Carroll County High School earns a Win for the ages, 73-70

Photo Credit : Bill Gallimore

Cody Reece lead a balanced attack with a career high 19 points as Carroll County stormed back late to edge Fort Chiswell 73-70 in non-district Basketball action Monday night.

CCHS (2-0) trailed by 10 points early in the fourth quarter after the Pioneers scored consecutive fast break baskets to push their lead out to 57-47.

Trailing by double figures late in a game and playing with a short bench against a rival on their home court appeared to be a deficit to big the overcome for Head Coach Anthony Barnes and Company.

Over the final six minutes the Cavaliers did not play perfect but they played hard. The energy on defense and unselfish play on offense started to pop, enough that the team was able to overcome 19 missed free throws on the night.

The sudden spurt was 26-10 until Fort Chiswell closed out the scoring with a last second 3-pointer to pull within 73-70. For the second straight game all five starters contributed and four of them finished the game in double figures.

Ethan Richardson connected three times from deep on his way to 18 points but it was his late game defense that allowed the Cavaliers to complete their comeback. Richardson produced his final steal with the score tied at 66-66 and then found Bryce Smoot with an outlet pass to put the Cavaliers ahead for good.

Bryce Smoot scored 10 of his 15 points in the final eight minutes of play. Switching from looking for a jump shot to driving to the basket triggered the strong finish.

” Where do I start, the best way is I can describe it is we were in an old west shoot out…got run back up 52 south then decided to gather things up and head back and start firing back”, said Coach Barnes after the final buzzer.

” We really struggled with shooting an our energy and desire just not like them , I challenged them to be tougher and keep fighting and take care of the basketball. Huge 4th quarter and ony 1 turnover the second half, Cody Reece has a double double with 19pts and 13 big time rebounds. “

Reece hit the ground running in the opening minute of the third quarter. The Senior opened the scoring with a layup, then added one of his three 3-pointers, a block and another basket. Reece added the basket that gave CCHS the lead 64-63, their first advantage since early at 16-13.

Isaiah Easter also finished with 15 points, including six of the nine the team managed in a frustrating second quarter. Easter and Brayden Smoot (6 points) were responsible for chasing down the shooters for the home team.

” Ethan Richardson still steps up with a phenomenal game scoring and being a leader on the floor, I know Brayden Smoot and Isiah Easter are slap wore out trying to contain Jackson and Sutphin, ” added Barnes. ” We gotta clean up some stuff defensively and finish at the rim better, I told them after the game we have a bulls eye on our back from last year and that’s fine, you learn more as players and coaches in a game like this, hats off too Coach Jackson, but we one the shootout tonight on the road.”

Hayden Jackson poured in 15 points to lead the Junior Varsity team to a 39-24 victory in the opening game. Head Coach Jason Stockner and his Cavaliers now stand at 1-1 on the season.

Both teams return to action 🎬 Wednesday night versus Christiansburg.