My week started with first spending a few hours with Brandi’s Dad 👨 and learning about his AAU connections to these young ladies. Later that same day I spent another block of time in the home 🏡 of Paul’s Daughter and Son-in-Law.
Seven hours of research in hopes of self-education on a subject that means a great deal to a large number of Carroll County residents, the Senior Class for Mark Motley’s 2022-2023 Lady Cavaliers.
From the first time I watched these young Ladies play it was clear to me that I was seeing something special. The question was an easy one, could I follow the story back to its origin point ?
Kris was kind enough to share so much of the back story about this group including us watching film of these Ladies as the Cool Kids say – Back in the Day.
While I won’t lay claim to knowing any of these six young Ladies on a personal basis I can only imagine that their actual IQ rivals their Basketball IQ. One of the questions put to Coach Motley in his post-game interview was Spotswood being the opponent a factor and Coach dismissed the notion by saying this team just wants to attack regardless of the opposition.
I think you can extend that thought process just a bit because their 10 year journey together is about to end. The old athletic joke about Father Time is undefeated comes into play here because we are now in the Final week of their time together ❤.
Tears are going to flow amongst this group when the inevitable happens, whether its Monday in Pulaski or Friday in Richmond. I almost feel bad for the opponent(s) that are going to try to break up this group ahead of schedule.
Liberty Christian Academy is the next team to try and derail the Cavaliers Express. There are no guarantees in Basketball and the Bulldogs are coming off consecutive impressive victories over Spotswood by 17 and Lord Botetourt tonight by 20.
They are a talented team but a 10 year bond is a tough one to break. Until Father Time has his way but seeing the combination of Heart and Anger these Ladies play with I’m not sure they will go quietly in to the night, even then.
Enjoy your weekend, catch your breath and get ready for Monday night 🌙. Just remember that this group has already been on an Amazing journey and were kind enough to take so many of us along for the ride. If one of the 3 remaining teams were to trip them up they still have accomplished oh so much already.
Also know that the journey ends next Friday and quite the journey it has been !
Spotswood won the opening tap but Carroll County poured in the games first 14 points to remove any doubt as to how the game would play out for the Cavaliers. Kalee Easter finished the night sharing game high honors with Spotswood’s Zoli Khalil as both Seniors netted 26 in the 87-52 contest that moved Carroll County within one victory of returning to Richmond and two wins from repeating as Class 3 State Champions.
The top two scorers played to a duel but the balance of Carroll County proved to be overwhelming. Alyssa Ervin finished with 22 points and was joined in double figures by Jaelyn Hagee (15) and Lauren Alley (11).
The score was 47-23 at the break but the Cavaliers found an offensive gear ⚙ that I’m not sure anyone else in the State is capable of. Alley scored 10 of her 11 in the third quarter which CCHS took 32-11. The score was 79-32 after three quarters leaving no doubt as to which team would advance to the Semi-final on Monday night.
Khalil finished her outstanding High School career with another impressive effort but just as it was in the regular season match-up, the lack of a second scoring threat did the Trailblazers in against the Cavs.
CCHS was once again supported by a very large crowd that not only filled up one side of the spacious Gym but also spilled over to the visitors side of the building.
The six seniors are now down to a maximum of two games remaining in their High School career that stretches back a full decade. I truly believe that the name on the other jersey is no longer an issue because their natural opponent at this point is Father Time.
The remaining opponent or two will be facing the same dilemma that all the others face – pick your poison. Tonight the Trailblazers focused on stuffing the middle and while they held Alley and Hagee to 7 first half points, Ervin and Easter had 34 at the break.
Nobody plays defense like these Cavaliers and they can score from anywhere on the floor. Two days off to enjoy the latest victory but then its on to a second contest against the LCA Bulldogs.
Brentsville District earned the right to make another post season run at Meridian with a comfortable 50-36 victory over Lakeland.
Meridian 49, Lafayette 26 (F)
Meridian vs Brentsville District for the second time in a week plus Carroll County vs Liberty Christian Academy for the second time in a month.
Welcome to Friday or in this case It’s Finally Friday ! Six days have passed since the Lady 👩 Cavaliers rolled past Lord Botetourt 72-42 in the final contest that this Amazing Senior Class will ever play in the Gym on the Hill.
The goal is simple, win three basketball 🏀 games in eight days and then Celebrate your accomplishments. Capturing a State Championship is a difficult task on its own so when you add the task of winning them Back to Back its truly a rarity.
If anyone can appreciate what it takes to win consecutive Class 3 State Championships it would be tonights opponent Spotswood.
Looking at this over the past five years you will see the two teams playing tonight in the gym at PCHS have captured three of the last four State Crowns 👑. Spotswood captured two straight and then have fallen in the Finals and Semi-final game while Carroll County has strung together three straight Region titles and are hoping to eliminate the Trailblazers for the second straight post season.
Tonight could be a little tricky for Head Coach Mark Motley and his group in that these two teams met last month in Lexington. The outcome was decided by the second quarter and the margin of victory was 30+. But that was last month and tonight they will do battle with one of the most successful High School Coaches in the State of Virginia and competing with arguably the top player in the State as well.
