The Craig County basketball teams will play a jayvee-varsity tripleheader on Thursday at Roanoke Valley Christian School in Roanoke. The event will begin with a boys’ junior varsity game at 5 pm followed by a girls’ varsity game, then a boys’ varsity game at approximately 7:45 pm.
Weather permitting, it will be the season opener for the girls. Craig’s girls had three games postponed due to inclement weather last week. They were weathered out of a home game with Giles and road games at Glenvar and Faith Christian.
The boys postponed their game with Giles due to the length of the football season. They were weathered out of a game last Friday at home against Faith Christian and Monday of this week at James River. The boys did get a game in last Thursday, at home against Roanoke Valley Christian, and they dropped a 45-43 heartbreaker when the Eagles hit a layup at the buzzer.
“Football was very successful in 2025 but that put the basketball team a couple of weeks behind,” said coach Jim Fisher. “With the holidays and weather we only had two practices with everyone in attendance before we had to play our first game.”
With that said, the Rockets hung tough on the floor.
“We played extremely hard, but at times looked like a team with only two practices,” said Fisher. “We didn’t box out well and gave up too many offensive rebounds and second chance scoring opportunities. We had trouble scoring from the perimeter. We were 0-for-13 from the 3-point line and 7-for-20 from the free throw line. I don’t know that we actually hit a jump shot all night…from any distance.
“Roanoke Valley Christian had been practicing for a month and already played three games. They were just way ahead of us in some phases of the game.”
Caleb Cregger led the scoring for the Rockets with 14 points and also added 12 rebounds. Luke Potter had 13 points and four steals. Bentley Smith had eight points and eight rebounds and Marcus Donithan had six points and six rebounds.
“We get a rematch on Thursday,” said Fisher. “Hopefully, we play with the same energy, rebound better, and hit a few outside shots.”
Fisher takes over the head coaching reins from Ryan Frazier. Jimmy wears several hats at Craig County High this year as he’s also the football coach and athletic director. The football team set the bar high with a 10-2 season and Fisher is hoping that rubs off on the basketball team. He’ll be assisted by Roland Donithan and Jason Lucas.
“I haven’t coached basketball for 15 years, so I am leaning heavily on those two while I get back up to speed,” he said. “They are both outstanding and doing a great job.”
The Rockets have 13 boys on the varsity roster, including six returnees from last year and some promising newcomers. Luke Potter, Tristan Dooley and Carter Price all played a lot of minutes last season and Bentley Smith was also a contributor on varsity last season as a freshman.
“We expect to lean heavily on all four of those guys,” said Fisher. “Caleb Cregger is a big addition to this year’s team. He’s tall and is a big-time leaper. We don’t have a 6’4” or 6’6” guy but we have some length and height, several guys in the 6’0” to 6’3” range. Donithan, Smith, Cregger, Paxton, Price, Parker, Fields and Dunbar are all over 6’0”.
“I think we will have strong senior leadership from Luke Potter and Tristan Dooley. They have both played a lot of varsity minutes over the previous two or three seasons. They are both tough and physical. Luke will be one of the primary ball handlers and, probably, one of our best scorers. Tristan has a motor that never stops. He isn’t afraid to mix it up inside or get on the floor after a ball.”
Returnee Casey Hutchinson and first time player Isaiah Nichols are also seniors.
“Casey and Isaiah are both football players and team first guys,” said Fisher. “Casey played last season and as we are able to practice more, I look for him to carve out a role for himself. We need him to be able to give us some minutes and a lift off the bench. Isaiah has not played before but he is tough and lightning fast. He’s going to get better and better as the season goes.”
Fisher feels like the Rockets have a strong junior class.
“Marcus Donithan contributed on the varsity last season and has hit a growth spurt and grown several inches,” he said. “He played a lot of travel ball during the spring and summer and has really expanded his skillset. He’s a really unselfish player and always looking to pass, but we will need him to look to score a little more as he is one of our better shooters.
“Caleb Cregger was a great addition to the football team and I think he will be the same for the basketball team. He’s a slasher and a leaper. He can get to the rim and make things happen. He should be one of our top scorers and rebounders.
“Carter Price is the thick body in the middle and we look for him to be tough on defense and be a big rebounder for us. Noah Paxton took a year off from basketball but looks ready to contribute and be in the rotation on this squad. He can do a lot of different things for us.
“Joseph Parker moved up from JV and he gives us some more height. He just keeps growing. We are excited for him to keep developing. Matthew Via also moves up from JV and is fighting to find a niche for himself among the perimeter players. Peyton Fields hasn’t played basketball since 5th grade but he is another thick body and very athletic. He plays very physical. I see him playing more and more as we develop his skillset.”
Two sophomores are on the varsity, Bentley Smith and Bradyn Dunbar.
“Bentley played on varsity last year as a freshman and logged some valuable minutes,” said Fisher. “Dunbar was the best player on last year’s JV. Both are great athletes that can do a little bit of everything. They are both over 6’0” and can leap. They will both be in the rotation and play a lot of basketball this season. I think our rotation will be seven to eight deep to start the season but I look for some others to develop and join the rotation as the season progresses.”
Craig’s game that was scheduled for James River on Monday of this week has been rescheduled for this Friday in Buchanan. Next week the boys are at Staunton River on Monday, at Narrows on Thursday, December 18, and home to James River on the 19th.
The girls will host Glenvar next Monday followed by a home game with Narrows on Wednesday, December 17. They’ll play in the James River tournament on December 19 and 20.
