Photo 📷 Credit : Michelle Smoot
Fort Chiswell – Carroll County fought off a determined Pulaski County squad 50-46 Monday night in the Championship game of the Fort Chiswell Christmas tournament.
The victory allowed the Cavaliers (9-0) to defend their 2023-2024 Championship in addition to defeating PCHS for a third time this season.
The Varsity squad was not the only Cavalier unit to celebrate on Monday as the JV squad swept their way to a Championship as well by defeating the same three teams, Rural Retreat, Radford and finally Pulaski County.
While Carroll County was not able to deliver a knock out punch against the Cougars, they did lead from start to finish. Once again, Head Coach Anthony Barnes loved the effort that he received from his still undefeated team.
” What an awesome day to be a Cavalier, we go back to back and the Jv boys win for a sweep of the tournament, I told Coach Akers after the game if you didn’t get your moneys worth shame on ya, true physical gritty old fashioned (since I am lol ) high school game,” said Head Coach Anthony Barnes. ” We really started out of the gate with Cavalier train rolling and then we can’t buy a basket , had some foul trouble and were giving them multiple opportunities by not controlling the boards and securing the ball. Its tough to beat a team 3 times in a year on any level and you can’t give them multiple looks to score again and we did.”
The Championship game was a mirror image of the semifinals as the Cavaliers were facing a team intending to slow down the run and gun offense. The Cougars kept it close, cutting the lead down to a single possession late in the game but once again Bryce Smoot was straight Money 💰 from the Free Throw Line.
Bryce Smoot finished up with a team high 17 points after once again going four of four from the charity stripe with the game in the balance. Fellow Senior Cody Reece posted his second straight double – double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Junior Isaiah Easter joined Smoot and Reece in double figures with 11 points while Ethan Richardson rounded out the scoring with 7 points. While only four Cavaliers dented the scoring column, Barnes is still receiving quality minutes from a number of his players.
“Easter chipped in 11 and defensively they were very physical with him and he stayed focused and under control,” Barnes added. ” Again great minutes by (Landon) Puckett and(Trace) Reavis. I’m just full of emotions winning there,”
Winning at the Fort was the goal and thanks to some very gritty play and clutch Free Throws Carroll County went a collective 6-0 over the past four days. The Varsity team has managed to go a picture perfect 8-0 in the building over the past twelve months. If they keep this up for much longer The Fort might just become The Hill North.
Barnes continues to challenge his team and they continue to respond. The bonus being they are mixing in some blowouts with some nailbighters. The more one has to face pressure, the easier it becomes to deal with pressure.
” The last 2 games have been tough. We continue to fight and claw our way to have the opportunities to win, ” added Assistant Coach Kris Richardson. ” Fortunately, we have pulled a few wins off. Back to Back tournament championships are just the beginning of our goals. On to play Cave Spring on Saturday at the Chance Harmon Memorial at Floyd H.S.”
The team will have a few days to enjoy their Championship but they are well aware that the days of sneaking up on teams is a thing of the past. Opening the season with nine straight victories does not go unnoticed by many.
Blake Reed led the Junior Varsity team with 10 points as they avenged two losses early in the season to Pulaski County, defeating the Cougars 39-36 in their Championship game. Reed was just one of the younger Cavaliers to have a strong tournament as Colton Gravely, Hayden Jackson and Dane Leonard each took turns at leading the team for Head Coach Jason Stockner.
A.S.P.N on The Hill 