The significance of the Spike pictured above is it means that a few new people have stumbled across our 16 year old site. First things First, Welcome 🙏

  Any time it happens I try to do a quick reboot.

Our site is part of our Non-profit organization, OneofUs.Care. We are simply trying hard to give people hope and let them know that they’re not alone in the World.

  The number 1 thing about our site is everything on it must be 100% Positive. That in itself scares off anyone who wants to see people get blown out of the water 💧or do the actual blowing themselves. We are not trying to make people think that everything is just all peachy nor are we trying to create false hope, just spread Positively whenever we can.

Why isn’t my name on any of the 3 sites?

Because nothing I’m trying to do is about me. My efforts are my interpretation of what a God who has blessed me wants me to do.

Why are there so many emojies on these sites ?

They are my way to keep myself the correct amount of Humble. It’s easy to take ones self too seriously.

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Why are there 3 sites ?

One sight is for information about our efforts overall.

One sight is for ” Live stories ” that will always be 90% about the Community that we call home.

The third site is called the Laurel Fork Coconut 🥥 Telegraph and its designed for photos 📷 that stand alone, without needing a 500 word story attached with them.

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How do we decide where to focus our energy ?

Reading the Room is a huge part of my day to day life. Each Coach or each teacher has their own thought process. The goal is to create EQUALITY in every place imaginable.

Going to School is a challenge in this day and age. Raising a child is a challenge in this day and age. Shoot, buying groceries to feed your 👪 is a challenge…..

One of the groups that I tend to lean towards is the Junior Varsity teams in a given Sport. This is because they are easily dismissed as just the JV. Equally means equality.

Not everyone in School gets to be the High School Quarterback or voted Most Popular. So, while I will never have the privilege of teaching in a Classroom, I do my best to make as many people understand that they matter and that will lead me to what I call the Alyssa Ervin effect.

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Alyssa Ervin and Seth Greer

  When you are trying hard to create balance and not show favoritism in the slightest, certain people present a greater challenge.

The past few years I had to find a way to co-exist in a World 🌎 where Ervin was such a part of. I am a huge fan of both this impressive young Lady 👩 and her Family 👪.

  But raising the bar by writing ✍ about her more than I did would just have made my job harder. That was part of the reason for the trip to Kentucky when it was just her and no other Lady Cavaliers. It gave me an opportunity to write about her without pulling anything away from someone else.

Now let’s move forward to this year and Mr. Seth Greer. Seth and I have never had a conversation before but let me tell you a few things about the level of appreciation that I have for our Varsity Football 🏈 Coach.

  In just one season, I witnessed this Man do as much if not more for this Community than I can remember witnessing. The amount of Pride that Seth put back into this community is off the chsrts. I simply cannot be prouder of what this Leader has accomplished here on The Hill.

  Reading the Room tells me that Seth and I have a great deal in common. We want what’s best for our Youth and don’t need fanfare from it. In the same manner that I don’t put my name on my efforts, Seth isn’t looking for anyone to throw flowers at his feet. I can absolutely respect that so I stay out of his way and wear West Long Wrestling gear around town because I think West is one of us in wanting the same thing for our Students.

Please don’t mistake the fact that by respecting his space takes away from just how much Respect I have for the Man that he is and what he has done in a short period of time.

I will conclude this portion of the appreciation I have for Coach Greer by saying, I would love to buy you a slice of Pizza 🍕 if the window ever presented itself.

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Final One – If you are respectful of Seth Greer and his space, why is it different with Howard Mayo and the Girls Basketball program?

Let me start out by saying that my favorite Sports season at the High School level is the Spring. Not only is that when my true sport in Carroll County (Softball) takes place but there are 10 other teams fighting hard for attention and attendance. There are no heavyweights, just 11 coaches and 11 teams all trying hard to get people in their seats.

Howard Mayo is another Coach I have a great deal of respect for and I understand if it was up to him, he would like to just Coach his team and leave it at that.

My life as a human being on God’s earth is better because Rick Nester, Kevin Burress, Marion Harris, Ron Cochran and Velvet Leonard are in it. It’s just that simple.

Please note that I left Kris Richardson off that list because he stayed at school yesterday 15 minutes longer last night solely because he wanted to Win!

Take a look at that list of names and find the connections. Rick’s daughter-in-law Kayla is the assistant Coach. Marion’s daughter Callie, Velvet’s daughter Laynie-Jo and Hulk’s daughter Natalie team up with Ron’s granddaughter CC to be a part of the rebuilding project.

