If the playoffs started today...

...there would be some major news being made around the state.

First off, two of last year's three champions would not even be in the talk. Parkersburg is currently sitting at No. 22 in Class AAA while Bluefield is No. 17 in AA. I know there are a lot of teams that wish this would hold true for the rest of the year.

Second, look at some of the matchups that would be laid out for the first round. Here are a look at some of the "fun" matchups that would occur if the playoffs started Friday.

Class AAA
No. 1 South Charleston vs. No. 16 Woodrow Wilson -- lots of speed and athletes.
No. 2 Hurricane vs. No. 15 Spring Valley -- this has traditionally been a good game.
No. 5 George Washington vs. No. 12 Martinsburg -- two annual powers in AAA
No. 6 Capital vs. No. 11 Parkersburg South -- South is a team no one wants to draw.

Class AA
No. 2 Grafton vs. No. 15 Magnolia -- A northern blue and gold war.
No. 3 Chapmanville vs. No. 14 Tolsia -- two rugged Southern teams.
No. 4 Wayne vs. No. 13 James Monroe -- last year's Class AA semifinal

Class A
No. 3 Man vs. No. 14 Matewan -- bring your baseball bat for safety.
No. 4 Williamstown vs. No. 13 P-burg Cath -- A Wood County Wonderland.
No. 8 St. Marys vs. No. 9 Fayetteville -- physical, physical, physical.

Third, it would mean that we are that much closer to Wheeling Island for the Super Six. Don't worry fans, we are only six weeks away.

GDT

Game of the week: Woodrow Wilson at Cabell Midland

Woodrow Wilson and Cabell Midland are a pair of teams that feature potentially explosive offenses and some solid play along the line of scrimmage.

For Woodrow Wilson, Vashawn Wood has proven to be a solid back and even with starting QB Ryan Stafford out, the Flying Eagles have been able to put up 36 points per game, including 31 in a win over Parkersburg last week.

For Cabell Midland, Brad Jenkins is going to have to jumpstart the rushing attack and Tyler Bartley is going to need to be the playmaker that he was last season for the Knights to earn the win.

As with most games, this game will be won in the trenches. Woodrow Wilson has had no trouble establishing the run this season, and last week, Midland had trouble stopping Keion Wright.

However, the Knights have the athletes on defense to shut down the opposition and they will be fired up to not fall into a 1-2 hole.

It should make for a great matchup.

GDT

Former Wayne pitcher Adkins gets win for Reds

Okay, okay. I know it is in the heart of football season and no one really is following baseball -- especially the Cincinnati Reds -- at this point in the season.

But it really was great to see former Wayne pitcher Jon Adkins take the field at Miller Park in extra innings on Tuesday night and get the win over the Brewers.

Ironically, he beat Seth McClung of Milwaukee, a former pitcher for Greenbrier East who gave up the game-winning hit to Brandon Phillips in the 11th.

GDT

The greatest organized chaos in the world...

...Alright. I hope everyone liked the High School and College Previews that came out over the last week.

They are a two-month long planned out event that usually comes down to the final 15 minutes each year.

However as crazy and hectic as helping with a football preview is, there is nothing like trying to do a 5-minute segment on the week's games. I never realized so much that I had a voice and a face for print moreso than the last week as Jason McClure and I attempted to put together the weekly video preview.

There is nothing like writing the perfect script for a 5-minute preview and then butchering it as if you are reading a foreign language.

It is quite funny after the fact, but not so at the time of repeated screw-ups.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the weekly preview and feel free to make suggestions. Although let me go ahead and say that don't bother with the suggestion "Why don't you stick to print?" It won't work!

Also, for those of you who may have seen it in Monday and Tuesday's papers, we have revived the Football Pick 'Em contest that was popular in the 90s.

Picks from our "panel of experts" will appear in Friday's paper and the winner of the Pick 'Em will be announced on Monday. Feel free to comment and bash any picks that I make. I invite it!

With all of this being said, I welcome you to the 2008 football season (which has now officially hit full swing) and any time you have questions or comments regarding teams or players, feel free to post them on the blog.

Thanks, and good luck to all of your favorite teams in the '08 campaign.

GDT

ONLY 2 MORE WEEKS

Alright football fans,

The lazy days of Summer are nearly in the rear view mirror as football season begins in two weeks with practice.

I know that everyone out there is looking forward to the season as much as I am and there are several area teams ready to put the struggles of 2007 in the past and move into 2008 full speed ahead.

With that being said, who do you think will be the best team in the area in 2008?

GDT

It's been a great month...

I know that this is a high school board, but I'm not just a sports writer, I'm a human too and so let me offer some of my highlights from the month.

