Photo 📷 Credit – Bill Gallimore

The Hill – For the second time inside of a week, Carroll County hosted both a Three Rivers District basketball game and a celebration. After the extra curricular activities of Senior Night for the Swim 🏊‍♂️ Teams, Cheerleaders and Boys Basketball players was completed, the Cavaliers wasted little time in dispatching the Cougars 73-32.

The victory, coupled with Floyd County edging Glenvar at the buzzer, allows the Cavaliers (18-1, 7-1 Three Rivers District) to hit the road for a three game stretch with a little wiggle room.

Isaiah Easter sat out the opening minutes as Head Coach Anthony Barnes started five of his six Seniors. Easter quickly made up for the lost time as the Junior finished with a game high 17 points. Ethan Richardson (15 points) and fellow Senior Bryce Smoot (11 points) joined the race to double figures on a night where all 12 played and 10 scored.

  Patrick County managed to slow 🐌 down the high octane Cavaliers for the opening half of the contest played in Stuart last month but that was not the case Thursday night. The Cougars remained close after the opening quarter at 17-10 but watched CCHS score 26 points in the second quarter to make it 43-18 at the break.

Easter scored nine of his points during the knockout round while Junior Big Man Trace Reavis scored all five of his points with a over the shoulder layup and a spot up 3-pointer. Cody Reece ( 8 points) shared time with both Reavis and the duo of Landon Puckett (4 points) and Jay Burnette (5 points).

The extended playing time for the entire roster had added value as the Cavaliers will be back in action 🎬 tomorrow night at Glenvar. That game will cap off a second straight three game week as the team looks to finish making up the games lost to the Winter storm.

The moment that quite possibly caused the loudest response from the energetic crowd came at 1:54 left in the contest. Reserve guard E.J. Conner sent the building into a frenzy by finding nothing but the bottom of the net with a 3-pointer. The night could not have played out any better for Head Coach Anthony Barnes, other than Kyle Bunn and Isaiah Leagans joining Conner in the scoring column.

“What an awesome way to spend Senior night, so proud of our guys and the way they played tonight,” said Barnes. ” In our pre-game talk I told them to come out with high intensity and set the tone of the game early and they done just that. We got into transition,  attached their zone , passed up a good shot for a better shot. Isaiah Easter continues to be in full stride on both ends of the floor as games leading scorer with 17. Ethan Richardson adds 15 and Bryce Smoot with  11. “

The Junior Varsity team opened the night in a similar fashion with a 63-29 victory over their counterparts. Blake Reed took home game high scoring honors with 18 points and the Sophomore was joined in double figures by Colton Gravley (13 points) and Hayden Jackson (11 points).

Friday night up I-81 will be about unfinished business for both teams as Glenvar ended the perfect season for the Varsity and the JV Highlanders sank 18 3-pointers in the lone lopsided defeat for the Cavaliers.

Sticking to his one day at a time approach, Barnes did reflect one more time on the Senior Night effort he received.

” Our bench guys really looked good together with combined with 18,” Barnes added. “I’m proud of effort top to bottom,  fun night on senior night and going into the Glenvar game really playing well on both ends. Told the guys to rest up, get plenty of fluids in and be ready for huge District match-up with Glenvar on the road. HOW ABOUT THEM. CAVS !”

How ’bout them Cavs, indeed !

Writing ✍ about the Junior Varsity Boys Basketball 🏀 is just fun for me and thats in part to the Coaches and how hard the roster plays ▶️ for Coach Stockner and Coach Largen.

Tonight when I walked into the Gymnasium I noticed that Dane Leonard was not in uniform. Dane told me that we was dealing with a bum ankle injury and would miss the game and possibly the next game at Glenvar.

My mind immediately went to Thor because before Dane changed his hair style even reminded me of the Marvel Super Hero. It helped that he plays the game of Basketball 🏀 in the same manner as the Hero, which is Fearless.

The next question I asked Thor was who was worthy of wielding his mighty Hammer 🔨 ?

Knowing that Hayden Jackson is Ironman in this story and Colton Gravley is Spider-Man 🕷, it begged to question what player would step up and play the role of Captain America ????

The answer became obvious, it was Blake Reed and he did it in style. Sadly, if you’re not a fan of the Marvel Universe then none of that will mean anything to you. If you fit into that category I will shorten it for you – Carroll County completed its season sweep of Patrick County tonight by a score of 63-29.

Reed scored seven of his points in one spurt near the end of the first half. Two steals ➕ an And 1 capped a 23-5 second quarter that made the halftime score 46-14. The remaining 14 minutes of action 🎬 was basically a stand still as the Cavaliers won the second half 17-15 as Coach was able to play his entire roster minus Thor and Will Motley who was also unavailable.

Coach Stockner checked in with his thoughts on the lopsided victory…

” Excellent team win tonight! I felt we came out flat defensively in the first quarter. We had given up 9 points and Patrick Co called a timeout so I challenged the guys to turn up their intensity. The result was 0 points for the rest of the first and only 5 for the entire second quarter that we surrendered to Patrick. That is domination on the defensive end. Offensively we were just as dominant as well, scoring 23 points in both the first AND second quarters. We took care of the ball and we shared it with our teammates. 11 of the 13 players scored. Very gratifying win. Tomorrow we have a rematch with Glenvar and I feel like we are ready. Go Cavs!”

Patrick County… 9   5.  10.  5 – 29

Carroll County….23 23  11  6 – 63

Our book 📖 is above and it shows that Captain America finished up with a game high 18 points, Spiderman added 13 and Ironman joined them in double figures with 11 points.

As Coach stated eight more players dented the scorebook and because I am not limited in space I can add the picture of the book so everyone can see their name!

54 miles until the Tennessee Welcome Center 🙏, Godwilling and there I will write ✍ the Varsity gamer…

Junior Varsity recap will take place at first Rest Area and the Varsity gamer at the Tennessee Welcome Center !

Our Cavaliers played ball with a purpose tonight and the JV game will include a Marvel Universe reference !

5:38 – 1st TO at 1:32, Cavs up 16-9!

5:55 pm – We have reached the break with a score of Carroll County 46, Patrick County 14.

6:16 – end of 3rd – Cavs 57 -24

7:05 – Will double back to fill in the gaps

7 :21 – End of 1st Quarter, Cavaliers 17 – 10…

7:35 – Halftime score, Carroll County 43-18…

7:58 – End of 3rd Quarter, Cavs 64-28!

8:10 – Final Score – Cavs 73 – 32…..

Stories to follow later….

Great Night 🌙 to be a Cavalier !!!