Instant Classic : Carroll County – Galax Boys lives up to the Hype and then some as the teams play to final horn 🎷.

Photo Credit : Beth Bouldin

The Hill – In the sports world 🌎 so much emphasis is placed on rivals and expectations, that often fans are left disappointed because the game itself simply cannot live up to the Hype.

Galax traveled the 14 miles across US-58 and that fact alone conjures up thoughts of Duke – UNC with their US-15 / US-501 showdowns over the years. While Carroll County was in week 2 of their season, the Maroon Tide players were making their season debuts.

The next extra sauce to the evening was the fact that CCMS Boys Head Coach Darian Brown might have been confused about which locke room before and after the opening game. Brown grew up on the other side of the tracks, having played the game with Galax across his chest.

Both sides of the bleachers were open and full of fans looking for an escape from their lives, creating an electric atmosphere from the opening tip.

With all of that said, it would be easy to dismiss the importance of an early season Middle School Basketball match-up but as Lee Corso would say, ” Not So Fast my friend.”

The Boys played first and the key 🔑 to the game would be the Galax Bigs versus the scrappy team defense played by the Cavaliers. Round one went the way of the visitors as Galax erased a 3-0 deficit into an 11-7 advantage after the opening six minutes.

Grant Reed netted four of his seven points in the frame to keep the Cavaliers close.

Not sure what message Brown gave to the team after the opening quarter but the defense played a six minutes that could make Baseball coach Casey Burcham smile. Carroll County flirted with pitching a shut out in the second quarter before finally winning the stretch 7-1.

The defense created a 14-12 lead at the break but it was the offense that flirted with turning the game into a runaway victory in the second half. Remington Millaway jump started the run with an end to end basket 🧺 and then the Human Spark Plug found Sam Johnson for a 3-pointer.

Millaway added his own 3-pointer and Jaxon Stanovcak scored two of his six points on a follow-up bucket to push the Cavalier lead to 26-12. Quick math shows a 22-1 run 🏃‍♂️for Carroll County.

Galax answered with the final four pints in the third quarter and the duo of Jordan Hanks ( 13 points) and Zek McKinney ( 9 points ) kicked into gear for the Maroon Tide. McKinney stuck a turnaround jumper to give Galax a 27-26 lead with 3:00 remaining.

Five straight empty possessions ended when Reed calmly sank a 3-pointer to put CCMS ahead with 1:40 on the clock ⏰. Hanks quickly tied the game at 29-29. Johnson sank one of two free throws before Hanks drained another turnaround jumper to set up the dramatic finish.

Millaway made the play of the game, teaming up with Stanovick on a give and go to put Carroll County ahead 32-31 with 0:25 left on the clock.

Galax would get two good looks at the game winning basket but it wasn’t meant to be for the visitors. After the game that had a little of everything, Brown reflected on what the night meant to both him and his counterpart.

‘ This rival game was everything you’d hope it’d be. I remember being in high school(galax) and looking forward to the Carroll game. It was always a dog fight and could go either way! I’m glad to see nothings changed and I’m sure the fans feel the same way. This game was special for Galax coach Jack Guynn and I because we coach a lot of these guys together during the summer.

I made it clear to my guys we could be friends after the game but for four quarters we were going to compete! Our main focus this week has been to start the second half better than our first two games and that’s exactly what we did. We came out and made a run but galax didn’t back down, but that’s expected in a rival game. I’m so proud of how my kids stepped up in the final minutes of the game. There were a few lead changes at the end but our guys didn’t run away from the moment. Galax had a chance at the buzzer and it felt like the shot was in slow motion! Once the shot missed and we secured the rebound, coach Reitzel and I could finally breathe. I never saw myself wearing Cavalier colors but I love these guys and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Galax … 11. 1. 4. 15 – 31

CCMS … 4. 7. 12. 6 – 32

GALAX – Hanks 13, McKinney 9, Boyles 3, Lawrence 3, Lunsford 2, Long 1

CCMS – Johnson 10, Millaway 7, Stanovick 6, Reed 5, Barr 3, Jackson 1

Here’s a Fact : Darian Brown and Kris Richardson can coach Basketball 🏀 games at a faster pace than I can write ✍ about them ! Our duo coached a combined 12 games in a six day span!!

Carroll County Middle School 🏫 Basketball captured the Consolation crown 👑 in Wytheville on Saturday.

Carroll County Middle School Basketball 🏀 went a combined 3-3 Saturday in Wytheville, Virginia and both squads dive back to The Hill with something to show for their efforts.

Coach Brown and the Boys team dropped their opener, sending the Cavaliers into the consolation bracket. The team responded with consecutive wins to finish atop their bracket.

Thanks to the efforts of Mrs Beth Bouldin we have a running blog of the day a few posts 📫 back.

Coach Brown has sent in some numbers as well so we can build on the coverage.

Congratulations 👏👏👏 on the effort !

On the Girls side, Coach Richardson and his team also dropped their opener to send them to the consolation bracket.

The second game of the day was a back and forth showdown with Rural Retreat. The Lady 👩 Cavaliers came up a mere three points short but they would break into the Win column for the first time on the season in the final game of the event.

More to follow !!

