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THE VIRGINIA
MOUNTAINEER |
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On-Line Edition |
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Buchanan County's
Family Newspaper Since 1922 |
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Thursday, December 7,
2006 |
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sports-page
2-online
edition |
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Members
of the Grundy Lady Wave
Basketball team for the
2006-07 season are (from left),
kneeling: Samantha Jones (#10),
Kasey Bowman (#12), Courtney
Hibbitts (#24), AShley Riley
(#30) and Tiffany Riley (#14);
standing: Somer Stiltner (#42),
Sarah Davis (#20), Katlin Riley
(#52), Alex Stiltner (#44),
Sabrina Lester (#50) and Sara
Bush (#32). Not pictured is
Samantha Rice (#22).
(Staff photo/Mike Stiltner.) |
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Lady
Wave
Returns
Two
Starters
and a
Promising
Cast of
Talented
Newcomers
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by Lloyd
Combs
Sports
Reporter
Finding
replacements
for
four
of
your
top
six
players
is
hardly
an
ideal
situation.
But,
says
Grundy
girls
basketball
coach
Bill
Christian,
his
two
returnees
can
help
create
one.
The
Lady
Wave
lost
Elizabeth
Lindsay,
Ashley
Cook
and
Allison
Fletcher
to
graduation
and
also
loses
Brooke
Shepherd,
who
transferred
back
to
Virginia
High.
Christian
has,
however,
senior
Samantha
Rice
(5-9),
one
of
the
most
underrated
posts
in
the
region,
and
sophomore
Kaitlin
Riley
(5-10),
who
attracted
the
attention
of
college
scouts
for
her
outstanding
floor
play
as
a
freshman.
The
rest
of
the
Lady
Wave
cast
offers
talent,
but
little
experience,
but
Rice
and
Riley,
adds
Christian,
are
ideal
players
to
build
around.
“We’ll
build
around
those
two,”
Christian
says.
“They’re
really
good
at
supporting
our
young
kids.
They’re
model
players.
They’re
what
every
coach
wants,
kids
that
are
talented
and
work
hard
and
take
care
of
their
(teammates).
“I
think
Samantha
Rice
and
Kaitlin
Riley
are
two
of
the
best
kids
in
this
area.
Kaitlin
Riley
knows
how
to
play.
She
could
be
your
point
guard
or
she
could
be
your
center.
She’ll
do
anything
you
want
her
to
do.
Samantha
Rice
is
as
tough
as
anybody
in
the
post.
She’s
the
most
stable
player
I
have.
I
have
high
expectations
for
her
and
Kaitlin.”
Four
returning
lettermen
and
at
least
a
couple
of
newcomers
are
vying
to
fill
key
roles
for
the
Lady
Wave.
The
newcomers
include
three
freshmen
and
a
like
number
of
sophomores.
For more of the
story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at
newsstands now. For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer,
call 276-935-2123 today.
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Rebs
Open
Season
2-0 With
Wins Over
Pocy, Mt.
Mission |
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by Lloyd
Combs
Sports
Reporter
Hurley,
which
won
just
three
games
a
year
ago,
is
off
to a
fast
start
in
the
2006-07
season.
The
Rebels
have
won
their
first
two
games,
both
at
home,
starting
with
an
80-57
win
over
Pocahontas
on
Wednesday
and a
59-53
victory
over
Mountain
Mission
on
Friday.
Eric
May
scored
29
points
and
the
Hurley
defense
forced
28
turnovers,
including
18 in
the
second
half
when
the
Rebels
used
scoring
runs
of
eight,
nine
and
ten
points,
respectively,
to
put
the
game
out
of
reach.
“We
were
nervous
and
made
some
stupid
turnovers
early,”
first-year
Hurley
coach
Mark
Cooper
said.
“We
did a
better
job
second
half
making
the
extra
pass
on
offense
and
we
(switched
to) a
1-3-1
match-up
zone
defensively,
and
it
paid
off.”
Depth
also
paid
off
for
the
Rebels.
May
and
Nathan
Justus
sparked
a
10-0
run
to
build
a
56-38
lead
late
in
the
third
quarter.
May,
Justus,
Josh
Childress,
Shane
Slone
and
Scotty
Hurley
all
contributed
to a
17-3
run
that
gave
Hurley
a
78-53
advantage
late
in
the
game.
For more of the
story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at
newsstands now. For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer,
call 276-935-2123 today.
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Honaker
Drops Opener to Casltewood, 80-55 |
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by
Lloyd
Combs
Sports
Reporter
Castlewood
turned
a
close
game
in
the
first
half
into
a
25-point
win,
80-55,
over
Russell
County
rival
Honaker,
Friday
night
at
Castlewood.
Four
players
scored
15 or
more
points
for
the
Blue
Devils,
who
outscored
the
Tigers
21-10
in
the
third
quarter
to
extend
a
41-34
halftime
lead
into
a
62-44
advantage.
Junior
Chris
Smith
hit
five
of
six
three-point
tries
and
scored
a
game-high
25
points
for
Castlewood.
Junior
point
guard
Patrick
Fisher
was
added
a
double-double
with
16
points
and
10
assists.
The
Blue
Devils
got
15
points
and
three
steals
from
6-foot-5
post
Brad
McReynolds
and
15
points
and
six
rebounds
from
6-4
senior
Drew
Justice.
Matthew
Shortridge
hit
five
three-pointers
and
scored
21
points
to
lead
Honaker.
Justin
Hall
(9)
and
Michael
Tiller
(8)
combined
for
17
points
for
the
Tigers.
Honaker
will
play
in
the
Virginia
High
tournament
in
Bristol
Dec.
14-16.
For more of the
story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at
newsstands now. For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer,
call 276-935-2123 today.
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Haysi
Splits
Games in
Kiwanis
Invitational;
Falls at
Buzzer in
Championship
Finals |
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by
Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
Jelane
Mock shot Haysi into the finals,
but Evan
Vanover shot the Tigers out of the
championship.
Vanover hit his final five
shots, including a 15-foot
runner at the buzzer, to lift
Clintwood to a 56-54 win
over Haysi in the finals of the
Kiwanis Invitational
late Saturday night at Clinchco
Elementary School.
Mock's 15 second-half
points helped the Tigers reach
the finals with a 49-35 win over
BDD rival Council in
a first-round game on Thursday.
Vanover scored a game-high
31 points Saturday,
including 10 points in the fourth
quarter. Four
players scored in double figures
for Haysi in a game
in which there were six ties and
eight lead changes in
the second half alone.
Nathan Boyd and Chad Barton
hit free throws to give
the Tigers to a 54-51 lead with 12
seconds remaining.
Vanover hit one free throw
and missed a second try
when Chris Robinson slipped inside
and tied the game
with a stick-back with six seconds
left.
Clintwood trapped
defensively and knocked the ball
loose in Haysi frontcourt in the
final seconds. The
ball appeared to be kicked, but
there was no whistle
and a scramble ensued. Vanover
picked up the loose
ball, streaked toward his team’s
basket and swished
the nets as the horn sounded.
For more of the
story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at
newsstands now. For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer,
call 276-935-2123 today.
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