If it wins its next six games, Carroll County’s girls’ basketball team can make it to the Group 4A Final Four without having to travel more than 45 minutes.
By virtue of a 77-24 Three Rivers District thrashing of James River on Feb. 7, the Lady Cavaliers locked up the No. 1 seed in Region 4D. Having already clinched the Three Rivers District regular season champion, Carroll County (18-3, 12-0 Three Rivers District) will now host the district tournament and three region home games as long as the Cavaliers continue to win. If it were to win the region, Carroll would then be able to play a state quarterfinal contest in Dublin at Pulaski County High School.
“We will play everything on our home floor until the state tournament provided we continue to win. That is awesome,” Carroll County head coach Marc Motley said. “With our student section and our fan base out here, man that is huge for us. I feel like we are a pretty tough team to beat here at home. That sixth man over there, the crowd always makes a big difference. It’s nice to practice on your home floor and play on it and you don’t have to travel five hours to Loudoun County.”
The Cavaliers certainly didn’t mess around with earning the top seed on Wednesday. On Senior Night in Hillsville, Carroll County finished the first quarter on a 25-0 run to lead 27-2 after eight minutes. Mariah Carter, one of the team’s two seniors along with Danielle Gallimore, scored 31 points on the night, seven more than James River totaled for the entire game. Carter ignited the huge opening quarter, scoring 15 of the Cavaliers’ first 17 points.
“They have been great for the last seven years. I have had Mariah for four and Danielle for three and they are getting their chance to shine and they are doing a super job in leading this team,” Motley said of his seniors. “They play like leaders and give their all every single night.”
Carter scored 24 of her 31 points in the first half. Amy Jo Caviness continued the onslaught for Carroll in the second half, pumping in 11 of her 18 points after intermission. Kenda Robinson scored all eight of her points in the first quarter, and Gallimore and Madi Dalton each chipped in six for Carroll. The Cavalier defense forced 24 turnovers in the first half and 32 for the game.
“Our girls seem to come out ready to play every night. I have been super pleased with the effort of these kids and the way they get themselves prepared every single day to play,” Motley said. “Other than one game early in the year where I wasn’t happy, I think these guys, even when you feel like they are the better team, they haven’t underestimated their opponent whatsoever and that is the senior’s and captain’s leadership.”
Carroll County will get a first-round bye in the Three Rivers District Tournament and will host the winner of No. 5 Giles-No. 4 Alleghany on Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. With a win, the Cavs would host the district tournament championship on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.
James River 2 7 3 12 – 24
Carroll Co. 27 19 20 11 – 77
James River – Lak. Lucado 1 0-0 3, Britt 0 0-2 0, Hix 1 0-0 2, Lac. Lucado 3 0-0 7, Montgomery 0 1-4 1, Crawford 2 1-2 5, Davis 1 0-0 2, Stevens 2 0-0 4, Kickuth 0 0-2 0. 3-pointers – Lak. Lucado 1, Lac. Lucado 1.
Carroll County – Dalton 1 4-4 6, Caviness 7 2-2 18, Gallimore 2 2-3 6, Robinson 4 0-0 8, Alley 1 0-0 2, Giles 1 0-0 2, Carter 13 4-5 31, Kennedy 1 0-0 2, Shockley 1 0-0 2. 3-pointers – Caviness 2, Carter 1.
Carroll Co. 71, Radford 29
Carroll County opened up a 28-point halftime lead Feb. 5 and never looked back in a 71-29 Three Rivers District road victory at Radford (6-13, 4-6 Three Rivers District).
Mariah Carter led all scorers with 14 points for Carroll. Danielle Gallimore (13 points) and Madi Dalton (11 points) also cracked double figures for the Lady Cavaliers. Amy Jo Caviness tacked on nine points and Laken Alley added five in the victory.
Carroll 18 24 15 14 — 71
Radford 8 6 7 8 — 29
Carroll County – Carter 14, Gallimore 13, Dalton 11, Caviness 9, Alley 8, Kennedy 5, Utt 5, Robinson 4, Easter 2. 3-pointers – Dalton 3, Caviness 2, Alley 2, Gallimore 1.
Radford – Cormany 8, Cox 6, Sellers 4, Roop 4, Burdette 3, Hale 2, Dietz 2. 3-pointers – Cox 2, Cormany 2.
Allen Worrell can be reached at (276) 779-4062 or on Twitter@AWorrellTCN
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