Marion – please text the stories to Cindy at a decent hour.
David Broyles – the ones I sent to you, I will happily answer any questions you may have after 2pm.
To get home 🏡 to the 🐄🐮🐄🐮🐄🐮s
As Kalee Bunn celebrated her Senior Day last weekend at Ferrum College, one of her cousins was in the crowd and as it turns out, Callie Harris will be replacing her kingolk on the Lady Panthers Volleyball roster next year.
Bunn is closing out an impressive four year run on the Ferrum campus. The class of 2022 graduate has kept busy from start to finish, combining Volleyball, education and working an internship.
Head Coach Shelbylynn Adair has enjoyed Bunn being on roster and was quick to point out the level of a person she has been coaching.
” Kalee’s impact on Ferrum Volleyball extends far beyond any stat sheet. Kalee sets the standard for hard work and discipline,” said Adair. ” Kalee has excelled in the classroom, on the court and in the community. She embodies our motto, not self but others. We are grateful Kalee and wish her the best of luck as she pursues her degree in teaching.”
Harris is the next in line in two regards as she is the third and final daughter of Marion and Sheila Harris to continue both her education and Athletic career at the collegiate level. Both of her older Sisters, Adrienne Harris McGuire and Natalie Harris attended Emory and Henry.
The larger pipeline involves Carroll County High School Volleyball Coach Cindy Edwards and current Assistant Coach Kayla Nester. Nester enjoyed a high level of success and there are some Basketball banners hanging in the Gymnasium as proof.
Edwards was on the staff of Rick Nester back in 2015 and the duo had three players land on Ferrum Mountain from the State Championship team. Cheyenne Strickland, Emily Cook and Tiffanie Moore each made the most of their time wearing the Panthers colors.
Lady Cavaliers crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway to attend Ferrum College ✔
Harris Sisters attending College and playing sports ✔
Carroll County High School graduates attending Ferrum College and then entering the profession of education ✔
Ferrum Volleyball is set to finish up their home matches Wednesday night and close out the season with a handful of road trips
Note 📝 to David – I know that you can’t run all of the pictures in the Newspaper but I trust your judgment !
Both Howard Mayo and Anthony Barnes are set to lead their programs on the hardwood floor at Carroll County High School. November 15th is set aside for Alumni action and to meet the current players. Today we take a closer look at the Coaches who will assist our two leaders this winter.
Starting on the Girls side, Mayo is set for year 2, take 2. The veteran Coach has found success in a number of stops over the decades and has returned to the place where it all started.
Consistency is a key 🔑 to success and Mayo welcomes back his Top four Coaches from last season. Kayla Nester returns as the lead Assistant for the Varsity and the teaching Trio of Halie Cushman, Brittany Luneherry and Chenoa Payne will team up to lead the Junior Varsity Girls.
Cushman will hold the title of Head Coach on the JV team but the three ladies are in this together. Again, having the players hearing the same voice is HUGE, especially when a program is in a rebuilding stage.
Mayo landed some Big names in regards to the Middle School Girls program ! The trio of Kris Richardson, Steve Martin and Lauren Alley have already began their eight week season this week.
Richardson made the transition from the Co-Pilot seat to Barnes to the other side of the isle this year. The new Head Coach will have a ton of Cavalier based knowledge sitting next to him as both Martin and Alley know the game well and played it at a very high level.
The amount of Basketball 🏀 knowledge involved with a Middle School ball team goes a long way in showing just how serious Carroll County is about Basketball !
While the rosters for the Varsity teams are still a work in progress, the Middle School ones are set as both teams have played two games this week.
On the Boys side, Barnes returns after a season in which his Cavaliers punched a ticket 🎟 to the State Tournament. While it will be his initial ride without his long time friend and Assistant Coach, Barnes operates under a next man up mindset.
Here’s the lineup as described by Coach Barnes :
Coaches this year is Stockner lead assistant, along with Jabin Talley and Cody Reece , both are going to be big help with being able to still play and demonstrating what we need too do, very thankful to have them ask to Coach and step up for the program, huge. Coach Phillips and Largen taking care of the jv, Coach Phillips played for T Jackson and has a great IQ for the game and knows the style of play I wanna do. Coach Largen, diehard Cavalier Coach, AAU, school basketball, baseball, football, plus juggling his young kids as well, very impressive.
