Radford – Carroll County High School was able to run 🏃♂️ with the homestanding Radford Bobcats (13-4) for the first 15 minutes before falling 55 – 41 on Tuesday night. Playing on back to back nights after a 17 day break is going to favor of the more athletic team and that was the group in the home locker room.
Isaiah Easter is closing in on the final stretch of his four year career and once again he led the way with 18 points. The difference between the match-up with Radford and some of the other games on the schedule is he was the lone Cavalier in double figures.
” Tough too go back to back against really good defensive teams, for years Radford always puts alot of pressure on the ball, forces you to be uncomfortable and forces you into mistakes,” said Head Coach Anthony Barnes.
“(unforced ) we turned the ball over 18 times, alot of them trying to secure rebounds which turned in to easy put backs for them . I felt like at times we were really heading on right track defensive stops, forced them into turnovers with a run midway in the third, close to cutting it to 5 , Then on a layup drive made by Easter was not counted and called in the floor , then several shots doesn’t fall or way, we miss easy put back couple layups and drives.”
The team did make one final late push at the start of the fourth quarter, pulling within eight at 49 – 41 with 3:30 left on the clock. But Radford slammed the door 🚪 closed with a 6-0 run to close out the night. Colton Gravley scored four of his six points during the final push before his night ended early due to an injury.
” We as a Team still struggle to score consistently which you seen that with them too also.(too many days out of the gym) Isaiah 18pts ,5 Reb, 2 assists and Game leading scorer earning every point he gets , alot of them in contact or free-throws after
contact and Trace has really stepped up 8pts ,6 rebounds 3 assitts.”
” Hopefully back in the gym today we can get a ton of shots in and back on track,” added Barnes.
Due to the large number of postponed games, Carroll County will now play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A day of rest on Sunday and then the final two contests on Tuesday and Wednesday to finish up the regular season. The latest rankings had Carroll County in the Top 8 in the Region but just inside the margin.
Carroll County 11 13 10 7 – 41
Easter 18, Reavis 8, Gravley 6, Motley 5, Reed 4.
Last year, after the six Seniors led the team to the State Tournament, the group moved on to College. Long time lead Assistant Coach and close friend, Kris Richardson crossed over to the Girls side of the Cavalier Hoops Tree 🌳 and Barnes was just named Coach of the Year in the greater Roanoke Valley.
Wow, it would have been the perfect time to pull a John Elway by riding off into the Sunset 🌇. Not our Coach Barnes, not the way he believes in our Youth. The choice to return for another season was the definition of unselfish.
Why write ✍ that now ? The team has now lost seven of eight games, going from 6-4 to the current 7 – 11. Five games in seven days and three of the opponents defeated us by double figures.
Chris Berman of ESPN has a great saying that nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills. There has never been a better time to be proud of who we are and everyone involved with the program needs to dig just a little deeper so we can Finish what we started and do it in a Cavalier Way !
Do it for the quartet of Seniors, do it for the Cheerleaders, do it for the name on the jersey or do it for the Coaches. Every player, Every parent, Every Coach, Every Fan, Every Alumni and yes, Everyone writing ✍ about the team – dig just a little bit deeper because after we ran over some folks for the past few years, ain’t nobody going to feel sorry for us.
Borrowing the money 💰 scene from the movie 🎥 about Marshall University, in my loudest voice, WE ARE….CARROLL COUNTY…
A.S.P.N on The Hill 