Jefferson District Basketball-Central Virginia Dominance

The Jefferson basketball district is, yet again, crazy. After two straight JD Titles by the Charlottesville Black Knights, the other teams in the district are starting to challenge for title consideration. Five of the eight teams are in the Top 20 of their divisions:

3A: Western Albemarle is number 5, Monticello is number 18

4A: Charlottesville is number 9, Louisa is number 11

5A: Albemarle is number 14

Here are the reviews for the top 4 teams so far:

1. (5) Western Albemarle (9-0).

The Warriors are back, baby. After two years with strong teams but lack of District and Conference Crowns, the Warriors experienced frustration. Well, now they are 9-0 with wins over (14) Waynesboro, (24) Jefferson Forest, (12) Louisa, (20) Monticello, and (6) Charlottesville. Western is ranked 5 in the 3A AP Poll and Number 1 on the Maxpreps Algorithm rankings. Now, I am not saying they are a lock to win the state title (yet) but they are pretty darn good. They still have to play Albemarle (hopefully with Katstra) twice this year and have to travel to a revenge-fueled “Traphouse” in the annual battle with Charlottesville for their second meeting (WAHS won the first 63-53). The Warriors, thanks to an injury-plagued season for Katstra so far, look poised to claim first place in the District right now, but hey, it’s not even January yet.

2. (9) Charlottesville (5-1).

Coming off of two straight JD Titles, the Black Knights already had their 16-game regular season win streak and 18-game streak overall against district opponents broken by the Warriors. But hey, it was Western at Western. The Black Knights will have their chance at redemption. They will be able to reduce the time they spend on busses riding across Central Virginia with only three true road games left. One of those games is at Albemarle, but they get to host everyone else in the district (yes, that includes Western, Louisa, and Monticello). Thanks to the late escape at Louisa on December 15^th (a 66-60 come from behind win) the Black Knights are close to controlling their own destiny in the JD Standings (that loss to Western may prove costly, still).

3. (14) Albemarle (4-3).

Those poor Patriots. Already injured with an ankle sprain, 6’6 Division 5A-all state player Austin Katstra injured his OTHER ankle in the Patriots game against (7) St. Christopher’s. Since that injury, Albemarle has gone 1-2. One of those losses was a six point loss to Charlottesville at the Traphouse, but the other was to an unranked Patrick Henry squad at home. Still, the Patriots only have one loss in the JD, and assuming Western loses at SOME POINT (it has to happen, right?) the Patriots can get back on track now that Katstra is back. They still have to play Louisa and Western twice and they host Charlottesville, but with Katstra, the Patriots can be as deadly as their preseason rank: number 10 in 5A.

4. (11) Louisa (5-2).

Are you surprised to see a Jefferson District EAST DIVISION team in the top 4? It is always CHS, WAHS, AHS, and MOHS (all the Western Division teams) in the top 4, with Fluvanna occasionally thrown in there. Now, LOUISA has broken into the top 4. Much has changed since last year. Robert Shelton, the Louisa alum who coached Monticello for years, is back to coach his alma mater. Louisa also has a nice, new gym (called the Jungle in Mineral) that can hold nearly 2,000 people, and lately, people have been showing up. That may not seem like much of an advantage, since the Lions are 2-2 at home, but those losses are to CHS and WAHS. In fact, if not for a Murray Hill 3-point play in the waning seconds of the game, Louisa might have actually BEATEN CHS (when is THAT ever said). On the MPA (Maxpreps Algorithm) Rankings, Louisa is Number 11 in 4A. Not bad. Not bad at all. The Louisa team still has plenty of challenges left in front of it, but, led by senior Jermaine Pace, they have a chance to make some noise.