These people and their daughters and granddaughter simply matter to me to the point I cannot openly pull for them when others might be less inclined. I could go much further down the roster and list even more connections but I hope it is understandable at this point.

These three are just the opposite because they Coach the JV team and I am the Champion of All-Things Junior Varsity!

I am just getting to know them a bit but they are sharing heartfelt thoughts about their smaller than normal size roster.

Last night 🌙, Hulk mentioned to me that one of this dynamic trio is a recorded singer !!! We need two things from her- to come across the Boulevard to perform the National Anthem at one of our games and also it would help if she wanted to give Hulk and I singing lessons !!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and know that a background story like this only happens when we see that we have a few new guests.

History will show that on January 25th, 2025 Carroll County High School won a Boys Basketball game 72-49 over neighboring Galax. Those facts will now and always be undisputed but it was a watershed day for a number of reasons in the history of Cavalier Boys Basketball.

Starting the game one point shy of the All-Time scoring record held by Tee Jackson, Bryce Smoot needed just 13 seconds to find the bottom of the net and the crowd was ready to show its appreciation for both Jackson and Smoot in a mid court celebration.

  Now that we have covered The Basket, let’s turn to The Crowd. Athletic Director Kevin DeHaven might have had the Fire Marshall 🔥 on Speed Dial as the number of people in the building continued to grow. Historians might be able to talk about Glory Days where the Gym was packed and the upper bleachers were open but there’s no doubt that Saturday was the largest number of fans attending a Boys game in the regime of Barnes and Richardson.

  The game itself is just a sidebar to the afternoon. Carroll County (14-0) played a picture perfect first quarter. Following the record breaking basket, CCHS added another 28 points and in a blink of an eye the score was 30-10 and the quarter ended 30-12.

Fellow Senior,  Ethan Richardson scored eight of his game high 17 points during the stretch. By the time the game ended 10 of the Cavaliers scored atleast 3 points and the team was pulling hard for E J Conner and Landon Phillips to join the party.

Barnes will take the time one day to reflect back on Saturday afternoon but not yet. Coach knows that Kenny Rogers was right when he was singing about knowing when to hold them and knowing when to fold them. As great of a Day as it was on The Hill, there’s plenty more work to get to put in.

” Man what a fun and Exciting day to be a Cavalier.  Huge day for Bryce Smoot surpassing T Jackson record early in the contest vs rival Galax,” said Barnes. ”  I was very proud of our fast start and energy , being aggressive and putting up 30 in the first quarter,  the best start full throttle I think we have had all season.”

  Five years ago Barnes and Richardson set out on a journey. The first thing about Barnes you have to appreciate is the level of comfort he has with the partnership that is now in its ninth season. Borrowing once again from the Gambler, Barnes knows that you don’t count your winnings while sitting at the table, so the focus immediately shifts to Monday night up in the Highlands against the always tough Cougars.

“Placed two guys in double figures with Richardson 17, and (Isaiah) Easter with 12. Proud of the guys coming off the bench with combined 26 point being paced  by Jay Burnett with 7,” added Barnes. “These guys put in the hard work and push the starters in practice improving them and making the TEAM first and number 1.Great family team atmosphere and I am excited to see the next couple weeks with this group.  HOW ABOUT THEM CAVALIERS !”

  Prior to the Varsity team earning victory number 14, Jason Stockner and his Junior Varsity crew earned victory number 10 on the season with a convincing 76-24 victory over Galax.

The younger Cavaliers (10-3)  opened up with a 27-6 first quarter and never looked back. Hayden Jackson dropped 22 points and Blake Reed added 11 points on a day where all 14 played and 12 scored.

Carroll County returns to action 🎬 on Monday evening at Alleghany High School beginning at 5:30.

The Cavaliers had themselves a Day and it will prove to be one that should stand the test of time. But Barnes is hoping for so much more in his teams ” Last Dance”

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End story for Allen Worrell and The Carroll News.

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On a personal note 📝, the last two Home games have been fun for me as I had the opportunity to try and add my personal touch to the program.

  Thursday night 🌙 was a substitute role and Saturday happened because Josh was a kind soul. Know that the writing ✍ will continue, with fun stories for the Junior Varsity team and Gamers for Varsity.

Know that Allen Worrell will have an Awesome feature story on Bryce Smoot now holding the record in the coming days !

  Last one from yesterday, I still have some Photos 📷 from both Bill Gallimore and Mama Smoot to share and I will get that done ✔ before its time to go to Special Olympics Basketball 🏀.

Have yourself a Blessed Day and Thank You 🙏 for caring ❤