By : Homer McHomerson

Radford – Basketball 🏀 is a game of match ups and that proved to be the case Wednesday night in Radford where the JV Cavaliers couldn’t keep pace with the hard charging Bobcats, falling 61-33.

 Carroll County pulled within 10-8 Midway through the first quarter as four different Cavaliers scored two points. Just before the end of the frame the Bobcats scored three points and the run 🏃‍♂️ reached 14-4 over the remaining time in the first half.

 Revisiting the match-up issue, CCHS handled Floyd County twice only to have FCHS get the better of Radford a few nights later. CCHS played a close third quarter (13-10) before the Bobcats pulled away late to create the final margin of victory. Radford has the rare combination of height and speed.

 Nine different Cavaliers found their way into the scorebook, led by Colton Gravley with 9 points. Dane Leonard and Blake Reed both added five points each for Head Coach Jason Stockner.

Carroll County .. 8 4 10 11 – 33

 Radford High .. 13 14 13 21 – 66

Carroll County (33) – Gravely 9, Leonard 5, Reed 5, Jackson 3, Leagans 3, Collins 2, Bunn 2, Reece 2, Rakes 2.

Isaiah Easter at the Free Throw Line.

 3:25 was on the clock ⏰ when what felt like the 100th made 3-pointer by the Bobcats found the bottom of the net. Radford took the lead 55-52 on that swish and it completed their comeback.

 Down 3 points in a Gymnasium that hasn’t been kind to the Cavaliers over the decades, the Cavaliers decided to take a stand. A defensive stand for the Ages as Carroll County closed out the game on a stunning 9-0 run 🏃‍♂️ to secure a first ever 3rd victory over the Radford Bobcats and a Three Rivers District Crown 👑.

 Now you have the defensive side of the story, and wow what a story, let’s take a look at the 9 part of the 9-0 close out.

 It took exactly 10 seconds for the Man 👨 of the Night, Bryce Smoot, to come down the court and drill a game tying 3-pointer that would have made JJ Reddick and Steph Curry both blush.

2:08 – Isaiah Easter( 15 points) gave the Cavaliers the lead for good with an impressive cut ✂️ to the basket. The Sophomore capped another strong night with what proved to be the winning bucket.

 The game was so well played down the stretch that Radford had only committed one team foul in the fourth quarter until 17.3 seconds. The Bobcats committed four additional fouls over the next three seconds, sending Mr. Smoot to the free throw line where the Junior calmly sank all four of his charity shots.

Here’s what all took place tonight in the Bobcats Den.

1. Carroll County clinched the Top Spot in the Three Rivers District Championship
2. Carroll County won a game in a building that has been a haunted house 🏠 for the Cavaliers.
3. Junior Bryce Smoot crossed the sacred 1,000 point line.
4. The Cavalier defense clamped down on their hosts in an off the charts manner.
5. Smoot (27), Easter (15) and Reitzel (13) combined to score all but six of the teams points.
6. The Cavs experienced how to play in Clutch Time and the right time of the season.

  It’s a Great Day to be a Cavalier !