A nice article about Chilhowie's Gregg Belcher by Tim Hayes of the Bristol Herald-Courier. Gregg was another local D-1 player (ETSU). He scored many of his 1,958 career points from long-range without the benefit of a three-point line.
Many apologies for resurrecting an old thread. I was searching for something else and stumbled across this gem. A few things come to mind when reading through the original post and responses.
Bobby Dodd moved away from the Galax area at a very young age so, I wouldn't expect many to remember his time here. It wouldn't be unrealistic to think something in the line of "birthplace of Bobby Dodd" should be located somewhere in town though.
The larger issue for me would be Tim Beamer. He isn't mentioned anywhere around town and doesn't appear on the Galax Wikipedia page. Even Bobby Dodd is listed on the Wikipedia page. Beamer doesn't even have a plaque, picture, trophy or mention in any of the high school trophy cases after playing his entire high school career for Galax. Beamer was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1971 from the University of Illinois and spent nearly a decade between the NFL and CFL.
I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Beamer a few years ago. He told me how things were different back then and he isn't surprised at his local anonymity. He went on to tell me Galax held prom and homecoming at the old Galax Country Club, which had a strict "Caucasian only" policy, which forbade Beamer and many others from attending. Seems a bit petty now. You would think, those errors in judgement would have been rectified so many years later.
Thank you, @sixcat, for sharing the information on Tim Beamer. I was not familiar with him and agree that he should be properly recognized. I realize someone with the school system or the City should have honored him years ago, but it's not too late. Perhaps it might be a citizen like yourself approaching the City Council, School Board, and Galax Gazette to get the ball rolling. I know Carroll Co. has a sports hall of fame, but I don't know if Galax does. I think there may be a Twin County HOF. I'd imagine that the leaders of Galax today would be embarrassed about the "whites only" school events of the past and would fully support an event to appropriately honor a hometown hero.
Since we have gotten outside the area a bit. I attended a few games while stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso Texas way back in he early 90's. Jones Stadium was built in 1916 and is easily, the most interesting stadium of any kind I have ever visited.
Dorman HS in Roebuck, SC can be seen off to the left of I-26 as you head East outside of Spartanburg. It's a monster campus and the stadium has seating for 11,500 with "bank" overflow that will hold an additional 3K. Been to a few games there. Marvelous facility that a lot of FCS schools would be proud to have.
Dorman's stadium is amazing. When I first drove by it on I-26, I was so excited that I woke my wife telling her to look at the stadium. I was surprised I hadn't heard of "Dorman College" before,however, they had an awesome stadium. Later, of course, I discovered it wasn't a college after all.
John Handly ... Imagine Gate City's high school building, Science Hill's football stadium, 5 star park \ tennis courts, & the Supreme Court building all mashed together on a plush private campus secreted away in Winchester's colonial down town... Most impressive small school campus I've ever seen.
Wow, you're not kidding. That setting is spectacular. The historic colonial revival school and park-like campus have the look of an ODAC school.
