By Sports Editor Brian Hoffman
The William Byrd boys’ basketball team is off to a fast start after a slow start to the season. After
having their first three games postponed or cancelled due to the prolonged football season the Terriers
finally came out of the gate last week and posted two wins.
“I was thrilled,” said Byrd coach Brad Greenway. “I’m feeling lucky we’re 2-0. The players from the
football team had a half a practice Monday and only two more full practices before our first game, and the
way things are these days all the games mean something. It used to be if you win your district games they
were the ones that counted, but now every game counts so you can’t ease into the season. I feel like we’re in
a post-season mind set of ‘survive and advance’.”
The Terriers opened with a road game at Bassett last Thursday and took a 62-52 win. Byrd led by
just two points at the half but finished strong, outscoring the Bengals 12-4 in the fourth quarter.
The Terriers had balanced scoring with five players in double figures, led by Ty Blalock with 13
points. Isaiah Board and Luke Helton had 12 each, Hayden Eads had 11 and Drew Lindsay had 10. Blalock
also had 11 rebounds and four assists and Helton, playing in his first varsity game, had seven boards and
three assists. Luke is the only sophomore on the team, earning a spot in practice after starting the preseason
on the jayvee team.
Just 24 hours later the Terriers had their home opener and took a 66-61 win over Hidden Valley. The
Terriers trailed 35-34 at the half but outscored the Titans, 21-14, in the third quarter and held on for the win.
Byrd had four in double figures in this game, led by Blalock with 18. Eads had 13 points, seven
rebounds, four assists and three steals while Israel Hairston, fresh off a long football season, had 13 points
and five assists. Lindsay had 10 points.
The Terriers are back in action tonight with a home game against Christiansburg. This is somewhat
of a special game for Byrd coach Greenway, as Blue Demons’ coach Kevin Cox was a player when Brad
was an assistant coach at Christiansburg.
On Friday the Terriers will be home again to host Glenvar, and next week they have a home game
with Bassett on Tuesday and return the trip to Christiansburg a week from tonight.
