Bees’ boys fell just short of state again
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Ted Allen / Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: February 28, 2008
After losing at Hidden Valley 77-74 in last year's Region III semifinals, the Bees let a 10-point lead slip away in their 47-43 quarterfinal loss to Waynesboro on Tuesday at home.
"We ran into a really good team," coach Chris Young said. "We had opportunities down the stretch and didn't capitalize on them. I feel awful for the two seniors on the team (point guard George Williams and shooting guard John Deacon)."
Young had seen the Little Giants a few times and knew they had the potential to be Bee killers, after knocking off Robert E. Lee in their district tournament.
"They've got a really strong player, Nick Gore (who scored 29 points) and his surrounding cast all brought something to the table, with the ability to defend or the ability to score. They played really good team basketball."
Young could take consolation in what the Bees have coming back.
"We were an extremely young team," he said. "We had anywhere from five to eight sophomores on this team. The sophomores gained a lot of confidence from Day 1 to Day 70 of practice. They made a lot of improvement throughout the season which was the reason we were 14-0 in district play."
They will complement 6-foot-7 forwards Logan Thomas and Corby Weiss, who will be the team's clear leaders.
Bees' girls remain unbeaten
After beating Staunton River for the third time in last Friday's Seminole District girls basketball tournament championship game, Brookville seniors Brittany Campbell and Joyous Tharrington said they had accomplished their first objective.
"One of our main goals is to go undefeated in the regular season," Campbell said.
"And then this tournament and then regions and state," Tharrington quickly added, implying the Bees' postseason plays had just begun.
At 26-0, Brookville needs just four more wins to finish a perfect 30-0.
"We want to go undefeated - the whole season," Campbell added, "so we're taking it one day at a time."
As to which of the two was most deserving of Seminole District player of the year honors, Bees coach Warner Dyke would not take sides. Tharrington was ultimately given the nod.
"I'm glad I didn't have to choose," he said. "I didn't get a vote. You can't vote for your own player at the district meeting and I'm glad I didn't have to vote on it. It'd have been too tough. They both deserve player of the year if you ask me, but Joyous is a great choice."
Petty, Nixon duel in high jump
Heritage's Michael Petty and Brookville's Ethan Nixon waged a pretty spirited showdown in the high jump at Saturday's Region III meet at Heritage, with both clearing 6-4 and Petty getting first place for doing it with one fewer miss.
Petty also played basketball this winter, but high jump is the only event he will do at this Saturday's Group AA meet at Liberty University, whereas Nixon will compete in six.
"He's a good jumper," Nixon said of Petty. "He's a power jumper and I'm a speed jumper. He's more muscle, going straight up and straight down to go over the bar. He only took half as many steps as I did on the approach. On this surface, it was hard to get the speed I need to get."
That will change at LU's Tolsma Indoor Track Center, where he hopes to contend for state titles in multiple events, including the 55-meter hurdles, where he could defend his crown, and all three jumps.
Nixon had a much better day at the Region III meet than at the Seminole District meet, also held at Heritage.
"I came in, got my speed right and was hitting perfect on the board," he said. "(In the triple jump) I need to do that and not lose speed on the last two phases."
Nixon won the triple jump with just one run, soaring to 45-feet, 4- inches on his first leap in the trials and not needing to jump again to hold on for the win. That allowed him extra time to rest up for the final leg of the 1,600 relay, when he needed all of his reserves of energy to hold off the Pioneers' Corey Calloway in a controversial finish.
Governors, Raiders take titles
Nelson County's girls and Appomattox's boys indoor track and field teams took unofficial state titles Feb. 15 at Fork Union Military Academy.
The Governors' girls won with 133 points, beating the Raiders who had 82, while Appomattox's boys prevailed with 126- points, edging Nelson, which finished with 98.
Appomattox got titles from Lamont Johnson (55 hurdles, triple jump) and Jamon Simpson (high jump) and won the 800 relay. Nelson County's Austin Griffin (500 meters), Josh Morris (1,000) and Brandon White (long jump, shot put) captured individual titles while its 1,600 relay also finished first.
For Nelson's girls, Brianna Ross landed wins in the 55 dash, long and triple jumps, Erica Stowe won the 500, Fiona Jones took the 1,600 and the Governors finished first in the 1,600 relay. The Raiders' girls prevailed in the 300 dash (Megan Campbell) and the 800 relay.
Generals play N.C. champions
William Campbell football coach Brad Bradley is never one to back away from a challenge.
After playing teams from Kiser, W.Va., and Moorhead, N.C., over the past two seasons, the Generals will open their 2008 campaign Aug. 22 at home against Thomasville, N.C., which won Group A, Division 2, state championships in 2004, 2005 and 2006, finishing 11-1 last year.
"They're a good team, one of the best teams in the state of North Carolina," Bradley said. "They're a little bit bigger than us. They were looking for a game, we're always looking for a game. We want to play the best teams we can. We're excited about it."
He said the opener should provide plenty of offseason incentive for the Generals, who won Group A, Division 1, state titles in 2002 and 2005.
"It's a good thing for our kids to work toward for the wintertime," he said. "It's a good motivating factor."
Brown to coach Glass baseball
Kevin Brown will be E.C. Glass' head baseball coach again this spring, with Marcus Maringola, who succeeded Brown two years ago, stepping aside to serve as his assistant.
"They are good enough friends that the switch was made with little fanfare," Glass athletic director Chip Berry said. "We are fortunate to have two young men that work well together in our varsity baseball program."
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