Friday, January 19, 2007

Morris Waives Extradition

The former executive director of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) will return to the county today escorted by South Boston Police investigators to answer to child pornography charges, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White.
Kevin Scott Morris, 34, of Covington, Ga. and formerly of South Boston, was arrested Wednesday following a January 8 grand jury that indicted Morris on one count of the possession of child pornography and 19 counts of the subsequent offense of the possession of child pornography.
Late yesterday morning, White said Morris had waived extradition and is expected to be returned to Halifax County today.
The possession charge carries a maximum of 5 years in prison and the subsequent possession charges each carry a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to White.
According to the Commonwealth’s Attorney, South Boston investigators have been in Georgia since Tuesday in relation to the case.
The subjects of the alleged photos have been identified by prosecutors only as “young females,” White said. “No identification has been made on the photos, but we have no reason to believe they’re local,” she added.
According to White, current IDA Director Mike Eades and IDA Chairman Larry McPeters discovered the alleged photographs on a laptop computer owned by the IDA in December, 2005 and immediately reported their findings to the South Boston Police Department.
“We had the computer evaluated by a forensic expert in the Richmond Police Department, but unfortunately our case was put on the ‘back burner’ because of the forensics necessary to complete a high-profile murder case,” White said.
Contacted yesterday, McPeters said he was “shocked and disappointed” to learn of the alleged photos.
“I just wish this hadn’t happened in our backyard, but it did,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep knowing this arrest was coming. It’s just sad.”
McPeters said that after Eades was hired, he was exploring the laptop when he discovered some “very unpleasant” images on the hard drive.
“I was in touch with (White) within the hour and she’s been very aggressive in the investigation of the matter,” he said.
According to White, the forensic team discovered numerous images on the hard drive.
“The forensic evaluation revealed a number of images, 20 of which we chose as the basis for prosecution,” she said.
Former IDA Chairman John Cannon, who served while Morris was in the Halifax County position, said Morris is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“I worked closely with Scott and everything he did while in Halifax County was very professional,” he said. “I think he has to be proven guilty before everyone says he’s guilty. He should be given a chance to defend himself.”
Carlyle Ramsey, who also served as chairman of the IDA during Morris’ tenure, declined to comment on the allegations when contacted yesterday.
Morris was hired by the IDA in August 2002 and served in the capacity until June 2004, when he left to take a position in Georgia.
He was recently promoted to vice-president of economic development for the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce in Duluth, Ga..
According to South Boston Police Chief Mick Reed, Halifax County authorities were assisted in the investigation by the Richmond Police Department, the Virginia Attorney General’s Office and the Georgia State Bureau of Investigation.

