2009-2010 Conference Predictions...

Basketball season is finally here and for many of us it is the start of a new chapter in girls basketball in North Carolina. With all the new conference realignments it should be interesting to see which teams benefit from the new landscape.


Lets get some thoughts and analysis going on some of the conference races...

 

Almost here

Scrimmages are starting. Just wondering if there will be any surprises with the new conference alignment? Any thoughts?

 

SW4A

The SW4A should be another shoot out between East Meck and Butler.

It has been lots of fun watching these two programs battle over the last several years, and they are only 5 miles from each other. They played 4 times last year, all close competitive ballgames.

 

This is totally foreign territory for me and all the McDowell fans. We had such a rich tradition back in the Northwestern 4A. That and the knowledge of the programs made it a bit easier to predict. This year (for me) there's a real sense of the unknown...but from what little I have heard, I have come to this conclusion...


The two new members of the Mountain Athletic Conference (McDowell and AC Reynolds) will likely be fighting it out for the conference crown. Both squads return most everyone from last season.

Another MAC power TC Roberson, is at a crossroads this season. They lost 6 to graduation, then their successful coach retired, and then after that 3 more players transferred. IMO that's just too much to overcome in one season. It will be interesting to see what happens with the Roberson program from this point.

Erwin had a pretty decent 2008-09 campaign but I think they'll find the MAC schedule a bit tougher at the top this year. Asheville, Enka and North Buncombe will be fighting through the bottom half of the standings.

 

NW 3A 4A

Not sure about our new conference either. I am sure Hickory will be strong. I am sure SC will be good. I just don't know anything about Hibriten, Saint and Foard. However, I feel like AC will get some wins. Just not sure how many.

 

SMAC 3A/2A

Freedom and Patton leave their old conferences to join East Rutherford,Chase,RS Central,Burns and Shelby in the South Mountain Athletic Conference (SMAC).

I really dont know much about many of the teams besides what I hear. I have been told that Shelby and East Rutherford are going to be pretty good. No suprise seeing Shelby since they seem to be good in every thing.Dont know much about Chase but have heard they are usally not very good.RS Central has been decent the past few years and Burns is usally not very good.One thing else thats weird about this conference is that Patton and Freedom are the only two schools that will have JV girls basketball.

I think Patton will be improved from the last couple of years but may be another year or so away. Freedom lost 4 starters off of last years team including 4-year varsity standout Ali Ford. I think they will still be pretty good as Chelsey Connelly returns and a few other players will be back. Amber Fox does a great job with these girls and will have them ready to play every game.

Here are my preditctions for the SMAC

1.Freedom
2.Shelby
3.East Rutherford
4t. RS Central
4t. Patton
6.Chase
7. Burns