[bigsmooth]

the V.I.C. will split into divisions for basketball this year, with a recruit division, and a non-recruit division, which will make the league more competitive. too bad they can't do this for football, but their are only six schools in the football league since north cross will be taking a two year hiatus. No one want to play LCA anymore. the top private schools in virginia do not, and only a few public schools will play them as i know dan river will play the dawgs next year.

Raiders look to avoid LCA
By Robert Anderson
981-3123

Roanoke Catholic did it. Now North Cross might be following suit.

Beginning next fall, the Raiders will opt out of the Virginia Independent Conference for a two-year period in football by not playing a full VIC schedule, provided the league's governing body grants the move.

North Cross athletic director Donna Satterwhite said if the VIC approves, the Raiders will play the 2007-08 seasons as a "free-lance" Virginia Independent Schools member.

By not playing a full VIC football schedule, North Cross would not be eligible for the conference championship, but that might be a small concession since Liberty Christian Academy has won the last two VIS Division II state titles and has a 32-game winning streak. LCA defeated North Cross 55-6 this season.

North Cross coach Jim Muscaro said the move to leave the league has more to do with the direction LCA's program has taken than the Raiders' ability to be on equal footing with the rest of the VIC. The Raiders reached the VIS Division III championship game in 2004.

"LCA is at the point where I don't know if anybody in the league can compete with them," Muscaro said. "They've got one of the best teams I've seen."

Programs that are allowed to opt out of their conference are still eligible to qualify for the VIS playoffs during the two-year period.

Roanoke Catholic made the 2005 Division III playoffs as a "free-lance" team and is in good position for a playoff bid this year. The Celtics dropped all the VIC opponents off their 2005-06 schedules.

Unlike Catholic, however, North Cross plans to continue playing the other conference teams -- Virginia Episcopal, Hargrave, Covenant, Fishburne and Roanoke Catholic. The Raiders have replaced powerhouse St. Anne's-Belfield with Hampton Roads Academy for the next two years.

North Cross is 2-6 this year and finished 1-4 in the VIC with a 21-man roster. The Raiders close their season Friday at Roanoke Catholic.

The VIC boys' basketball standings also will have a new look this year.
The league has been divided into two divisions with Catholic, VES, LCA, Miller School, Holy Cross, Hargrave, and Carlisle on one side. The other division includes North Cross, Covenant, Eastern Mennonite, Fishburne, Grace Christian, Roanoke Valley Christian, Timberlake and Westover.

Muscaro, who also is North Cross' basketball coach, said the reasoning for the divisions is clear. Some schools openly recruit players, often from other countries, and consistently produce Division I talent.

"Basically what it came down to was the people that bring in basketball players and the ones that don't," he said.

Muscaro said there was little debate about which schools belonged in which division.

Schools will play each divisional member twice on a home-and-home basis and will not be required to play teams from the other division. North Cross and Roanoke Catholic will not play each other this season.

[LUconn]

man, I really don't know much about the VA highschool sports system, but it sounds like LCA can't do anything right. Too good to play with the independents, and plays by different rules than the publics.

[Purple Haize]

I can speak from confidence that the founder is pleased with this decision. It only makes sense. In basketball for instance, a team like Timberlake can put out a good squad year in and year out (wins over Amherst, Glass and Brookville) yet can not compete with teams who recruit players on a nightly basis. This gives "parity" to those schools who wish to recruit and run mini Prep teams and those who want a more "traditional" private high school sports experience. In football it really does become a safety issue. I have seen some of the LCA guys, and some of the "other" guys. People could get hurt!!!
As for LCA not doing anything right, you are correct. BUT they are doing what it is they want to do. Unfortunately for them, there are consequences for doing things the way they do them. IF they don't like the consequences then chnage the way you do things.