Area teams advance to state tournament

By DAVE COX/Staff
Several area basketball teams remain in contention after the completion of last weekend’s state quarterfinals. Many more were eliminated, including Honaker on the boy’s side and Southwest District squads Graham and Carroll County on the girl’s side.
Honaker, a Black Diamond District state entry, fell 69-48 to powerful and quick James River last Friday at Salem in a Group A, Division 1 contest. The Tigers just making it to the state level was a surprise to many as the overachieving Honaker team beat many teams with better records to make it. However, the 26-2 Knights of James River proved to be the end of the line for HHS, which finished its season at 12-14.
“Give James River credit. They have quick hands,” said Honaker head coach Waylon Hart. “They played angles well, they’re a smart team. I’m not taking anything away from them, but we made too many silly mistakes and we had too many breakdowns on defense.”
Honaker was led by Clark Dye with 13 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double effort. Ethan Davis finished with four treys for his 12 points and Cory Brown contributed six points for the Tigers.
Four James River players reached double figure scoring, led by Patrick Bennett’s 21. It was Honaker’s first state appearance since 2003.
Graham, a Group AA, Division 3 team, met Region III champion Robert E. Lee Staunton (15-4) in the state quarterfinals in Harrisonburg last Saturday for the second straight year and the result was the same- a blowout win for the Leemen. Lee jumped out to a big early lead and raced to an easy 65-43 win over the G-Girls.
“We knew coming in that it was going to be a tough matchup for us,’ said Graham head coach Tracy Wyatt-Raban. “They came out in that man-to-man and they’re much bigger and quicker than we are, but I felt like our girls did not give up.”
Senior Kelli Landreth topped the G-Girls with a game-high 20 points. She fired in four treys. Another senior, and Graham’s leading scorer, Chelsea Gallinger, finished her high school career with a 13- point effort. Meagan Henry was the best GHS rebounder with 11 and she scored nine points. Graham wraps up its season at 13-12.
The other SWD entry, Carroll County, fell 62-46 to Spotswood in a Group AA, Division 4 game last Saturday at Harrisonburg. Kayla Goins led the Lady Cavaliers with 23 points, but was the only Carroll County player to get anywhere near double digit scoring. Spotswood (19-6) advanced to play York in the Division 4 semifinals this week in Richmond.
Three area boy’s teams were in action last Saturday and all three were successful in the quarterfinals, advancing to the semifinals this week.
Lebanon’s Justin Brown put in a buzzer beater 12-foot basket to give the Pioneers a thrilling 62-61 win over Radford in Group A, Division 2 basketball at Bristol.
Lebanon (20-5) was led by Ben Henderickson with 15 points. Brown finished with 14 and Andrew Jessee 12. Radford wrapped up its season at 17-7.
Castlewood took a 46-44 Group A, Division 1 win over Galax in Bristol last Saturday. The Blue Devils were paced by Zach Bush with a game-high 17 points and will advance to the state semifinals for the first time ever this Thursday when the 23-4 Castlewood squad will meet the state top ranked Group A team Madison County (24-0).
In another boy’s Group A, Division 1 quarterfinal game, Appalachia downed Eastern Montgomery 38-33 in Salem. The trip to the state semifinals this week will be the first for the Bulldogs since 1982.
In other action involving area teams, The Ervinton Lady Rebels toppled Bland County 65-46 in a Group A, Division 1quarterfinal game played at Salem. Ervinton (24-4) advanced to face Surry County this week. Bland County (22-3) was led in scoring by Laural Hankins with 20 points.
The Chilhowie girl’s team earned its second trip to the state semifinals in the last three years with a 48-43 Group A, Division 2 victory over J.J. Kelly in a game at Bristol last Saturday. Chilhowie (20-8) will play in Richmond this week. Kelly finishes at 20-7.
The J. I. Burton Lady Raiders grabbed a 49-33 Group A, Division 1 win over Narrows at Bristol last Saturday and will advance to the state semifinals with a 27-0 record. Narrows finishes at 20-6.
A Group A, Division 1 win went to Lee County as the Lady Generals defeated Glenvar 62-54 at Salem.