Beth Bouldin takes us live in Wytheville, Virginia as the Middle School Girls and Boys Basketball 🏀 teams are set to compete SIX times today ! We will be adding to this as long as possible !!

From Beth :

Good morning from George Wythe High School, it’s tournament day! The Lady Cavaliers are warming up and tip-off at 8am, the boys have arrived and should play at 9am.

Have an awesome day Cavaliers, let’s go ballin!

🏀💙🩶🤍🏀

Half time, 4-17, Lady Maroons coming in strong with the lead.

Final for Lady Cavs Game 1: 8-36 Lady Maroons

And the boys are off! Let’s go Cavs! 💙🩶🤍

Halftime 18-14, Maroons lead by 4 after a hard battle back by the Cavaliers to close the score gap.

Final for Boys Game 1: 28-23, MaroonsWe’ll be back in action after noon!

Boys tip off Game 2 in 5 minutes to battle with the fellas from Rural Retreat. Let’s go!

Boys Game 2 has begun! Lady Cavs hanging out courtside in support.

Final for Boys Game 2: 34-28 Cavaliers
All Cavalier boys saw court time in game 2
Way to get the hustle boys, stay strong!

Meanwhile, here in Durham, opening jump !!

Lady Cavs game 2 in progress over in the main gym, tied up at 3-3 in the first half with the Lady Indians.

Halftime for the Ladies, 5-6 Lady Indians lead by 1.

Girls fall a second time but play a much more competitive game!

Each team has one more game to play.

__________________________________

Game 3 begins in 3 minutes, wrapping up the long day with a face-off with the Fort Chiswell Pioneers.

The ladies are playing their final game in the auxiliary gym next door. Hope to have an update on that later.

Go Cavs, Go! 💙🩶🤍

22-18 at the half for the boys, Cavaliers pushing hard to hold that lead!

Over in the auxiliary gym, the Lady Cavs are in the second half of their 3rd game of the day, rolling past Auburn and adding another basket to make it 29-4. Hold tight Ladies!!

Cavalier boys playing serious defense, holding the lead 37-28, 4:19 left in the contest.

Boys win Game 3 43-34 with Sam Johnson posting the final point to seal it up.

Girls win Game 3 37-11

Way to close it out Cavaliers!

THANKS to Beth Bouldin !!!!!
💙🏀🩶🏀🤍

Breaking News from the rare sit down interview with Kris Richardson : The life of a Middle School Athletic Director hijacked our conversation..

Thursday afternoon, before the Basketball 🏀 doubleheader against Galax Middle School 🏫, I had the rare opportunity to break bread 🍞 with Kris Richardson. The highlight of the 75 minutes came when we were discussing the efforts of Mrs Kayla Nester.

First things first, Kayla has a really nice Mother-in-law, terrific parents in Scotty and Patti Goins and loving & supportive Husband. Three neat little ones that are the love of her life ! Neat little Sister too.

My unofficial job here is to seek out the people who are going above and beyond for others. Identify them, applaud them and assist them in way that I have the means to do.

I am a HUGE fan of Kayla Nester as she is a younger version of Brandi Cochran Mitchell. Basketball in College, raced back to The Hill to set up shop, raise a family 👪 and help others. Priceless !

My concern for Kayla is that she might be going at a pace too fast to maintain. That’s when Kris shared his take on what it is like to have her as an Athletic Director.

” Attention to detail, constant communication and understanding what her role is as AD. Couldn’t ask for a better situation as a Head Coach.”

Teacher, Mother of 3, Wife, Big Sister, Daughter, Assistant Coach for Varsity Volleyball 🏐 and Basketball 🏀, Middle School 🏫 Athletic Director are just some of the tasks that this young Lady 👩 is currently working on !

#RoleModel

Keep up the Amazing work Ma’am and know that wee see you and appreciate your love for Carroll County !

Notes 📝

Yes – that was an intentional dig at our friend, Rick Nester by omitting his name.

NO – I did NOT call Brandi Old, just older than Kayla!

Last Night vs Galax Middle School 🏫 Basketball 🏀 : The Building of a Story, one piece at a time!

Both the Boys 👦 and Girls 👧 teams are in the middle of playing six games inside of five days so its a challenge to gather everything one needs to create two game stories.

Information is needed from a number of sources and everyone is doing well to keep moving forward. Over the next few hours we will gather up information and pictures to create a story that will match the efforts put forth last night 🌙.

Let’s start with the Box Scores :

Boys Basketball 🏀 :

Carroll County 32, Galax 31

Galax… 11. 1. 4. 15 – 31

CCMS… 7. 7 12 6 – 32

Johnson 10, Millaway 7, Stanovick 6, Reed 5, Barr 3, Jackson 1

______________________

Girls Basketball 🏀

Galax 21, Carroll County 18

Galax … 7 5. 6 3 – 21

CCMS … 4. 4. 6. 4 – 18

McGhee 7, Cushman 6, Dalton 5

_______________________

Next up – pictures from Beth Bouldin and the thoughts from both Carroll County coaches ➕ building a story around all of it. Stay Tuned..

Next thing to add to the mix is the thoughts of Kris Richardson :

” Things didn’t end the way we wanted it to last night. Our team continues to play extremely hard, but we just can’t get the basketball in the goal. Our hard work will pay off soon. We continue to improve daily, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”