Founders College Seeks Boundary Adjustment

Tamara Fuller, the chief strategy officer for Founders College Development LLC, asked the Halifax County Board of Supervisors and South Boston Town Council Tuesday to hold a public hearing to address a boundary adjustment to bring all the Berry Hill and Harris property into South Boston.
Supervisors and South Boston Council agreed to hold a public hearing at their next joint meeting scheduled for March 19.
On Feb. 12, South Boston Council will vote on a request to rezone 223 acres already located within town limits from R-1 to planned development residential at Fuller’s request.
According to Fuller, approximately 400-500 acres will be transferred into the town if the boundary adjustment is approved.
Founders plans to construct 562 residential units on the property already located in town limits and plans 335 units for the land currently in the county, Fuller said.
“This will be beneficial to the town and the county,” she said. Founders plans to purchase Berry Hill and the Harris property in the next few weeks.
Also on the joint meeting agenda, Halifax County Historical Society President Barbara Bass addressed the three governing bodies on the Crossing of the Dan Exhibit to be housed in The Prizery.
There were four things she said she wanted to stress at the meeting.
First, the results of an economic impact study which shows that the exhibit would increase total expenditures in the county by $1.4 million. This exhibit alone would increase total travel expenditures 4 percent, Bass said.
Direct effects are estimated at $1.5 million, which would provide an additional $75,000 in state tax revenues and lodging expenditures alone are estimated at $612,000 which would generate an additional $30,600 in local lodging tax revenues, according to the study.
Second, Bass said is the support the exhibit has received from prominent historians.
She read a section of a letter from Dr. Conrad, a historian at the Naval History Center in D.C. and a recognized expert on General Nathaniel Greene. The letter expressed enthusiastic support for the project.
Thirdly, the annual celebration of the Crossing of the Dan is scheduled for Saturday, February 10, with a full day of activities, and lastly she showed the panels that will make up the exhibit.
The panels are high quality and will illustrate the Southern Campaign of the Revolution covering the strategic retreat, the crossing of the Dan through Guilford Courthouse and on to Yorktown, Bass said.
Also during the meeting, supervisors voted to approve changing the name of the Vaughan Street Bridge in honor of Hugh Moore. South Boston Council voted to approve the measure at a prior council meeting.
The three governing bodies also approved a resolution recognizing the 50th Anniversary of South Boston Speedway.
Following the joint meeting, supervisors reconvened and made several appointments to county boards.
All the current members of the Halifax County Improvement Council were re-appointed to another term and Jesse Hawkins was re-appointed to the Board of Equalization.
The Board deferred appoints to the Planning Commission for District Three, the Transportation Safety Commission for District Four and a vacancy on the Recreation Committee from District One.
The Board also addressed whether zoning amendments should go forward regarding community centers.
Supervisor Bryant Claiborne asked if the process should continue moving forward with the Grace-Venable Community Center’s application being withdrawn.
“There is no longer a pressing issue,” he said.
Supervisors Doug Bowman and James Edmunds said the process of addressing community centers in county code should continue because the issue would likely surface again.
The Board agreed to move forward with the zoning amendment and hold its scheduled public hearing.
Halifax Town Council also reconvened after the joint meeting and voted to approve a request from Ms. D Productions proprietor Donnell Corelle for a parade to be held in Halifax and the use of the Farmer Food Building for a masquerade ball scheduled for Feb. 17.

IDA Authorizes ABB Contract

The Halifax County Industrial Development Authority authorized a $12,912,314 contract for the ABB expansion project contingent that the 20-acre parcel adjacent to the South Boston ABB facility is deeded to the IDA.
IDA members also voted to approve a resolution formally selecting the bid of J.E. Burton Construction Company for the construction of the manufacturing facility for ABB.
According to IDA Executive Director Mike Eades, the resolution allows the IDA to begin to draw Tobacco Commission funds and begin the project.
The IDA is also seeking a zoning ordinance variation for the new 73-foot tall building, Eades said. The current ordinance only allows for buildings 35 feet high.
IDA members voted to request that the county’s Planning Commission review the height restriction ordinance for areas zoned M-2 industrial.
The IDA also voted to enter into several contracts during the meeting.
A $6,700 contract with Dewberry and Davis was approved for services pertaining to upfits at Riverstone for the IDA staff’s new offices.
The Board approved $23,200 with the Timmons Group for work to be done at the Georgia Pacific site. The firm will perform environmental and infrastructure analysis and a concept plan that will allow the site to qualify for a $500,000 grant. Congressional earmark funds are slated to reimburse the IDA for the cost of Timmons’ services, Eades said.
The IDA also voted to enter into an agreement with the Leak-Goforth Company to market Riverstone to potential tenants. The cost of the agreement will not exceed $4,800 and the firm will develop a marketing strategy for the technology park.
Representatives from Leak-Goforth are expected to be at Riverstone on February 1 and 2, Eades told the Board.
Eades also said that the bid for renovations to the Flex-Tec building had been awarded to Burton Construction for $70,500 for renovations and a $426,820 reimbursement was forthcoming from the Small Business Association for the property’s purchase price and closing costs.
Under old business, IDA Chairman Larry McPeters said he have received several complaints about transfer trucks on Route 58 missing the turn into the Dollar General distribution center and tearing up driveways and yards attempting to turn around.
There are no signs that clearly mark the turn for the distribution center, McPeters said.
IDA member Bill Kelehar said he would contact the distribution center’s manager and see if a resolution could be reached to get the road clearly marked.
Lastly, the IDA voted to move the dates of its February and March meetings due to scheduling conflicts.
In February the IDA will meet on Thursday, Feb. 8 and in March they will meet on Wednesday, March 14.

