VHSL Class 1 Preview: Contenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the high school season right around the corner, it's time for us to do some previews for who we think will compete for some of the state championships. We continue with public school, taking a look at our picks for who we think will win the state championship and who could possibly compete with them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at our picks for contenders in the VHSL Class 1 classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Preseason Favorite: Lancaster</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1421108,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Henderson-Troy-Head-Shot.png"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/04/Henderson-Troy-Head-Shot-1024x764.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1421108"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1494112' first='Troy' last='Henderson'] will look to lead Lancaster back to the promise land,</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lancaster made a very impressive run to the state semifinals before falling to Westmoreland in a heartbreaker, but they should be the favorites this year as they return much of their scoring from last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They aren't the biggest team, but that didn't stop them five years ago when they won a state championship, and this team is even more talented than that year. The backcourt is led by the brother duo of senior Tyson Henderson and sophomore Tyler Henderson, who both were First Team All State selections last year and both can create for themselves and others while also moving off the ball to shoot it at a high clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They're in arguably the toughest region in Class 1, but if Lancaster can get out of it I expect the Red Devils to be at VCU for the state championship this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Twin Springs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twin Springs also made a run to the state semifinals last year before falling to eventual state champions Auburn, and they are primed for another run this year. Senior All State guard [player_tooltip player_id='1232156' first='Connor' last='Lane'] returns and may be the best player in Class 1, as he has positional size at 6'3” as well as an all-around game that includes the ability to score it all over and create in isolation situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Altavista</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're old enough to remember the early-mid 2000s, you'll remember Altavista winning three straight state championships, and while they haven't been back since they made the state tournament last year and will have another formidable team this year. Senior guard Stuart Hunt, and All State selection last year, returns to lead this team and his ability to score the ball will have him in the running for state player of the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Dark Horse Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Buffalo Gap</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buffalo Gap made a somewhat surprising run to the state tournament before falling to Lancaster in the first round, and they also return their best player and look to make a run in Region B again. Senior All State guard and Milligan College (TN) commit [player_tooltip player_id='1139833' first='Bennett' last='Bowers'] returns as one of the most skilled and savvy guards in the state, and he'll be looking to go out with a bang his senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Narrows</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Narrows didn't make the state tournament last year, they were a relatively young squad and return a lot of their scoring and one of the best collegiate prospects in Class 1. Junior guard and All State selection Kollier Pruitt will be tough for teams in Class 1 to defend as he's a 6'4” all-around guard with good athleticism, shoots the cover off of the ball and can takeover games on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->