Guest Woolybugger Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 By CRAIG WORRELL Sports Editor HILLSVILLE –– If you are a follower of Carroll County High School girls’ basketball, life is good. Life’s good because your team is coming off its fifth straight Southwest District championship, its fourth straight tournament title and its fourth straight 20-win season. It’s good because your team is working on a 40-game district winning streak. It’s good because your team hasn’t lost at home since the season opener four years ago. And it’s especially good because nine players return from a team that finished 23-4 and made it to the Group AA state tournament last year, taking eventual champion Blacksburg to the wire in the quarterfinals. Granted, the Cavaliers graduated one of the school’s all-time greats in Ingrid Easter, the school’s career leader in steals and assists, second in scoring only to Virginia Tech center Erin Gibson, and fifth all-time in rebounding. But if anything, Carroll will only be more balanced as a result. “That’s what we’re planning on,†said Cavalier coach Marc Motley. “We’ve talked about how we lost a bunch of points and assists and that we don’t need to take it all up with one person. We’ve got six or seven more who can put the ball in the bucket.†Eight Cavaliers reached double figures in scoring at least once last year, and seven of them return. Brittany Burnett and Emily Heflin combined for 20 points and 12 rebounds a game last season while Brandi Jones and Britney Green teamed for another 11 points per night. Obviously, experience isn’t an issue for Motley, entering his second year as coach of the Carroll ladies. The roster is dotted with veterans, including one four-year varsity player and five more third-year players. “That will help how we handle ourselves in close games,†he said. “Experience and intensity are worth everything.†With apparently plenty of sources to overcome the lost production, the biggest hole left by Easter was in the leadership department. “All through the summer we talked about leadership,†Motley said. “If something happened last year we found Ingrid, and this year we’ve got to do it ourselves.†Motley said that while nobody is forcing herself into a dominant role offensively, several have stepped nicely into the leadership position, including Amy Gillespie, Burnett, Green and Ingle Easter. “They are leading by example, more than vocally,†he said. Weather permitting, Carroll will open tonight at the Matt Moran Memorial Tournament at Radford. It could be the start of another big year, as the Cavaliers seem to have all their bases covered. Heflin and Burnett will make the Cavaliers solid in the paint. “We don’t have a first option, but Emily and Brittany will get a lot of points and rebounds inside,†Motley said. Among the guards, Brandi Jones hit for 20 or more several times last year, Ingle Easter plays as hard as anybody at point and Amy Gillespie is a terrific defender who is becoming an offensive threat. Green can play anywhere but center, has a good mid-range jumper and at 5-foot-9 can cause match-up problems for defenders, while Ashley Jones will be one of the first off the bench, providing a good jumpshot and solid defense in the post. Easter and Kristen Jackson are a pair of intense defenders, and Kayla Peery is another returner from last year’s squad. Newcomers include Tiffannie Perry, Emily Porter, Amy Puckett and 6-1 post Amanda King. “Emily could have a big impact,†Motley said. “She has good court sense and she’s a good passer. I just wish she’d look to score more.†Having swept through the district last year with an average winning margin of 33 points, the Cavaliers are a very safe bet to make another Region IV run. “Abingdon looks like they’re loaded,†Motley said. “Lee is always good, and Virginia High should be improved. Out of the Piedmont, I’d look for Magna Vista or Laurel Park, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Patrick County and Fieldale-Collinsville in there.†And Carroll’s chances of making a third state appearance in the past five years? “We’d love to get back to that spot,†said Motley. “I think we have the potential to get back. It depends on how hard we work.†Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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