Pick 'em Week 12

Well, here we are at last. We've come to the end of the road for the CVAC as we have known it. Tonight marks the final night of competition in the league as it was originally conceived. The grand (but flawed) vision of some only lasted four years. But what a way to go out!

I have never been a fan of the CVAC. Since realignments are a four-year gig I made my peace with it so that I wouldn't lose my sanity. But I'm certainly not sorry to see it go away - or rather, to see Hickory leave it behind. I will discuss that further in another post.

But even I have to admit that the final night of CVAC competition offers up some very compelling matchups. There are three teams tied for first place, each with 9-1 overall records and 7-1 in the CVAC. Who will hold on tonight and clinch their share of the title?

Hibriten is one of the teams and the Panthers square off with archrival West Caldwell in the Black & Blue Game. Although I'm sure it will be fiercely fought the end result should be a victory for Hibriten by a large margin.

Newton-Conover looks to continue its recent domination of Bandys and thereby nail down its third CVAC co-championship. The Red Devils are rightly favored to win it but Bandys is certainly nobody's cupcake. If Newton phones it in the Devils can be beaten.

Fred T. Foard is playing for its first conference title since the early 1980s. They've got St. Stephens on tap tonight and the Indians have some motivation to pull off the upset. As previously discussed, if the Indians fall to the Tigers (and Hickory takes care of Bunker Hill) then the Red Tornadoes will finish ahead of Saint in the final standings and snatch that coveted automatic playoff berth away.

If Hickory finishes ahead of St. Stephens in the standings then Saint's historical win over the Red Tornadoes in September will be greatly diminished. Yes, the Indians ended a 15-year drought with the win but as the season has progressed the Red Tornadoes have improved - the Indians have not. Hickory beat Bandys and Maiden - the Indians did not. If Hickory finishes ahead of St. Stephens in the final standings then Hickory can legitimately claim to be the better team. The Indians don't want to face Hickory again in the playoffs. I can guarantee that one.

Bunker Hill at Hickory
Winner: Hickory

Bandys at Newton-Conover
Winner: Newton-Conover

Maiden at Patton
Winner: Maiden

St. Stephens at Fred T. Foard
Winner: Fred T. Foard

West Caldwell at Hibriten
Winner: Hibriten

Alexander Central at South Caldwell
Winner: South Caldwell

Freedom at East Burke
Winner: East Burke

Watauga at A.C. Reynolds
Winner: A.C. Reynolds