Last year was weird for all of us. But it was really weird when it came to our high school basketball coverage. While we followed it and covered it and talked about it a lot, it was very different.
Tonight, I get the first chance since covid to call a high school basketball game. As much as people think of me as a “football guy” I actually really enjoy calling high school basketball. It helps that we have so many good teams in our area.
The passion for high school hoops in our area has really grown over the last few years. With the emergence of Dorman as a national power and great players that have rolled through the area like Zion and others, we have been privilege to see some great basketball in this area. It seems to me that the crowds at games continue to grow, which makes it even more fun when people pack these gyms and the atmosphere is incredible.
This year should be fun. Dorman is really good, again. What coach Thomas Ryan has been able to build on the westside is incredible. They have the team to make another run at the 5A state title, but they also play in the toughest region around. Byrnes and Riverside will both have something to say about Dorman trying to make it back to the title game. The Cavs hav a good test tonight on the road at Mauldin. These two teams met last week and it was a 3 point win for Dorman at home. Look for this one to go down to the wire again.
Union is off to a great start under coach Mitchell Moss again. The Jackets have some really good athletes and Moss is a great coach who has learned from some of the best in the business like Joe Pitt and Thomas Ryan. The Jackets defeated Gaffney last week in decisive fashion at home and tonight they will try to go to Gaffney and repeat that performance. One difference this week, Gaffney was still playing football last week and now any footballers are back on the hardwood.
I get the privilege to call a game tonight for the first time at the new Boiling Springs gym as the Chesnee Eagles pay the bulldogs a visit. I’ve known Chesnee Coach Andy Pitt for a very long time and he is a heck of a basketball coach from a basketball family. The Eagles have struggled some in the early going but have played a challenging schedule. Thursday night they went toe to toe with a very good Chapman team, and Chesnee seems to be righting the ship. Boiling Springs is off to a good start and could potentially fight for a region title.
Broome is on a roll. My friend Will Hickson and the Centurions are winners of four straight and have good chance to get a 5th in a row against Blacksburg tonight.
Spartanburg has a chance to get back to .500 with a win over Northwestern.
It will be good to be back in a gym tonight and bringing you live high school basketball coverage on the radio. We plan to get to every team in our area this year. Should be a fun ride.
