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Don’t worry, the title is not where you think this is heading at all.
Now that football season is behind us in Rutherford County, high school basketball may be the perfect remedy after a tough fall sports schedule.
East Rutherford boys (1-0) and East Rutherford girls (1-0) basketball teams began the year off strong by winning their opening games on the season over Highland Tech this past week.
Many believe that East Rutherford’s boys (who won by 29 over Highland Tech last week) will be very stout this season and I could certainly see that being the case.
Travis Waldroup-Rodriguez, T.J. Watkins, Roddric Ross and Jarvis Hopper all scored in double digits, but most anticipate the return of Devonte Boykins from injury sooner than later. From the way it looks, they could go ten deep or so, but I haven’t seen them yet in person and I am not going to say much more on that.
The big test in pre-conference play comes against Hunter Huss at home next Tuesday, December 4th.
East Rutherford’s girls won by 26 in their opener and many expect Rachel Camp to make her junior year a very memorable one. Time will only tell.
R-S Central boys (2-0) went to Mitchell and easily passed by Avery on day one (by 31) and Mitchell on day two by (42 points) in a thanksgiving weekend tourney. Right now, it is hard to gauge the Hilltoppers, but you can’t beat the way things are going so far.
A club that has proved over the past few seasons that they are no fluke is the R-S Central Girls basketball team. While they lost Shannon Hines to graduation and the College of Charleston’s ladies basketball team, expect Central to be among the top half of the SMAC this season.
The Lady Hilltoppers have started 1-2 on the year, but have a three-headed monster over in Rutherfordton to keep an eye on. Alyssia Watkins, Tia Bristol and freshman, Te’ja Twitty have led the charge so far in the early season.
R-S Central boys and girls take to the home court against Mitchell on Tuesday, December 4th. They also stay at home on the 7th and the 12th for McDowell and then Kings Mountain.
Across the county, Chase boys (by 28 points) and the girls (by 35) hoops team picked up wins against Challenger to begin the season 1-0 each. The Trojans will not play a game this coming week, but go to West Lincoln on 12/4 and host Mitchell on 12/7.
Thomas Jefferson’s girls lost to Community School of Davidson to open the season.
Also, I don’t know if I have pointed this out or not. Last week, I did my All-Rutherford County High School Football Team for this year. I forgot to mention that there is a coach of the year to go along with it. Show me the Cash, Jerry Cash I mean. Cash takes this category hands down.
Cash unleashed a new outlook on a football program at Thomas Jefferson after a Gryphon gridiron team had won just once since its inception. This season, they went 6-6 and earned their first ever playoff bid in football.
While they won their first six and lost their last six, Cash did something nobody even considered in his first year on the job, making TJCA winners on the gridiron. There are great kids over in Avondale, but honestly, many thought a turning of the corner in football would take years. Cash had the answer, simplify and make them belief.
Finally, I want to congrats Chesnee on a fine football season going 13-2 as they fell to Abbeville in the semis, 40-13 last week. The Eagles first year head coach, Lynn Fleming did a spectacular job and I am sure there are a ton of happy people down south who have seen that program find some revitalization.