The tale of the tape, if this was a boxing match would appear to be fairly equal with one noticeable difference. Two top Coaches, two winning programs, two enthusiastic fan bases but the Cavaliers play a level of defense that can be borderline frightening to opponents. The other noticeable difference is that Carroll County can score from all five spots on the floor.
The goal of our site is to promote all things positive in the World 🌎 as a whole and in High School sports in particular so there won’t be any bold predictions or outlandish statements to be found here. Just take the time tonight to enjoy what is going to be a grand opportunity for a spotlight to be shined on Girls High School Hoops.
Being its only 6am and everyone has to stay productive for the next 12 hours, I will head back down to Greensboro now for Day 3 of the ACC Women’s Tournament. Wake Forrest and Louisville get things started followed by NC State versus Notre Dame.
Sadly I will miss the evening session when Duke and Virginia Tech make their debuts. Va Tech opens with Miami and Duke – UNC meet up just days after the Tar Heels cost the Blue Devils the regular season title by knocking off Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Tough night session to pass up on but as the Title says – All Roads Lead to Pulaski County. Pretty sure one can get there from Greensboro.
Be productive in your day and then enjoy what promises to be a great night of Basketball 🏀.
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No need to start a new post being I can just add to the bottom of the one from earlier.
Fanfest is up and going strong this morning as its open 2 hours before the first tipoff.
Day 3 is the day the Big Four play their first games and the ACC would have an impressive Fab Four if they all advance to Saturday afternoon.
Wake Forrest (Cinderella), NC State (Looking to 4peat)), Miami and North Carolina will each take their shot at busting up the Dream Foresome.
Wake gets first crack as the play for the third straight day in the 11am opener versus #4 Louisville.
Following the opener the Coliseum will be emptied ahead of the 2:00pm contest between #8 NCSU and #1 Notre Dame.
Louisville 20, Wake Forrest 8 after 1st…
I don’t think that the Cards will make the same mistakes that the Seminoles made yesterday afternoon once they lead the Deacons by 20.
Young Lady from Wenatchee, Washington is putting on a show with 21 points halfway through the 2nd quarter.
Cards need a TO after Wake scores 7 points in a hurry, lead down to 11 at 34-23
Wake scores the final eight points of the half while Louisville goes cold 🥶 from the field. Cards remain up 10 at 34-24 but the Deacs are still within striking distance. Halftime entertainment is Simon Says!
2ND HALF – Cards gets six points in the opening 68 seconds and Wake needs a TO (40-24).
13-2 run 🏃♂️ to start the 3rd for Cards
Cards 49-28 (4:53) 3rd…Wake showing signs of tired legs as the play for the third time in roughly 48 hours. The nice lady sitting behind me says there’s no excuse for being tired because their athletes.
Cards 53, Deacs 35 after Spears his a 3-pointer to end the third quarter.
70-40 with 4:40 remaining in the 4th
Both teams have pulled their starters so the only question left is the final score. Impressive 3 Day run for Wake Forrest. Louisville will await the winner of the Fighting Irish and the Wolfpack.
74-46 Final minute
74-48 Final at 12:50pm
70 minutes until Notre Dame – North Carolina State 🐺🦊🐺🦊🐺🦊🐺🦊🐺🦊
The dream of the Four Peat is over for NC State as the Fighting Irish hold on for a six point Win.
Louisville vs Notre Dame tomorrow afternoon and now its time to turn the focus towards getting to Pulaski County.
Taking a break from the Basketball action down in Greensboro I stopped by the Softball field to check in with the Dean of Cavalier Sports. I will state that I have no factorial information to back that Nester is the Senior member of all the current Coaches but in closing out of decade #4, I like my chances on it holding up.
Coach has always been generous with his time and tonight was no exception. Talking to the point that when it was time to drag the infield he was doing it in the dark.
Coach has his first scrimmage coming up on Tuesday and his team is facing more than a couple of challenges. Starting with the fact that the left side of his infield (3B,SS) is currently busy as they get ready for the State Quarterfinals tomorrow night in Pulaski. Lauren Alley and Kaylee Easter are 40% of the starting lineup for Coach Mark Motley’s Girls Basketball team as they look to defend their State Championship.
“I hope that are busy all the way up to the end” Nester said. “We play our first game the day after the State Championship game but its a great problem to have.”
Health concerns and waiting for Winter sports to officially end are just part of the Life of a Spring Time High School Coach. The Junior Varsity team played its first scrimmage on just the third day of practice down in Mt.Airy and will play their final one next week up in Tazewell.
Friday will be an off day for the program as Coach gave his team a choice of having the day off on Friday or Monday to ensure that the Girls can enjoy the upcoming Basketball game in Pulaski County.
A Friday night victory will have the basketball team playing again on Monday evening and then on Tuesday the Softball team will dawn their uniforms for the first time.
A.S.P.N on The Hill 