MAC MCCLUNG’S TORRID PACE
Mac McClung season point totals (excluding imminent postseason)
2/7: v Daniel Boone (TN)
2/6: v Ridgeview
2/3: v Pulaski
2/2: v Abingdon
1/30: v Battle
1/27: v Cleveland (TN)
1/26: v Union
1/23: v Wise Central 35 (W 99-70)
1/19: v Lee 42 (W, 111-67)
1/13: v Ridgeview 44 (W, 98-60)
1/10: v Abingdon 47 (W, 103-59)
1/6: v Floyd 33 (W, 75-54)
1/5: v Battle 33 (W, 86-40)
1/3: v Union 31 (W, 70-56)
*12/30: v Lakota East (OH) 28 (W, 66-54) (2,000 career points at end of game)
*12/29: v Fern Creek (KY) 44 (W, 70-68)
*12/28: v Tennessee High (TN) 40 (W, 79-43)
*12/27: v North Mecklenburg (NC) 26 (L, 80-64)
12/22: v Knoxville Christian (TN) 31 (W, 74-46)
12/19: v Daniel Boone (TN) 35 (W, 75-66)
12/15: v Wise Central 37 (W, 81-42)
12/12: v Lee 47 (W, 96-43)
Thru 1/23 totals: 553 points; 36.87 ppg; 2,267 total points
Gate City record: 14-1 (Max number of games: 31)
*- Arby’s Classic (Bristol, TN)
VHSL Records
- Caleb Tanner, Floyd (all-time scorer; 2,770 career points)
- 1976-77: Joe Stiltner, Bland (season scoring average; 41.67 ppg)
- 1992-93: Allen Iverson, Bethel (season scoring points; 948 points)
All Schools Records- Dan Vander Woude, Seton School (all-time scorer; 3,329 career points)
- 1987-88: Dan Vander Woude, Seton School (season scoring points: 1,265 points)
SCENARIOS
- To break the VHSL career scoring record, he needs 504 more points this season with a possibility of 16 more games remaining, if GC makes it to the Class 2A title game and does not lose. He would need an average of 31.5 ppg to break the record.
- To break the VHSL single season record for total points, he needs 396 more points this season with a possibility of 16 more games, if GC makes it to the Class 2A title game and does not lose. He would need an average of 24.75 ppg to break the record.
- To break the All Schools single season record for total points, he needs 713 more points this season with a possibility of 16 more games, if GC makes it to the Class 2A title game and does not lose. He would need an average of 44.56 ppg to break the record.
Thanks, @BHS03, for sharing. This is an exterior picture I found of Mt. Hope Municipal Stadium. I immediately thought about Tennessee High's Stone Castle. It turns out that both were WPA projects from 1930s.
I saw Shoemaker play both football and basketball in high school against my younger brother. Very talented athlete. Being the guy who replaced Tim Duncan at Wake is something he can tell his grandkids someday.
Joe Stiltner was also a starter for an ACC program at NC State at a time when they were competitive on a national level.
I regret not getting to watch Joe Stiltner play. I do remember all the buzz about him. The Roanoke Times did a feature article on him during his senior season. Instead of a basketball shot in uniform, they had a large photo of him sitting on his motorcycle with a leather jacket looking like Arthur Fonzarelli.
Anybody who was a starter on an ACC team should be in the conversation. Nice article yesterday by BHC's Tim Hayes on Gate City's Josh Shoemaker. Obviously a great basketball player, but I really enjoyed watching him on the gridiron as a 6'9" QB.
Not many people remember Powell Valley being a basketball powerhouse well before its football fame. I found a couple articles talking about the epic Hamler-Marsee match ups in the mid '70s. PV's coach was extremely frustrated that the UT and VT scouts at the game were not interested in his player. They favored Marsee (a 6'5" guard) over Hamler (a 6'3" forward).
Anyone know if/where Hamler played ball in college?
Of the 2K point club, Marsee and Mitchell would have had a lot ore points for sure. Most of Hamler's points came from the paint out to 15 ft or so, but he had a sweet baseline jumper as well and was just relentless on the glass.
Graham won in 1962 based on the point system. The point system did not count out of state games. Graham's only loss in 1962 was to WV AAA Champion Bluefield. There was a system in the early years where the eastern champion played the western champion in the largest class which at that time was called Class A. Schools from class B and Class C would often play regional championship games when they could be arranged.. And then if it could be arranged the eastern and western champions would play. This is why you will see schools claim championships before 1970 in the smaller classes. Then there were no playoffs at all until 1965 and and before 1965 is when a point system was used but only undefeated teams were eligible and they must have been in Class A.. Again regional champions would play but only one round. If more than one school was undefeated co champions were declared. This lasted until 1969 in A and AA and 1971 in AAA. The only voting that went on was the regional committee would sometimes vote on the regional champion if there was no clear cut winner. I have never run across a school claiming a championship where there was not validity in the claim.
