Twenty-one of the 22 Timesland games will be played on Friday. Radford will play at Clintwood at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The complete statewide schedule is below:
 
FIRST-ROUND VHSL PLAYOFF PAIRINGS
DIVISION 6
Eastern Region
Granby (9-1) at Ocean Lakes (10-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Bayside (8-2) at Oscar Smith (9-1), Friday, 7 p.m.
Grassfield (8-2) at Salem-Virginia Beach (8-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Western Branch (8-2) at Bethel (8-2), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Read more »