Obituaries

Malcolm Farmer

Malcolm Farmer, 62, of 1181 Pine Ridge Trail, Vernon Hill died January 16, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Farmer was born in Halifax County on May 28, 1944, to the late Henry Farmer and Alice Jackson Farmer and was married to Virginia Mitchell Farmer.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Sandra F. Chandler of Roxboro, N.C. and Tammy Farmer of Danville; one son, Barry Farmer of Roxboro; one brother, Henry Farmer Jr. of South Boston; nine grandchildren; one son-in-law, Craig Chandler; one daughter-in-law, Katrina Farmer; and his mother-in-law, Mucie Mitchell.
Funeral services for Mr. Farmer will be held tomorrow, January 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Luke Apostolic Church in South Boston with Elder Harry Betts Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 this evening, January 19, at Jeffress Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Dakton DaKeigh Ferrell

Dakton DaKeigh Ferrell, 29, of 4067 Turbeville Road, Alton, died January 14, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Ferrell was born in Halifax County on September 15, 1977, to Clarence Junious Ferrell and Evelyn Goode Ferrell and was married to Melissa Simmons Ferrell. He was a member of Union Grove CME Church.
Survivors of Mr. Ferrell include his wife; two daughters, Yasmine M. Ferrell and Emanie M. Ferrell, both of Alton; one son, DaQuan D. Ferrell of Alton; his father and mother; three sisters, Nancy Pulliam of Newark, Del., Margaret Watson of Alton and Susannah Teeters of Richmond; two brothers, Giles Ferrell of Jamaica, N .Y. and Clarence A. Ferrell of Korea; one Godbrother, Michael Goode of Kileen, Texas; his father and mother-in-law, Paul L. Simmons and Brenda D. Simmons, both of South Boston; and his Godparents, Isaac and Nancy Arnold, of Alton.
Funeral services for Mr. Ferrell will beheld January 21, at 2 p.m. at Union Grove CME Church with the Rev. Aaron Donnelly officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Public viewing will be at Jeffress Funeral Home from noon to 8 p.m.

A Season In Peril

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Halifax County High School’s varsity boys basketball team is in peril of being knocked out of a chance at landing one of the top three spots in the Western Valley District standings.
The Comets saw an opportunity to stay in the thick of the district race slip away here Tuesday night in a 76-70 loss to E.C. Glass.
Now, the Comets (6-9 overall, 0-3 district) face a “must win” situation tonight when they travel to Roanoke to face Patrick Henry. The two teams are winless in Western Valley District play and the winner will take possession of fourth place in the district standings.
Finishing in the top three in the standings is of key importance. The fourth and fifth-place teams in the final regular-season standings will have to face each other in a play-in game to open the Western Valley District Tournament with the winner advancing and going on the road to face the regular-season champion the next night.
That is not a good position to be in and, if the Comets want to have a decent shot at staying out of that position, they need to win tonight.
“If we ever dug ourselves a hole, we did it tonight,” Parson said after his team’s six-point loss to the Hilltoppers.
“We really threw away a golden opportunity. We’re really in bad shape.”
For the Comets, it was another chapter of the horror tale that has cost the team a shot at victory in several previous games. Turnovers, unnecessary fouls, spates of bad passing and poor shot selection came back to haunt the Comets yet again.
Halifax County committed 27 fouls, opening the door for the Hilltoppers to score 31 of their 76 points from the free throw line as they hit 31 of 46 attempts from the charity stripe.
The Comets also committed 15 turnovers in the game, nine in the first half, and finished the night with almost double the number of turnovers logged by E.C. Glass.
As badly as the Comets played, they still managed to stay in contention throughout the game and had three players, Allen Stephens (21 points), Michael Ferrell (17 points) and Leon Glenn (13 points) hit double figures in the scoring column.
The Comets trailed 36-32 at halftime and opened the third quarter with Ferrell converting a three-point play to pull to within a point.
Later, trailing again by four points. Ferrell canned a 15-foot jumper and 34 seconds later Stephens hit a short shot down low inside to tie the game at 39-39 with 6:43 left in the third quarter.
Glass regained the lead with a pair of free throws but the Comets hit their best run of the night, a 9-0 spurt with Ferrell, Stephens, Pierre Brandon and Marcus Stovall all getting in on the act, to grab a 48-41 lead with 5:22 left in the third quarter.
Leading by three points at 56-53 at the end of the third quarter, the Comets got baskets from Ferrell and Stovall to open the fourth quarter and take a seven-point, 60-53 lead.
The game started slipping away from the Comets with about three and a half minutes to play as turnovers and fouls began mounting against the Comets.
Ferrell picked up his fourth foul with just under three and a half minutes to play, opening the door for Glass to tally five unanswered points and take a 67-65 lead on Tony Banks’ lay-up with 3:01 left.
The Comets never led again.
Ferrell fouled out with 2:25 left opening the door for a five-point spurt for the Hilltoppers that put them up 72-66 with 1:31 left. A missed three-point shot attempt by Brandon and another turnover that led to points allowed E.C. Glass to seal the win.

