By ANTHONY STEVENS, anthony@virginiamediainc.com
LEBANON, Va., (June 17, 2026) – There’s no better time to prepare for basketball than camps in the summer. Baseball is over, so you can get on the hardwood. Seven teams were on hand for action on Wednesday and Thursday at the Mecca. Rural Retreat, Patrick Henry, Richlands, Tazewell, Holston, and Honaker joined the host team.
The Pioneers began adjusting to life without two-time Lebanon News Player of the Year Mike Recce.
“When we were getting beat up on the glass, I said we didn’t have Mike down there gobbling up rebounds,” Lebanon coach Scotty Boyd said. “He controlled the paint.”
It has been a busy summer for Lebanon. They played in Graham’s summer league, attended UVa-Wise team camp, and played at Eastside High School. They have played ten to twelve games.
“I’ve been very happy,” Boyd stated. “It’s been great for the young guys. Baseball made a great run and won a state title, so we’ve been missing a couple of our key guys. The young guys have gotten more development since they’ve had to be thrown in and play in some big spots. They’ve had to do a lot more without them here, so it’s been good for them.”
The Pioneers opened the camp with easy wins over Patrick Henry and Rural Retreat.
They faced a much stiffer test in the final game against Holston, coming from behind to win 59-55.
“We shot the ball well early,” Boyd said. “We wanted to be in a tough game like this and give the young guys a taste of it.”
The Cavs led most of the way. They will be a formidable opponent, with most of their roster returning, including four starters.
“Our objective here is to get better,” Holston coach Chad Bailey said. “Especially against a good Lebanon team. It was our second game, and I was afraid all the 3s Lebanon was going to hit would catch up with us. We were dragging; we just didn’t have the legs to play man defense. I’m awfully proud of these boys.”
It was a good test for the Pioneers.
“Holston is physical. They had a lot of size on us,” remarked Boyd. “We’re small right now without Layne Jessee. We miss him. I didn’t think Holston would be able to stay in the zone. We have a lot of shooters, but they stayed in it, controlled the glass, and outrebounded us most of the game. We were fortunate to make some shots late and win.”
Caden Glass goes to the hoop for Lebanon against the Cavaliers.
