Boys basketball: King's Fork should rule Southeastern District

Nansemond River’s seven-year stronghold on the Southeastern District regular-season crown could this season.

The reason is that King’s Fork has caught up.

Last season, the Bulldogs won 15 of their final 18 games. That included victories over Nansemond River in the district tournament championship game and over Booker T. Washington and Deep Creek to reach the school’s first state boys basketball tournament.

This season, the Bulldogs are thinking trifecta: district, region and state. They are led by All-Tidewater guards Jamar Wertz (17.2 ppg) and Jaquon Parker (17.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg), who last season accounted for nearly 75 percent of the King’s Fork offense.

And unlike last season when 6-foot-6 forward Jay Copeland was their only answer inside, the Bulldogs also have 6-8 center Davante Gardner. He missed most of last season because of a foot injury but will give King’s Fork a much-needed presence in the paint.

Those thinking Nansemond River is done should think again. Gone are Andre Jones, Nick Wright and Quinton McDuffie to graduation. That trio accounted for 51 points a game. But the Warriors will be there in the end.

Nansemond River coach Ed Young will miss that talented trio, but he has some talent in Dion Bivens and Dontrel Silver returning. Both players saw plenty of action last season, as did others on Young’s deep bench.

After King’s Fork and Nansemond River, the district is wide open, with Indian River, Deep Creek, Lakeland and Great Bridge battling for playoff spots.

A look at the 10 Southeastern District teams in predicted order of finish:

1. KING’S FORK

Coach Josh Worrell

Last season 24-6 overall, 15-3 Southeastern District

Top players Jay Copeland,, 6-6, jr.; Davante Gardner, 6-8, jr.; Rarkesh Harris, 5-11, sr.; Jaquon Parker, 6-4, sr.; Jamar Wertz, 6-3, sr.

Outlook Parker and Wertz are the stars, but the Bulldogs will go only as far as the rest of the team can take them. Harris must play big at the point. And Copeland and Gardner must be enforcers inside. If that happens, the Bulldogs will go deep in the playoffs.

2. NANSEMOND RIVER

Coach Ed Young

Last season 23-4, 17-1

Top players Dion Bivens, 6-0, jr.; Sam Hughes, 6-0, sr.; Morris Johnson, 6-2, jr.; Dontrel Silver, 5-10, jr.; Derrick White, 6-3, sr.

Outlook The Warriors’ top returning players averaged a total of just 10 points last season, but don’t overlook them. Nansemond River was one of the top teams in the Hampton Roads Fall League. Expect Young to have his Warriors ready by season’s end. Bivens was one of the top defenders in the district last season and will pick up the scoring load. Silver has the potential to be one of the top point guards in the district.

3. INDIAN RIVER

Coach Chavez Mabry Last season 6-17, 5-13

Top players Antonio Brown, 6-3, sr.; Dequan Browne, 6-1, jr.; Mike Bynum, 5-9, sr.; Joseph Hassell, 6-5, jr.; Dravon Poittilo, 6-4, sr.

Outlook The Braves have a leader in Bynum. Last season he averaged 15 points and five assists, and was second-team all-district. They also have another reliable scorer in Poittilo (12 ppg). If the Braves can get strong play from post players Brown (9 rpg) and Hassell (8pg, 3 bpg), then Indian River will be a force.

4. DEEP CREEK

Coach Leroy Ricks

Last season 21-6, 15-3

Top players Marcel Chesson, 6-2, sr.; Dylan Epps, 5-11, soph.; Caleb Henderson, 5-11, sr.

Outlook The Hornets won’t have Corey Law, the 2008 All-Tidewater Player of the Year, who graduated and is playing at High Point. They also won’t have forward Chris Evans, who transferred to Petersburg High. What Ricks does return is two experienced guards in Chesson (14 ppg, 3 apg) and Henderson. They will lead a young, inexperienced group that includes six sophomores. But Ricks is confident that they will be ready to make some noise by season’s end.

5. LAKELAND

Coach James Jones

Last season 14-8, 12-6

Top players David Barnes, 5-10, sr.; Dekese Cowling, 6-1, sr.; C.J. Grissom, 5-8, sr.; Tony Smith, 5-9, sr.; Justin Watson, 6-2, jr.

Outlook The Cavaliers will be very quick and deep at the guard spots. Leading the way are Smith (10 ppg) and Watson (9.6 ppg). Jones also likes Barnes, who missed much of last season because of injuries and academic problems. But he’s back this season and could become one of the best players in the district.

6. GREAT BRIDGE

Coach Gary Obenour

Last season 8-14, 5-13

Top players Brad Hudson, 6-2, soph.; Shane Popelka, 6-8, jr.; Carvin Powell, 6-3, sr.; Jerrell Spellman, 5-10, sr.; Briante Weber, 6-0, jr.

Outlook Great Bridge returns nine players, including several role players. Obenour will look to Popelka for rebounding. He’ll need Weber and Spellman to score. He’ll relay on Hudson and Powell to be defensive stoppers. If the Wildcats can avoid injuries, Obenour said he can’t see why his team shouldn’t advance to the region tournament.

7. HICKORY

Coach Shane Smith

Last season 10-12, 7-11

Top players Derek Danner, 6-1, sr.; Jordan Griggs, 6-1, sr.; Brian Jones, 5-11, sr.; Brett Pearman, 5-8, sr.

Outlook Smith said this is his “most athletic team in his five seasons.” He’ll rely heavily on Griggs, a four-year starter. Last season, Griggs averaged nearly 10 points a game, and “he’s one of the most athletic guards in the district,” Smith says. Scoring help should come from Jones, who scored in double figures 10 times last season. The Hawks have improved their victory total each of the last three seasons. This season’s goal is to make the region tournament for the first time in school history.

8. WESTERN BRANCH

Coach Mike Donovan

Last season 7-15, 4-14

Top players Chris Brittle, 6-1, sr.; Stefon Franklin, 6-2, jr.; Marcus Knowles, 5-10, sr.; Miles Martin, 6-0, sr.; Larry Wilson, 5-10, jr.

Outlook The Bruins will miss Lemar Ricks and Jarvis Green, who graduated. They accounted for 30 points a game. Donovan will have to search long and hard to replace them, but he’s encouraged by the talent still left on his team.

9. OSCAR SMITH

Coach LaVar Griffin

Last season 13-12, 10-8

Top players Gabriel Hamilton, 5-9, sr.; Devon Jernigan, 5-10, sr.; Phillip Sims, 6-3, jr.

Outlook It’s a rebuilding season, with only three players back from last season. The Tigers were hurt by several transfers, including all-district guard Marese Phelps who is now at Booker T. Washington. The Tigers will be very young, with only three seniors.

10. GRASSFIELD

Coach Andy Schwerzler Last season 0-22, 0-18

Top players Donovan Boyd, 5-11, sr.; Chris Campbell, 6-4, soph.; Rodney Grant, 6-2, sr.; Jordan McBride, 6-2, sr. Outlook The second-year Grizzlies are improving in many sports, but basketball has a ways to go. Last season, they lost all 22 games, but Schwerzler saw improvement. Hard work, confidence and stability will be success keys.

Larry Rubama, 757-446-2273 or larry.rubama@pilotonline.com