Bryce Smoot led the Carroll County Cavaliers to the 2023-2024 Three Rivers District Championship in a contest that will stand the test of time. The Junior finished the 61-55 victory over Radford with 27 points, including 10 of the last 12 the Cavs scored in the game.

 The two teams met an extra time this season due to a pairing in the Fort Chiswell Holiday tournament back in December. CCHS rolled the Bobcats the first time around and then handled their business on The Hill but last night they had to play in a Gymnasium that has been a Haunted House for CCHS Boys basketball.

 Bryce entered the game with 986 points, crossing the 1,000 point threshold at 4:14 of the third quarter but he was just getting started. Cody Reece was on the receiving end of a touch pass from Smoot and converted the layup to give the Cavaliers a 49-43 lead as the third quarter ended. The final eight minutes will live in Cavalier lore for quite some time.

 Radford connected on four consecutive 3-pointers to open the final quarter with the final one giving the home team a 55-52 lead with 3:25 left in the contest. Each of the swished baskets came with a hand in the face so the Cavaliers tightened their defensive belt another knotch or two down the stretch. If your opponent can’t miss then all you can do is keep them from getting a clean look. CCHS outscored Radford 9-0 after the basket that gave them the late lead. Bryce came straight down the floor and tied the game at 55-55 by hitting his fifth of 3-pointer.

 Sophomore Isaiah Easter (15 points) put the team ahead with a strong cut to the basket with 2:08 remaining. Smoot would ice the dramatic victory by going four of four from the foul line. Head Coach Anthony Barnes knew going in just how difficult it is to defeat a good team three times in a six week window.

” Shew a dog fight and we knew possibly it could be that way,” said Barnes. “We struggled finishing at the rim first half , was real loose with ball 9 turnovers first half, they shot lights out , and definitely are playing better. “

Davis Reitzel was the third Cavalier to finish in double figures with 13 points. Eleven of the 13 were scored in the third quarter in a prelude to the Grand Finale.

“They did a great job keeping Davis in check , he got some huge rebounds near the end,” Barnes added. ”We still paced 3 guys in double figures, Easter 11, Reitzel 13. Bryce Smoot 27 pts for the night and reached his 1,000 a huge accomplishment for a junior, he made 4 huge free-throws at the end to seal the deal as well.They pushed us we stayed focused and uncontrol which is what I’m most proud of.God has blessed our TEAM kept them healthy and rewarding their hard work day in and out. GO CAVS !”

 The Cavaliers will not have long to bask in the glory of their defining moment in a season long Train ride of playing unselfish team basketball.

 Carroll County returns to action tonight when they travel over to Stuart to face Patrick County in their District finale. The team then returns to The Hill on Friday for a recently added tilt with Christiansburg. CCHS was in need of another game after the second contests with both Fort Chiswell and Galax were not able to be rescheduled.

______________________

This marks the end of the story for Allen Worrell. Now two questions for the Hoops Historians out there ????

 Is the dual Championships for the Boys 👦 and Girls a first ?

 There was speculation about the Cavaliers ever winning in the Bobcat Den prior to last night. Any thoughts on that one ???

It’s a great day to be a Cavalier !

 

Left to Right – Callie Harris, Journey Moore and Laiken Burnett.

Stuart – Patrick County Girls Basketball had the misfortune of having to face Carroll County twice inside of a week. Round 2 was at home which helped them for a brief period of time before the Cavaliers took care of business, 72-38.

Alyssa Ervin scored 29 points before the halftime buzzer and finished up with a game high 41 points before joining Head Coach Marc Motley on the bench. Ervin now sits at 1,898 heading into tomorrow nights game back on The Hill.

Patrick County strung together a few points early in the second quarter. The Cougars pulled within 20-15 at the Midway point of the second quarter before Ervin led the team on a 22-3 run to close out the half.

 Katie Lam (12 points) and Corrie Delp (11 points) joined Ervin in double figures.

Carroll County (18-3, 10-1) has clinched yet another Three Rivers District Championship and can now turn its attention to a post season run. After closing out their regular season Thursday night at home the next stop will be next week when the Cavaliers host the District Championship game versus the #2 seeded team.

Ervin with the jump ball versus James River.

Thank You to Marion & Shelia Harris!

➕

Thanks Mr.T !!

Still to come (12:55 am) – 2 Varsity Gamers

 By : Homer McHomerson

Radford – Basketball 🏀 is a game of match ups and that proved to be the case Wednesday night in Radford where the JV Cavaliers couldn’t keep pace with the hard charging Bobcats, falling 61-33.

 Carroll County pulled within 10-8 Midway through the first quarter as four different Cavaliers scored two points. Just before the end of the frame the Bobcats scored three points and the run 🏃‍♂️ reached 14-4 over the remaining time in the first half.

 Revisiting the match-up issue, CCHS handled Floyd County twice only to have FCHS get the better of Radford a few nights later. CCHS played a close third quarter (13-10) before the Bobcats pulled away late to create the final margin of victory. Radford has the rare combination of height and speed.

 Nine different Cavaliers found their way into the scorebook, led by Colton Gravley with 9 points. Dane Leonard and Blake Reed both added five points each for Head Coach Jason Stockner.

Carroll County .. 8 4 10 11 – 33

 Radford High .. 13 14 13 21 – 66

Carroll County (33) – Gravely 9, Leonard 5, Reed 5, Jackson 3, Leagans 3, Collins 2, Bunn 2, Reece 2, Rakes 2.

Isaiah Easter at the Free Throw Line.

 3:25 was on the clock ⏰ when what felt like the 100th made 3-pointer by the Bobcats found the bottom of the net. Radford took the lead 55-52 on that swish and it completed their comeback.

 Down 3 points in a Gymnasium that hasn’t been kind to the Cavaliers over the decades, the Cavaliers decided to take a stand. A defensive stand for the Ages as Carroll County closed out the game on a stunning 9-0 run 🏃‍♂️ to secure a first ever 3rd victory over the Radford Bobcats and a Three Rivers District Crown 👑.

 Now you have the defensive side of the story, and wow what a story, let’s take a look at the 9 part of the 9-0 close out.

 It took exactly 10 seconds for the Man 👨 of the Night, Bryce Smoot, to come down the court and drill a game tying 3-pointer that would have made JJ Reddick and Steph Curry both blush.

2:08 – Isaiah Easter( 15 points) gave the Cavaliers the lead for good with an impressive cut ✂️ to the basket. The Sophomore capped another strong night with what proved to be the winning bucket.

 The game was so well played down the stretch that Radford had only committed one team foul in the fourth quarter until 17.3 seconds. The Bobcats committed four additional fouls over the next three seconds, sending Mr. Smoot to the free throw line where the Junior calmly sank all four of his charity shots.

Here’s what all took place tonight in the Bobcats Den.

1. Carroll County clinched the Top Spot in the Three Rivers District Championship
2. Carroll County won a game in a building that has been a haunted house 🏠 for the Cavaliers.
3. Junior Bryce Smoot crossed the sacred 1,000 point line.
4. The Cavalier defense clamped down on their hosts in an off the charts manner.
5. Smoot (27), Easter (15) and Reitzel (13) combined to score all but six of the teams points.
6. The Cavs experienced how to play in Clutch Time and the right time of the season.

  It’s a Great Day to be a Cavalier !