No. 1 in preseason, Maury has dropped three of past four

Maury has struggled through the opening weeks.

The Commodores began the season as the top-ranked team in South Hampton Roads, but have lost three of their past four games.

To make matters worse, they've played two-plus games without star Jamal Ferguson, a Marquette commit who suffered a concussion late in the loss to Norcom last week.

But Maury coach Jack Baker likes his team's fight.

"I was very pleased with the way they played without him," he said. "It's a tough situation because we count so much on him."

Baker said he won't know until today if Ferguson will play against Wilson tonight or against Tallwood on Wednesday.

Eagles check in at No. 1

Landstown is the top-ranked team in South Hampton Roads for a second consecutive week.

"Our defense is ahead of our offense right now," Eagles coach Dwight Robinson said. "I'm pleased with where we are right now, but we still have a long way to go to be a good team."

The Eagles are 7-0 heading into tonight's game against Cox. Landstown then takes a break until Jan. 3, when it travels to Bayside to begin Beach District play.

Pilots off to a great start

Norview is off to one of its best starts ever at 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the Eastern District.

The Pilots have wins over perennial powers Booker T. Washington and Maury, which at the time was the top-ranked team in South Hampton Roads. The Pilots also beat Granby, which was then No. 3.

Norview has done it with a high-intense, up-tempo offense.

"We call it organized chaos," said Norview coach Jonathan Wilson. "It may seem like we're just running, but it's a structured up-tempo offense."

He got the idea from a coach's clinic in Las Vegas. The motto is simple: Wear the other team down.

"It's been successful for us this season," he said.

This week in boys hoops

The big game No. 2 Nansemond River at No. 5 Great Bridge, 7:30 tonight. Two of the top teams in South Hampton Roads meet in this Southeastern District showdown.

Hot hand Portsmouth Christian junior Rayshard Brown is averaging 27.7 points in his past three games, including a season-high 38 points against Hampton Christian.

On the move Norview is 6-0 with victories over then-top-ranked Maury and then-No. 3 Granby.