The Hill – Earlier this season Carroll County (17-1, 6-1) needed almost the entire 32 minutes and 35 points from Bryce Smoot to escape with a 12 point victory over Floyd County. Tuesday night they needed right at six minutes to reclaim first place in the Three Rivers District as they rolled to a lopsided 84-55 victory over the visiting Buffaloes.
The victory, coupled with Radford upsetting Glenvar 51-47, allowed the Cavaliers to flip flop the standings and with five league games remaining Head Coach Anthony Barnes has his team in control of their own destiny.
” Yesterday we went harder than we usually do before a game because I knew what was at stake on getting a win against Floyd,” said Barnes. ” We shot really well in practice and I knew if it happened in the game we would be just fine and we did. I usually share my thoughts with them before we come out to start. I let Ethan Richardson share what I said, you control tonight, you control what they can and can’t do. That this is our house! Do your job. Play team ball. Talk and box out(need to limit second shots better) play under control, stay under control. GET AFTER IT AND WIN.”
The opening spurt saw Reece lead the team to an unimaginable 23-4 lead by dropping nine of his 18 points during the run 🏃♂️. Floyd County ended the first quarter with a 3-pointer to trim the lead to 23-7 and with the advantage on the offensive glass there was hope of a comeback.
Floyd County answered back with a 7-0 spurt late in the second quarter to pull within 33-21 but that was as close as the visitors would get. Bryce Smoot(30 points) drilled a 3-pointer on the move and then added four more points at the close of the half to push the lead out to 41-23.
FCHS made one final run to pull within 46-32 but they had no answer to the Ethan Richardson portion of the show. While Isaiah Easter(15 points) played a solid game throughout, Richardson (16 points) chose to due the majority of his damage inside of 60 seconds.
The initial of the three consecutive 3-pointers was of the step back variety and the next two were both catch and shoots. The Cavaliers were firing 🔥 on all cylinders and a well coached team simply had no answer.
” I think the first quarter set the tone in our house, we had some foul trouble with Ethan and Cody, but Landon and Trace really shored us up, ” added Barnes. “Great TEAM WIN, four guys in double figures. The 3 3’s by Richardson sealed their fate. Held Farley and Harrington to 17 total , which I’m more proud of. Their destiny and fate is in front
of them. Reece train not even 100 % drops 18 on them. Isaiah peaking at the right time, 21-24 from free-throw line ! 84 %, man this is going to be fun to watch these next 10 days. HOW ABOUT THAT CAVALIER TRAIN !”
Carroll County JV opened the night 🌙 and needed overtime to claim at a 58-55 victory of their Floyd County counterparts. Colton Gravley (20 points) led a well balanced attack as the Sophomore was joined in double figures by Hayden Jackson (11 points), Blake Reed (10 points) and Dane Leonard (10 points).
Both teams will return to action 🎬 Thursday night when they welcome Patrick County to The Hill. The program will celebrate Senior Night in between games.