E.C. GLASS
NAME FG FT F TP
Henry 0 0-0 1 0
Walkes 1 1-2 2 4
Holder 4 2-6 2 12
Hobson 2 5-10 3 9
Banks 7 9-9 3 25
Leamon 0 2-3 1 2
Ferguson 6 10-14 1 22
Richle 0 2-2 3 2
Totals 20 31-46 16 76
HALIFAX COUNTY
NAME FG FT F TP
Glenn 4 5-5 2 13
Ferrell 8 1-2 5 17
Pippen 1 0-0 1 2
Chandler 0 2-2 1 2
Brown 1 1-3 4 3
Brandon 2 0-3 4 4
Ager 0 0-0 0 0
Bumpass 1 0-0 1 2
Waltman 0 0-0 0 0
Stephens 9 3-6 3 21
Stovall 2 0-0 4 4
White 1 0-0 2 2
Totals 29 12-21 27 70
Three Point Field Goals: Banks (ECG) 2, Holder (ECG) 2, Walkes (ECG) 1

E.C. Glass 18 18 17 23-76
Halifax County 15 17 24 14-70

Scratching Out A Win

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Comets varsity girls basketball team survived a foul-plagued and turnover-filled game to take a key 51-45 win over E.C Glass here Tuesday.
The win, coming in the first of three big Western Valley District contests at home, gave the Lady Comets a 2-1 district mark and evened its record at 8-8 overall.
Taniqua Younger led the Comets with 17 points, eight in the fourth quarter, while Key Ferrell and Lashunda Davis each had 11 and Kemper Russell 10 points for the Comets.
Ashley Coleman added a basket for Halifax, which shot a season-best 81 percent (nine for 11) at the foul line, including eight of nine down the stretch.
That was enough to hold off Glass, which rallied from a nine-point deficit to within two points twice in the final minute.
The first came with 40 seconds remaining on a foul shot by Jessica Watkins, who led Glass with 25 points, and the final time came ten seconds later on two foul shots by Ginny Wescott (10 points).
Each time the Comets responded, Russell going two for two and Davis four for four from the charity stripe in the final minute.
Halifax persevered despite committing 30 turnovers and 23 fouls, losing Talesha Medley, Shauna Harris and Younger to fouls in the second half.
Fouls sent the Lady Hilltoppers to the line 24 times alone in the fourth quarter, Glass scoring all but four of its points from the charity stripe in that frame.
Glass was 19 of 38 as a team for the contest, but the Comets did what they had to do to come away with a win, according to coach Ray Reaves.
“In district play you have to defend your home turf,” began Reaves.
“We did that tonight, and we want to win no matter what it looks like.”
Reaves added that a lot of the Comets’ foul problems came as a result of the turnovers, when his team was out of position.
“We had to hustle back and do things we weren’t accustomed to doing. That put us in a bad position on defense and that leads to fouls,” noted Reaves.
“Cheap fouls right after a turnover drive a coach insane and that’s what happened tonight.”
The tone for the game was set shortly after the opening tip, with Glass going to the foul line six times in the first quarter, four times by Wescott.
Ferrell and Younger had early baskets for Halifax, and field goals from Davis and Younger gave the Comets a 8-6 lead toward the end of the period.
Glass scored seven of the next eight points, four by Watkins, but Ferrell beat the buzzer from half court with a shot that pulled the Comets to within one point at13-12 after one quarter.
The pace slowed even further in the second quarter, Russell, Younger and Coleman hitting field goals for Halifax. Glass had a one-point lead with time running down before Davis’ short jumper gave the Comets a 20-19 halftime lead.
Halifax held as much as a five-point advantage after a Younger basket early in the third period, but a Watkins basket gave Glass a 25-24 lead with two minutes remaining.
A Ferrell basket and Davis three-pointer countered a foul shot and basket by Watkins to give Halifax a 29-28 lead with a quarter remaining.
