Kris Richardson described it as our version of Carolina- Duke.

 Anthony Barnes said Welcome to Carroll – Galax!

Maps shows that the Schools are separated by 15 miles and the VHSL has them 2 levels apart. But let’s use the old sports cliche of when these two teams get together you should toss out the record books 📚.

 Carroll County is in the middle of a dream season and currently set atop the Three Rivers District standings. At this point in the season they are a better Basketball team then Galax but Coach Barnes knew he would get the Maroon Tides best punch.

 The atmosphere in the Gymnasium was great and it was wonderful to see so many folks on our side of the court floor. Because its a fun manner to write ✍ let’s use this column as a Top 10 List that made it a Great Night for our Cavalier Nation.

The10 Things that happened tonight that made me smile –

#10 – Our scholastic team made the trip as well and that group of hard working Students defeated their Host. We will have more on this here in a bit. Congratulations 👏

#9 – Colton Gravely, Hayden Jackson and Dane Leonard each finished in double figures to lead Jason Stockner’s team to a 💅 bighting 45-40 victory over their host. The group played well all night but had to hold on at the end. Gravely iced the game by sinking three of four free throws down the stretch.

#8 – The crowd from Carroll County that made the drive 🚗 across US-58 to support the team. Extra note 📝 on this one would be the number of players from both levels that were in the crowd. It was my first time seeing our Student section that large at a Road Game. Great atmospher, which I am hoping that we can double or triple up tonight when we host James River.

#7 – After the game our Partner in the coverage for the Boys 👦 program was able to recreate a team photo 📷 of our Boys when they were in the Third Grade.

Number 6

#6 – The level of defense we played from start to finish. We limited a talented ball club to 38 points across 32 minutes. Team defense and it led to instant offense. Isaiah Easter and Cody Reece had matching stuffs that could end up on a poster. Reece in the 1st quarter and Easter in the fourth. The nonstop energy of the Smoot Brothers was fun to watch and Jabin Talley always seems to be in the correct on that end of the floor.

Number 5 –

Davis Reitzel adding one more dunk to his total. Whenever this happens it fires 🔥 up his teammates.

Number #4 – I have been saying all season that the most dangerous thing about our team is that you can’t double team anyone because we can score from all five spots on the floor.

Number #3 – 4 x3 =12 for #20. When Ethan Richardson is in the Zone his 3-point shot is the definition of Silky Smooth. The release of the shot is the key 🔑 and he was as the Kids say, Feeling It.

Number #2 – Easter continues to step up his game and tonight was his best of the season. Our Super Soph collected 14 of his 18 points after the break. The lead was still in single digits in the third quarter when Easter dropped seven and for good measure he added seven more in the fourth, finishing up with 18 points !!!

And Now the #1 thing that me smile 😃 or as Scott Van Pelt says – The Best Thing I saw today:

Cody” Beast Mode ” Reece. Hopefully this will be a break out game for this hard working young man 👨.

 Still to come – Gamer for Varsity & report from Mrs. Dalton on the Academic side of the evening.