It actually started March 31 when I got to cover Ashland native Brandon Webb on Opening Day at Great American Ball Park. Just a few days later, I was able to let the area know of the generosity of Chad Pennington's 1st and 10 Foundation and how much they have given to our area.

Skip forward one week and my daughter Kyra celebrated her first birthday (April 10). It was the first birthday in my life that ever made me feel older and it wasn't even my birthday...LOL.

The following days would unveil a week-plus of rivalries, great matchups and Sluggerfest.

One week later, I got to talk to one of the great baseball legends of our area -- Jack Cook -- at one of the best tournaments in our area -- the Jack Cook Wooden Bat Classic. I would love to see this tournament expand because all the players seem to love it.

I capped my month with Chad Pennington's 1st and 10 Celebrity Bowl in which I got to talk to Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith, who was just as in awe as I was that we were there with NFL Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett.

I'd like to see the May flowers that come from these so-called April showers.

GDT

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT....

...that basketball parents were bad, the softball parents of the area come back in and sweep the title right away.

OK, OK, so I'm exaggerating...sort of. 90 percent of the parents in sports are great to deal with and understanding of the situations that we go through on a daily basis. It is the other 10 percent that make it miserable.

Some comments are needed, but often mistimed and delivered in such a way that makes it impossible for any good to come of it. For example, if you leave a voicemail either (1) cussing or (2) telling me I need to wake up, do my job or some other form of attack criticism, chances are that your comments are less likely to be taken into consideration than someone that calls and explains politely their inquiries into the reasons why a story was or was not done on a subject.

It gets back to the Golden Rule...stuff learned in Kindergarten.

With that being said, I look forward to covering softball sectionals, which open this weekend. It is going to be a joy watching the sectional and regional battle here because chances are a state champion will come from the area.

I hope that the parents and supporters of the area put as much time into supporting their respective teams as they have flooding our office with calls over the last two weeks. If so, there will be record crowds and some softball venues.

Good luck to everyone and I will be there covering starting Wednesday.

GDT

A gripe that everyone can relate to....

First off, let me say that I am 100 percent totally behind those who are at the forefront of athletics at Marshall. I want them to do well and I want to be able to do a professional job when I go to cover them.

But covering both high school and college athletics, I gain an interesting perspective on things. There is one thing that I agree to disagree with most Marshall coaches about and it is the quality of athlete that comes out of our area.

I have seen coaches go far on recruiting trips and bring players into Huntington, only to have these players falter or not pan out to their hyped up ratings. However, because they are from Orlando or Charlotte or Detroit instead of Winfield or Ashland or Oak Hill, they are thought to be a better brand of athlete.

Sure, players from bigger cities will probably be used to going against Division I-level players more often, but that is only because of the increase in the numbers of athletes.

I'd be willing to bet that by ratio, this area has just as many Division I athletes per sport as other areas.

I'd like to see Marshall's coaches slow down on traveling to California or Texas or Florida to get an athlete while having to pay a full out-of-state scholarship price. They need to put more effort in our area where the travel, price of tuition for the scholarship and quality are just as solid, plus it would draw more local interest to a sport.

It just make cents to me.

GDT

Don't look now....

Yes, your eyes deceive you. This IS a new post on the blog. After going through the entire Ohio Division III playoffs and then the C-USA tournament in Orlando last week, I thought I would get a little bit of a breather to update the blog before starting Spring sports.

WRONG!

This weekend, a laundry list of local teams start baseball and softball action...if Mother Nature allows them to do so, of course.

Here is where I need help from those who see this. If you all have any high school Spring sports schedules WITH TIMES, please send them to gtraylor@herald-dispatch.com.

The WVSSAC Web site does a great job of letting you know what day, but you have to guess one of the 24 hours in the day that they may be playing.

Here is to sunnier skies and seeing you at the diamond.

GDT

BIG MATCHUP FRIDAY NIGHT!

South Point puts its undefeated record on the line against a team that nearly snatched the undefeated string from them three weeks ago in Fairland.

The Dragons avenged one of their losses last week by beating Chesapeake in the finals of the St. Joe Invitational as Michael Lamb led the attack.

This time, Lamb will try and outduel Todd Mayo, who poured in 37 on Fairland in the 72-71 win on Jan. 4.

For those who love high-octane offense and smooth shooters, head up to the beautiful new South Point gymnasium on Friday night. It WILL be a show!

GDT

The real problem with Spring Valley football...

...is the attitude of its so-called supporters. If you look underneath my story online about Brad Dingess being hired as the new football coach, you will find approximately 15-20 comments about why Dingess should not have been coach.

