Radford High School rallied in the second half to defeat Carroll County 47-34 in final game of the 2024 – 2025 season Friday night, ending the season for the Lady Cavaliers.
Head Coach Howard Mayo entered the twice delayed season finale with just six players healthy enough to face the Bobcats. Know that those six gave the veteran Coach everything he could ask for and more.
” I was tickled that we were leading at halftime tonight,” said Mayo. ” Especially when we were playing with just six players.”
Radford jumped to an early 9-2 lead and appeared on the cusp of a blowout victory when the Lady Cavaliers answered with an impressive 8-1 run 🏃♂️ of their own to pull within 10-9 at the end of the first quarter. Raylee Goins scored five of her seven points in the opening frame, including hitting on the first of four Cavalier 3-pointers.
Radford jumped out again to start the second quarter, scoring five quick points. Carroll County answered back for a second time, with quite possibly the best stretch of basketball played this season.
Trailing 15-9 with 7:00 minutes left in the half, Carroll County went on an 11-0 run that didn’t end until just before the break. CC Mitchell ( 9 points) gathered a pass from Natalie Burress for a lay-up and followed up with the first of her 3-pointers. Madison Coleman( 4 points) scored a basket 🧺 to give CCHS its first lead at 16-15.
Callie Harris (team high 10 points) added a hoop and Kenzie Young ( 4 points) closed out the stretch with a field goal of a perfectly designed inbound play to make it 20-15.
” We were playing a box 📦 and one during the second quarter,” added Mayo. ” We were doing a great job on both preventing penitration and blocking out on the rebounds. “
Harris connected on a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give Carroll County its final lead at 23-20. The third and final run for the Bobcats followed and the spurt was 10-0, giving the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. The total for the third quarter was 19-7 and that was the difference between victory and the 13 point setback.
Playing a game with almost as many players in street clothes as in uniform, one day after the official end of a long season, the Lady Cavaliers gave hope for the future.
” We gained a great deal of experience throughout the year,” added Mayo. ” We made strides in decision making and believing in ourselves offensively.”
Tonight could have been Senior Night 🌙 if the team was void of Seniors. Mayo will look to welcome back all 10 players in the Gymnasium tonight and build from there.
” I am thankful to have coached this dedicated group of young Ladies,” noted Mayo. ” It would have been easy for them to lose interest as the season went on but the heart and character that they showed me was amazing.”
Faith Clontz, Aaliyah Hampton, Laynie-Jo Leonard and Kenzie McMillian were the four Lady Cavaliers that played the roll of spectators and Cheerleaders for the night.
Radford 10 7 19 11 – 47
Carroll County 9 11 7 7 – 34
A.S.P.N on The Hill 