Team Preview: Spotswood

<div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em><strong>Classification</strong>: VHSL 3A West</em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em><strong>Conference</strong>: 29</em></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em><strong>Key Games</strong>: </em></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em>12/1 - @ East Rockingham</em></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em>12/18 - @ Robert E. Lee</em></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em>12/28 - Loudoun Valley (SHS Holiday Classic)</em></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em>12/29 - Armstrong (SHS Holiday Classic)</em></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em> 1/8 - @ Turner Ashby </em></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em> 1/9 - William Fleming (Salem Civic Center)</em></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em> 2/5 - @ Harrisonburg</em></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><em> 2/9 - @ Fort Defiance</em></span></div> <div><em><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Chad Edwards</em></div> <div><em><strong>Last Season</strong>: 29-1; Conference 29 Champions; 3A West Champions; Lost in 3A State Championship to George Wythe</em></div> <div><em><strong>Who They Lose</strong>: Khalil Davis (2X Captain), Kevin Saylor (2 year starter)</em></div> <div><em><strong>Key Returners</strong>: Justin Kier (George Mason commit), Cameron Irvine, Aaron Hunter, Kobe Davis, Malik Davis</em></div> <div>In the sleepy mountain town of Penn Laird, right outside of Harrisonburg, the small school of Spotswood has quietly built a reputation as a basketball powerhouse in the western part of the state. After finishing the regular season undefeated last year, and losing a close one to George Wythe in the state championship game, the Blazers are looking to finally get over the one hump that has eluded them over the last few seasons.</div> <div> </div> <div>Spotswood has experienced tremendous success as a program recently, with an overall record of 85-5 in the past three seasons, and making it to the state final four in five of the past six seasons. They have won 50 straight regular season games dating back to January of 2013, and have won 44 straight games in their home gym. With that level of expectations comes pressure.</div> <div> </div> <div>“Expectations are always hight at Spotswood, and we aim to maintain that success behind this group led by Justin Kier,” Assistant Coach Jimmy Miller said.</div> <div> </div> <div>Kier, their senior leader, was a unanimous All State selection last season and recently committed to George Mason after a big summer with Spectrum Sports Academy. A heady wing guard who puts himself and his teammates in positions to succeed, Kier has been a team leader since his sophomore year. He led the team in points, rebounds and assists last season, and his ability to make tough shots at all three levels makes him tough to guard.</div> <div> </div> <div>The Blazers know what they’re going to get out of Kier, who has proven over his time at Spotswood that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. However, the real question is who will step up to replace the seniors and help him out in big games.</div> <div>“How far we go may rest on the shoulders of the contributing teammates and how well they can step up into their new roles,” Miller said. “They have to replace two seniors in Khalil Davis and Kevin Saylor who provided outstanding leadership both on and off the court. If they can replace the intangibles of them, and improve on their rebounding on both ends of the floor, we could make another run at Richmond.”</div> <div> </div> <div>Two of the players who will have to step up big to help handle the basketball are senior point guard Malik Davis and junior combo guard Aaron Hunter. Davis played major minutes in their state championship run, and Hunter has shown flashes early in his career that he could be a potential playmaker for this group.</div> <div> </div> <div>Whether it’s a few players, or if they do it by committee, Spotswood is likely to find a way to replace what they lost and compete at a high level yet again. They begin the journey with a big game at cross town rival East Rockingham on December 1st.</div>