Photo 📷 credit to Greg Talley
What does Anthony Barnes battling right now ? Besides having to live in the long shadow that is the personality of Kris Richardson. That’s a burden that both Coach and I know all to well ! The Cool Kids would call this new dilemma a “Champagne 🍾 Problem”. The type of a problem that most folks are fortunate enough to ever experience.
Carroll County played its fourth game of the season on Saturday and for the fourth time Barnes coached his team to a complete undressing of the opposition. Playing a game with a large lead creates a different kind of “Problem”, with the issue being when do you take your foot of the accelerator ?
Last time out was at Fort Chiswell and the score was 56-15 at the break. Against Pulaski County the Cavs fell behind 9-3 and trailed until Jabin Talley tied the score at 16-16 with a 3-pointer. I have said all along that the strength of the team is two pronged, one being the textbook definition of unselfish and the other being their ability to have their stingy defense turn into instant offense under the guidance of Point Forward Davis Reitzel.
Once the Cavaliers made the correct adjustments to the PCHS pre-game adjustments it was another case of off to the races 🏁. The lead flexuaited in the 30 point range for most of the second half and feeling that the time was right to adjust his lineup, Barnes went deep into his rotation. PCHS, as they did earlier in the season turned up the intensity with their starters to make a game out of it. The Cougars actually cut the lead down to 70-56 with 3:00 remaining before the Cavs tightened up and held them scoreless until the final horn.
Having to decide how to play with a BIG lead everytime out is actually a problem most Coaches don’t have a great deal of experience with. Barnes is truly enjoying the “Problem” while it exists!
Back to unselfish – using the form of a old school Knock Knock joke.
The Boys Basketball team is unselfish when its comes to scoring!
How unselfish are they ?
They don’t care who scores the points, just care that the points get scored !
Last night 🌙 it was Ethan Richardson that took Center Stage and the Junior was more than up to the challenge. Richardson finished the night with a Lifetime high of 24 points.
When I confirmed that fact with Kris after the game the humorous answer was “Not even playing nerf hoops in his room unguarded “.
The serious answer –
” I was a very proud Dad, not from being surprised but because I’ve seen his potential for years. I just don’t think he’s ever believed in himself like we have.”
Need to have some more fun in looking at two of the baskets 🧺 Richardson played a role in that captures the essence of team first.
The one play that stood out the most was when Davis Reitzel through a length of the court pass to Bryce Smoot. Smoot went up to coral the pass and while still in the air threaded a perfect pass to a cutting Richardson for a lay up.
The second one requires some creative licensing – Reitzel goes up strong to the hoop and just before dunking the basketball 🏀 he noticed Richardson alone out by mid court. Changing his mind on the fly, Reitzel delivers the ball to Richardson by the way of the rim and then in an instant a pass is riffled to Bryce Smoot in the corner who drains a 3-pointer. Trading an easy two for three = Smart decisions 🤔
Want to sneak in a few thoughts before creating the Game Story that is needed.
A – This team is Fun
B – Bryce Smoot is so smooth that I think he could score 10 points without checking into the actual game.
C – Ethan looked silky smooth on all four of his 3-pointers.
D – Cody is continuing to develop his game at an impressive rate.
E – Kudos to Papa Reitzel. Anyone who is willing to multi-task (keeping the Cavs score book) while his Son is playing is unselfish !!
F – Isaiah Easter put in the work in the weight 💪room this off season and Wow did he change his body so that it matches his Basketball IQ
4-0 , and the train is just leaving the station 🚉 !! Next up will be a Game Story
A.S.P.N on The Hill 