So to make it clear. There WERE playoffs before 1970. They were controlled by the regions and not the VHSL until 1970. The reason there was only one round in the early years is the big schools did not want to give up their Thanksgiving day games that often would draw ten to twenty thousand fans in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Richmond and Fairfax County. In 1969 Maggie Walker and Armstrong High of Richmond drew 28,000 for their Thanksgiving weekend game.
The VHSL did not keep track of champions until 1970. The late great Marshall Johnson went back and accumulated the list that you see in the VHSL record book but he only did the larger class. One day I may try to figure out the smaller classes since I do have a lot of the information available whenever I can take the time to organize it.
@Bluefield researcher, I can't thank you enough for sharing the wealth of information you have gathered over the years. I love local sports history but know just enough to confuse others.
I read about how Marshall Johnson would work relentlessly to gather every score from across the state when he was with the AP....about how he spent his retirement years in the state library poring over microfilm researching Virginia high school sports...about his chronicling the prep history of schools, coaches, and players...about he would painstakingly research and update records after every season.
It sounds like you, sir, and Mr. Johnson were cut from the same cloth.
What kind of crowd does everyone think will show up at the Prior Center?
Gate City-Boone had over 2,700 in Gray. Per the UVA-W site, Prior's capacity is 3,000 for sporting events. I think fans better get there early or risk being turned away.
There wasn't a consistant method to determine a champion. I believe it was mostly based on the votes of sportswriters across the state considering regular season results only. Example: Graham won the 1962 state championship with a 9-1 record.
Though I have heard of schools trying to match-up top teams (e.g. East vs West) after the regular season for the title.
I'm sure the voting method was extremely controversial. Marion's 1930 team was 10-1-1 and has a "state championship trophy"; however, VHSL recognized a different team that year. So yes, @Plywood_King, much like the AP-UPI-USAT annual polls debacle prior to BCA/BCF/CFP.
It does make you wonder! How many other schools in SWVA would keep a coach that long with sub par results? It's not like Kelly/CHS has not had athletes in the past. Maybe not the type of athletes to win state titles, but definitely athletes to finish better than .500! I'd say he is there to stay, and don't think much can be done about it.
Right or wrong, all three Smyth County Schools (Marion, Chilhowie, and Northwood) would keep coaches that long with sub-par results.
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Can Mac get past 2770?
in SWVA Basketball
Posted · Edited by Liam McPoyle
Updated through 2/3
Mac McClung scoring (Through 2/3): 20 games; 751 points; 37.55 ppg; 2,465 career points
2/7: v Daniel Boone (TN)
2/6: v Ridgeview
2/3: v Pulaski 47 (W, 89-69)
2/2: v Abingdon 40 (W, 103-51)
1/30: v Battle 42 (W, 84-64)
1/27: v Cleveland (TN) 39 (W, 82-72)
1/26: v Union 30 (W, 82-47)
1/23: v Wise Central 35 (W 99-70)
1/19: v Lee 42 (W, 111-67)
1/13: v Ridgeview 44 (W, 98-60)
1/10: v Abingdon 47 (W, 103-59)
1/6: v Floyd 33 (W, 75-54)
1/5: v Battle 33 (W, 86-40)
1/3: v Union 31 (W, 70-56)
12/30: v Lakota East (OH) 28 (W, 66-54) (2,000 career points at end of game)
12/29: v Fern Creek (KY) 44 (W, 70-68)
12/28: v Tennessee High (TN) 40 (W, 79-43)
12/27: v North Mecklenburg (NC) 26 (L, 80-64)
12/22: v Knoxville Christian (TN) 31 (W, 74-46)
12/19: v Daniel Boone (TN) 35 (W, 75-66)
12/15: v Wise Central 37 (W, 81-42)
12/12: v Lee 47 (W, 96-43)
Via Tanner Cook; Johnson City Press