Coach Brown comes from George Wythe , spent alot of time with group that won group A State last year, he is driven for success in the program as a whole, he will join me on my staff after middle school season. Alot of things in place for the future of Cavalier basketball for years to come, but this year some unfinished business with Isiah Easter and new cast of guys around him willing to battle and further cement the direction of the Boys Basketball program! I’m excited! Go Cavs !
Now that we have the names of the 16 coaches that are set to guide our six ball clubs into battle, its time to revisit the idea 💡 of holding a Boys Coaches versus Girls Coaches Charity Basketball game !
The combination of talent that would be on display would be historical ! Sure. We would need Nathan Jones nearby and CVS would run out of Aspirin but think of the 16 players and the match-ups.
Meet the Cavaliers on November 15th and know that they will be lead by some serious Basketball folks of high standards.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Last night 🌙 I literally wrote myself to sleep 💤, and I want to say Thank You 🙏 to both Coach Brown and the Queen 👸 of Halloween 🎃, Vickey Ritchie for helping me correct a goof in my Middle School Boys Basketball story.
Anytime that I am watching 👀 a game in person, I have a multitude of side stories in my brain 🧠. Last night I was watching Samantha Reed keeping the scorebook for Grant’s basketball game and I knew that her heart ❤ was divided because her other Boy was a mile away playing football. Blake, Grant and Mom 👩 were in the thought process which led to me inserting the wrong name.
There are still to stories to write ✍ from yesterday and I promise to get to them here in a bit. Lin has a Doctors appointment soon and the waiting room will provide time to pen 🖊 a story.
Yesterday, while it was probably too long for my 62 year old worn out self, it included some of my favorite people.
Have yourself a Blessed Day 🙌 and I will get caught up shortly!
Darian Brown looking over the shoulder of Grant Reed during first half action 🎬 on Thursday night – Photo Credit : Linda Carter
The Hill – Gibson Barr led the way with 15 points, including two free throws in overtime as Carroll County defeated visiting Blacksburg 40-38. The victory allows CCMS to end week one of the season with a mark of 1-1.
The most impressive part of the victory took place in the second half as the visiting Bruins closed the opening 12 minutes on a 14-0 run to take a 22-14 lead into the break.
The rookie Head Coach had challenged his squad and did it in a Lion King 🦁 type of way.
” I asked the kids during pregame, what animal is the king of the jungle? They replied “Lions”. This I asked is the lion the biggest, fastest, or strongest animal in the jungle and they answered no. I said exactly! Elephants are bigger, cheetahs are faster, and gorillas are stronger. BUT Lions have that killer mentality and they don’t back down from anyone. Every time we step on the court we will not be the biggest, strongest, or fastest but from now on we will be lions! I asked do I have any lions in here? They replied YES SIR!! I said let’s go show them and that’s exactly what my guys did. I’m proud of how they battled especially being put in a game like that this early in the season. I’m excited for what’s to come”
Blacksburg … 6 16. 9. 5. 2 – 38
Carroll County 4 10 14 8 4 – 40
The deficit grew to nine early in the third after Blacksburg connected twice from deep, sandwiched around a 3-pointer from Grant Reed. Carroll County closed the Gap on a 9-0 run to pull even at 28-28 but the Bruins closed the 3rd and opened the 4th with 3-pointers to create space.
The Bruins had 34 points with 5:28 remaining in the fourth quarter and finished overtime with 38. Quick math says that Brown’s defense surrendered just four points over the final 8+ minutes.
The defense intensified and it turned into instant offense on the other end of the floor. Trailing 36-28, Carroll County closed out regulation on an 8-0 run.
Jaxon Stanovick started the closeout with a put back basket and Barr scored the final six points. Sam Johnson found Barr with a nifty pass and the equalizer came after a Barr steal and drive to the basket 🧺.
Johnson was fouled early in OT and calmly sank both free throws and Barr closed out the scoring at 0:15.4 with the game winning free throws.
The road less traveled ! 