The truth is that no one knows how it will turn out yet. He could very well take the Wolves to the playoffs this season and be the best thing ever to happen to Spring Valley football.

Dingess is a smart guy and a good football guy. His players have told me personally that he is a player's coach and that they think that will help with the future of the team.

HERE IS WHAT WON'T HELP...All the so called boosters and supporters that would rather gripe about who didn't get picked for the job than support the person who did.

Until that happens, then any coach that gets the job will be behind the 8-ball.

Behind every good football program in this state is a community that supports that program. It is true in all three classes!

If you so-called boosters put as much effort and energy into supporting the program as you do griping about the current coach or the Wayne BOE, the Timberwolves would be a perennial playoff team in Class AAA.

If you don't like what I have said in this post, that probably means you are guilty of the above.

If you don't like me saying it, please direct comments and blame to me.

OVC is Cream of the Crop

Sorry it has been awhile since my last banter....preparing for my little one's first Christmas got a little more hectic than what I anticipated.

Now that teams are back into full swing and I have seen a lot of the area's talent, I have made some conclusions.

My first conclusion: the OVC is definitely playing the best at this point.

I went to the Fairland-South Point matchup last Friday night and I must say that the pace was likened to a college game. Both teams moved up and down the floor well, showcasing superior athleticism and basketball ability in comparison to the other teams I have seen this season. (NOTE: I have not yet seen Chesapeake..that's this Friday's itinerary.)

The athleticism is better, the shooting is better, the play is better and their results are better. Between Fairland, Chesapeake and South Point, those teams have two losses on the season -- one being Fairland's loss to South Point. That will change this week as Chesapeake will take on both Fairland and South Point with control of the OVC at stake.

As for WV, Cabell Midland has been playing well, but I'm not sure if they can handle SV's defense. Meanwhile, Huntington has the athleticism to beat both on any given night. And don't forget about Hurricane...they too have some shooters that if they get hot, look out! Watching that region develop this season should be enjoyable.

Best of luck to all teams as you start 2008. I'll be seeing a lot of everyone over the next two months!

GDT

Hoops get into full gear!

With hoops season getting into full swing, there are several teams that are making noise. However, it is the one team that isn't making much noise that has everyone's attention.

Huntington's 3-year domination of WV boys basketball is officially over after the Highlanders fell to Spring Valley on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, it was Cabell Midland who started out with a pair of wins despite enduring a rough week with the death of three schoolmates.

The region will be up in the air and it will come down to execution in March, something teams are preparing for as we speak.

Over in Ohio, 1-2 punches are being thrown by South Point and Fairland as each has started the year unblemished. The Pointers will hit you with a Weed (Beau Weed) and slap a little Mayo (Todd) as they serve up losses for the opposition.

Meanwhile, Fairland's offense has been unstoppable with the same combination as in football season. Michael Lamb and Cole Hatfield might be the best all-around athletes in the area.

On the girls' side of action, Huntington and Huntington St. Joe are showing why they are preseason picks for the state tournament after posting nice wins this week.

The Irish got past previously-unbeaten Tolsia after putting up 30 points in the first quarter. Not to be outdone, Huntington went on the road and outscored South Charleston 28-4 in the first quarter en route to a big road win late last week.

It is all shaping up for a great beginning to 2008 in the world of high school sports.

West Virginia Preseason Girls Poll released Monday

With the girls basketball season officially opening Tuesday night, the Associated Press released its preseason polls on Monday afternoon.

To no one's surprise, Morgantown and Huntington are back on top of the Class AAA preseason ratings as both have key players returning.

The Highlanders received two first-place votes and feature sophomores Whitney Bays and Erin Bailes. The duo is expected to take the team back to Charleston late in the year, but they will have to overcome a stiff test from their district and region foes to get there.

In class A, Huntington St. Joseph was ranked fourth in the preseason poll and tied top-ranked Parkersburg Catholic and No. 2 Wheeling Central for most first-place votes with three. The Fighting Irish are also behind South Harrison, who was ranked third but did not receive any first-place votes.

Class AA was topped by Summers County and Winfield -- a pair of teams that collected all 10 first place votes. Locally, Tolsia received two votes in the poll.

GDT

Who is the best basketball team in the area?

I know that it has been a while since the last post, but it would have gotten old writing about Wayne every week and let's face it...

...THEY ARE THE ONLY FOOTBALL TEAM THAT HAD BEEN PLAYING!!!

With that said, it is time for hoops season and I need to know who you think will be the best team in our area.

Give me your choices and why you think your team will come on top on the hardwood.

GDT