Here we go again

By Shane Mettlen

Published: November 25, 2008

The boys basketball teams at Culpeper and Eastern View high schools each have an uphill battle this season, but face opposite challenges.

Culpeper has stability in its coaching ranks with James Thompson returning for a second year, but is overhauling its roster for the second consecutive season after losing most of its returning talent to Eastern View. The Cyclones have the players, but have been put in the unfortunate situation of changing coaches before the season even began.

As hard as it is to believe, in just one week we get to begin to see what kind of product each program will put on the floor. Eastern View travels to Louisa for its first game next Tuesday and the Blue Devils face Orange the following Friday.

Both local teams should face tough challenges from Jefferson District opponents that have plenty of talent. Orange is led by Quintin Hunter and Louisa has a star in 6-4 forward Kerry Wynn. Both players are listed among the top Group AA basketball prospects in Virginia, though both have already secured scholarships to play college football.

And it doesn’t get much easier for either Culpeper or Eastern View as the season rolls along. The Blue Devils’ hoops team is in much the same situation the football team found itself in this fall — taking a depleted talent base up against some of the state’s largest schools in the Cedar Run District. Culpeper was able to tie for a district title last season, but will have its hands full this time around.

Liberty in particular will provide a challenge. The Eagles were neck-and-neck with Culpeper in the district standings last year, and return every player off their varsity roster. Guard Stephen Yates and explosive 6-5 forward Stefawn Ross will lead a team that should be favored to win the district.

Eastern View has had to deal with the loss of coach Eugene Logan, who left the team early into the preseason practices. Assistants Walter Wright and B.J. Johnson have stepped right in to run the program, but it’s hardly an ideal situation. Like Culpeper, Eastern View will also have to face a team in its district that is absolutely loaded with talent.

Courtland will take the court with four of Rivals.com’s top 100 Group AA players, including Duke-bound forward Josh Hairston.

Outsiders probably won’t expect a lot out of either team from Culpeper, but they both might be capable of winning a few games. CCHS certainly wasn’t expected to be a district championship contender last season, but Thompson saw something in a group of unheralded players and coached them into a one of the best defensive teams around.

Some of those players are now at Eastern View, where the Cyclones football team wasn’t supposed to do well, but went 7-3. Stevie Strother, Andrew Hoffman and Blake Smith were contributors on last year’s Culpeper team and are now on the Eastern View roster with Mo Safren, who transferred from Highland after leading the Hawks the past couple of seasons.

Championships might not be in the immediate future for either the Devils or the Cyclones, but surprises could be in store for anybody that takes them lightly.

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or