Dateline – Galax, Virginia
I try to stay away from doing deep dives prior to attending a game so that anything you see is just a pleasant surprise. It also helps prevent Cherry 🍒 picking if you will as I’m not looking to scout out the player that promises to be the next big thing.
Simply head into a gym, gridiron, soccer pitch or softball diamond and try to find the Good in something or someone 🤔.
Last Saturday I was at the State football Championship game between Galax and Riverheads in Salem. My wife and I attended the contest for two reasons with the first being MaxPreps did not have anyone signed up to report the game from the Galax perspective.
Once again the Galax team had worked its way to a State title game but once again they would be facing a team from Riverheads that is currently playing football at a historical level. The Gladiators would be looking for an astonishing 50th straight victory and the longest current winning streak in the Nation at any level.
We were going to get to say positive things about the efforts of Galax and also witness some High School history on the part of the Gladiators. I should add that every fan cheering for both teams earned an award 👏 for being dedicated enough to sit through the weather that day.
Fast forward to this past Monday night and when I was searching for a third Game of the Day and fortune would have the Maroon Tide hosting the squad from Narrows.
It was fitting that the first thing I noticed upon entering the gym was the picture above of the 2015 State Championship football team. That team holds the distinction of being the last team to defeat Riverheads, which was their opponent in the title game.
Most smaller High School students that are athletes play multiple sports and being that we were just two days removed from the end of the football season there was no way to know what crossover effect there would be on the home team by comparison to Narrows.
I normally try to capture a picture of the jump ball at any basketball 🏀 game I attend but you will notice a Photo of Galax just bringing the ball in from the sideline after shooting some free throws beforehand. It turns out that Narrows had been guilty of dunking the ball during warm-ups.
Both teams played hard from start to finish and the pace was highly entertaining 👏. It was clear that #23 for the visitors was a serious Hoopster and he was scoring at will early one from both behind the 3-point line and from within. But like all good Coaches do, Galax’s Chad Lipes made the necessary adjustments to score down the barrage and force another member of the Green Wave to defeat his team.
. While the crowd was somewhat limited in numbers on both sides they certainly made up for it in spirit and they even occasionally offered to assist the referees call the game. The roar of the crowd mixed in with the squeeking of the tennis shoes on the gym floor framed the two coaches ever so well. It was first time watching Lipes coach and I was in his gym so that’s where my focus was but I will add a note that the young man leading Narrows coached with a controlled intensity that was also enjoyable.
Lipes doesn’t have a Nike shoe contract nor a seven figure salary so it’s easy to know his Love for his team and his players is genuine and the way he led his young men was a credit to both him and the powers to be at Galax High School. His team ended up on the short end of the 58-51 final score that night but it wasn’t for lack of effort or energy.
I was impressed enough by his efforts and that of his team that I took the time to let him know that after the final horn sounded. Even his response was genuine when talking to a stranger after a tough loss.
If you find yourself with an extra $5 and you are in the picturesque Galax area on a game night you should stop by the gym for some entertainment and take a second to notice the Football picture in the lobby because its now part of history !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 