The William Byrd boys basketball team will be at Cave Spring tonight, weather permitting, to take on the Knights. The game was postponed from Wednesday when Roanoke County schools were closed due to weather.

This year the county has a new rule that sports teams can’t practice or play on days when school is closed due to weather. Although skies and roads were clear by noon Wednesday that policy forced postponement of Wednesday’s game, and it will be made up tonight at Cave Spring.

The Terriers come in with a 2-2 record after losing to Hidden Valley in Vinton Tuesday night, 58-44. Byrd got off to a slow start, scoring just two points in the second quarter and nine in the first half to fall behind 24-9 at intermission.

“We came out flat,” said coach Josh Cunningham. “I wasn’t happy with their effort in the first half.”

Cunningham, Byrd’s first year coach, let the team know he wasn’t happy with play in the lockerroom at halftime and the Terriers responded. However, they never did catch up and lost to the Titans for the second time in eight days.

“You can’t dig yourself a hole like that against a good team like Hidden Valley,” said Cunningham. “We played much better in the second half, but it was too late.”

Terrell Smith led the scoring for Byrd with 15 and Jaylen Wheeler had 14 points, five assists and a couple steals.

The Terriers picked up their first road win of the season last Friday in Salem, beating the Spartans 64-58. Byrd came out strong, outscoring Salem 20-7 in the first quarter, but Salem won the second quarter, 20-9, and the battle was on. Byrd led by two after three quarters and didn’t wilt down the stretch.

“We came out ready in this one, but then we let them get hope in the second quarter,” said Cunningham. “It was a tough game and it’s good to learn to win on the road.”

Wheeler had 20 points to lead the Terriers,  Smith had 16 and J.J. Seymore had 15 points.

Byrd will now have back-to-back games with Wednesday’s postponement. After Thursday’s game at Cave Spring the Terriers will be back home Friday to host Pulaski County. The Cougars are led by talented point guard C.C. Grubb, who is an excellent shooter.

“We’ll try to get some extra help on him when he has the ball,” said Cunningham.

After Friday Byrd is off for a week, returning to action December 22 to host Northside.