The William Byrd boys basketball team will take on George Wythe High in Saturday’s first game of seven in the Adam Ward Classic at Salem High School. Game time is 10 am.
It’s a tough draw for the Terriers, who play undefeated Northside at home for “Senior Night” on Friday. George Wythe comes in with a 16-2 overall record.
“The Adam Ward Classic is for a great cause and we’re happy to participate,” said Byrd coach Brad Greenway. “But I’d love not to play at 10 am after playing Northside the night before.”
Byrd is currently 10-9 after picking up two wins in the past week. Last Saturday in Moneta Byrd beat Staunton River, 54-36, as Israel Hairston scored 13 points and Grayson Webb pulled 12 rebounds.
On Tuesday the Terriers were in Rocky Mount to take on Franklin County and pulled out a 47-42 win. Byrd led 43-42 when Isaiah Board hit two free throws for a three point lead. The Terriers held on the other end and Jaiden Childress sank two more foul shots with 10 seconds left to ice the game. Board led the team with 15 points and Childress had a dozen.
“Isaiah(Board) played a great game for us,” said Greenway. “His defense on their point guard in the second half was a big factor in our win.”
Byrd will now close out the regular season with three tough games, beginning with the home game against Northside Friday, followed by the George Wythe game in Salem Saturday morning. The regular season wraps up with a trip to William Fleming on Tuesday of next week, and that’s the first game of a doubleheader with the girls. Tip-off time for the boys is 5:30 pm.
The Terriers game on Saturday is one of nine varsity games over two days at the Adam Ward Classic. Since 2016, Salem High School, the Western Virginia Basketball Officials Association, and the City of Salem have joined forces to honor the memory of Adam Ward by hosting a basketball classic in his honor. Adam was tragically killed on August 26, 2015, while working as a photojournalist for WDBJ-7. The 2007 Salem High School alumnus, who graduated from Virginia Tech in 2011, played football at Salem High School and was an avid fan and supporter of all types of athletic events his entire life.
“Adam Ward personified the true meaning of a student-athlete,” said Grant Smythers, Salem High School teacher and tournament co-founder. “He was a huge sports fan, who loved high school basketball, and the Adam Ward Basketball Classic will highlight some of the best teams in the state of Virginia each season.”
The event is being sponsored by various businesses and organizations throughout the Roanoke Valley and the majority of the proceeds from the event will go to the Adam Ward Scholarship Fund that is administered by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association. To date, the Adam Ward Classic has contributed over $80,000 dollars to the Adam Ward Scholarship Fund. In addition, the Adam Ward Classic Committee will be making donations to the Make a Wish Foundation and Special Olympics in Adam’s honor.
“The money generated from this event will provide scholarship opportunities for high school students who were deemed Adam-like during their high school careers,” Smythers said.
The Western Virginia Basketball Officials Association, which has been supporting charitable causes for decades, has been instrumental in making the event a success each year.
“This is a great way to honor Adam Ward’s memory, as well as all of the others who have been touched and affected by his passing,” said WVBOA Commissioner, Jerry Spangler. “I think Adam would be pleased we are doing this through the game of basketball.”
Tickets are $10 for each day of the classic for adults, $5 for ages 5-9 and kids under 5 are free. VHSL passes will not be honored for either day of this charitable event.
FRIDAY – FEBRUARY 3 – SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
6:00 p.m. Glenvar vs. Salem (Varsity Girls)
7:45 p.m. Glenvar vs. Salem (Varsity Boys)
SATURDAY – FEBRUARY 4 – SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
10:00 a.m. William Byrd vs. George Wythe (Boys)
11:45 a.m. Auburn vs. Narrows (Boys)
1:30 p.m. Carroll County vs. LCA (Girls)
3:15 p.m. William Fleming vs. Western Albemarle (Boys)
5:00 p.m. Cave Spring vs. LCA (Boys)
6:45 p.m. Northside vs. Radford (Boys)
8:00 p.m. Patrick Henry vs. Lord Botetourt (Boys)
