By Richard Carrier
Contributing Writer

Coming out of the holiday break, this has been a loaded 10 days of basketball action in the county. I got a chance to see a few of the varsity squads go up against some pretty good competition in holiday tournaments (they compiled an unimpressive 1-5 record) but I really bore down this past week-plus and crammed in every game I could.

Besides the fact it is still fairly early in division and conference play, I’m smart enough not to make any predictions as to how the season will ultimately shake out for the eight teams I’m covering. In all but one case, however, I’ve seen enough of each team to be able to call your attention to the emerging kids you’ll find both interesting and exciting to keep an eye on.

Unfortunately, for Powhatan’s boys varsity, there is only one name: Shawn Minor. End of story. I don’t know whether his surrounding cast is just unmotivated, but I certainly shouldn’t and won’t ask Coach Washburn his take on the consistent lack of offensive support for the Southside District’s best player.

PHS’s boys junior varsity squad produces, truly, a horse of a different color. The kid to watch — and thoroughly enjoy — is Chris Deleon. A stone cold killer from long-distance with his flat-footed sling shot, this kid can also handle the ball well and get to the rim to score. His power drive kind of looks like he’s slowly making his way through a mine field, but his technique is strangely effective. He also has players around him who compliment his skill set.

Powhatan High School’s girls varsity has a deep cast of effective contributors, but maximum effect from an emerging player, she’s only a sophomore, has to be hung on Hannah Livermon.
Moving to shooting guard from running the team from the point as a freshman, she is now in a position to provide maximum return on her abilities. She is a good ball handler and a strong defender, but Hannah Livermon is, first and foremost, a deadly shooter.

The Indians’ girls junior varsity team is very similar to its older counterpart at PHS, very deep with a variety of very productive girls at most positions. Like the varsity girls, its not a team that allows you to win by shutting down one player. But if that is the game plan you insist on employing, double team or throw a box-and-one on Laura Ramthum. This fragile looking child; she reminds me of last year’s Cady Shelton, just taller, is flat-out smooth taking and, mostly making, her mulit-range set shot or capturing rebounds over taller opponents. She appears to be almost effortless.

Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Academy has not had a legitimate post player in a half-dozen years, but the boys varsity is rapidly building one. At only 6’3”, Sophomore Ethan Sill is already a fearsome rebounder for the normally undersized Knights. His double digit rebounds would have solidified his starting spot, but he is also developing several post moves which have elevated him to a consistent top three scorer on his team. And he is tough.

BSH’s boys junior varsity squad is, most assuredly, a work in progress. Sometimes they look like Keystone Kops and sometimes a well oiled machine. But the one constant is burley sophomore Brian Clarke. With the body of a defensive lineman, Clarke has the shooting touch of an assassin. The three pointer is his specialty, despite the fact that his foot speed is that of a defensive lineman.

The incubating star for the Blessed Sacrament Lady Knights is freshman Katie Clarke who, I just realized, is the younger sister of Brian. Coach Kristy Henderson will tell anyone that an offensively skilled post player is the hardest thing to develop in the ladies’ game. Katie is a surprisingly physical player with good rebounding skills and she can run the floor.

Those elusive post scoring skills, not just sticking back rebounds, but making definitive moves within an offense to score in the paint are beginning to emerge. And she’s only a freshman.
Foot race between she and her brother? To close to call.

I’m leaving out the Blessed Sacrament junior varsity girls on purpose. I’ve only seen them play one time and that was neither a win nor a complete game. As a team, they played hard and showed great enthusiasm for the game. Knowing very well the BSH Athletic Department’s commitment to advancing the basketball program, look for at least a couple of the JV girls to pop up as recognized contenders soon.