by Brian Hoffman
The Glenvar Highlanders are looking for bragging rights in the 24153 area code when they take on neighboring Salem in basketball next Monday. The Highlanders and Spartans will go head to head in girls’ basketball at Salem High and boys’ basketball at GHS.
Both Glenvar teams will open the season on Friday against Hidden Valley opponents, with the girls at Hidden Valley and the boys’ at home. The Glenvar boys’ team has just added players off the football team after the Highlanders fell in the region final last Friday.
The boys return five seniors and four played football, Gabe Ford, Ty Bolling, Elijah Carter and Avone Noel along with Lawson Simmons.
“Several of these guys started games or played good minutes for us last year,” said second year head coach Cliff Bordewisch. “We’ll be relying on them to lead the younger players.”
Junior Red Hutchison and freshman Brody Dawyot also played football and sophomore Aidan Hylton looks to contribute.
“The infusion of the younger players will be huge for us,” said Bordewisch. “Dawyot is a talented young man who will be ready to contribute day one.”
Glenvar had been practicing with two varsity players and five jayvees while the football season continued, and with just a week between seasons the Highlanders look to improve as the season progresses.
“My coaching goals in year two will be to continue to improve as a coach, staff and continue to build the culture of the program,” said Bordewisch. “The success of our team will ultimately be measured by how much we grow and improve as a team, but we definitely want to put ourselves in a position to advance in the postseason this year.”
The girls will be led by returning leading scorer Rhyan Harris, a senior. She’s a tremendous all-around athlete who has commited to Emory & Henry to play basketball in college.
Other returnees are McKenzie Harris and Kaelon Thompson. Also seeing time will be Jamie Forster, Atalee Strausbaugh, Leah McHahan and Zamiya Johnson.
“Our goal is to improve week to week and game by game and to be playing at Roanoke College for the Region Finals,” said coach Jeff Johnson.