Younger scored six, Russell four and Ferrell two points in a 12-4 run that gave Halifax its biggest lead at 41-32 midway through the fourth quarter, but fouls had begun to take their toll on the Comets, with Harris already on the bench with five personals.
A foul shot and three-point play by Watkins got Glass to within 41-36, but Russell and Younger answered for Halifax to build the lead back to 45-37.
It was 45-37 with two minutes remaining, and both teams scored all their points from the foul line in the final two minutes, where the Comets were six of six and Glass six of ten.
Reaves pointed to a determined effort by his team throughout the game to get the win, despite the turnovers and fouls.
“Those were key free throws down the stretch and we needed them all,” said Reaves, who told his team that Glass would probably foul in an effort to get close enough for a win.
“We were in a bad situation not being in the bonus earlier, but we knocked them down late and I’m proud of the girls for that. The free throws didn’t necessarily win the game, but they put us over the top.”
Reaves said that his team knows it’s in a crucial stretch of the season with home district games against Patrick Henry (tonight) and Franklin County (next Friday), with the Comets needing wins against both.
“GW seems to be at the top right now, but anyone can win on any given night and the four of us - Halifax, Patrick Henry, E.C. Glass and Franklin County - are all right there.
“But, we need to take these games one at a time and PH is all we’re worried about right now.”

Lions Get Key Win Over Park View

By Doug Ford
GV Staff Writer
The Halifax County Middle School boys basketball team needed a win here Wednesday over Park View to maintain hopes of at least a second seed and first-round home game in the Southside Middle School Conference Tournament.
It got what it needed, three players reaching double figures in a 57-34 win that improved the Lions to 5-2 in the conference and 10-4 overall.
Demetre Faulkner and Wendell Adams led the Lions with 18 points apiece, Trey Cole worked the boards for 10 points, and Thomas Owen came off the bench for eight points,
Kelvin Davis and Dre’ Tucker each added a basket and Brandon Boyd one of two foul shots for Halifax, which again struggled at the foul line, hitting only four of 18 free throws.
Park View had balanced scoring among 12 players, Jarrius Drummond leading the way with seven, while Harold Bennett had six, William Thompson five and Floyd Crute and KeyShawn Greenwood three points apiece.
Kyle Johnson, Jameil Davis and DeAndre Alexander each finished with two points for the Cougars, while DaGarrius Smith, Lamar Jones, Tra’von Previtire and Jamar Alexander all hit one of two foul shots for one point.
Park View was 13 of 25 from the charity stripe.
Lions coach Mike Hailey termed the win a “good bounce back” from Tuesday’s loss at Westwood, in which the Lions managed only 19 points.
“All in all, it was a good night, we played good defense the first two quarters in particular, shot a good percentage from the floor (47 percent) and almost had four players in double figures,” said Hailey, adding Owen did a good job coming off the bench for his team.
“At least we put some points on the board. Playing a man-to-man defense put us in an uptempo game and gave us some opportunities,” continued Hailey.
“We didn’t convert them all but converted enough to give us 57 points against a pretty good ball club. Park View hustled and gave a good effort, and our defensive effort the first two quarters set the tempo for the game, I think.”
A lot of Lions points came off its defense and transition game early on, Faulkner scoring six and Adams five points, while Cole added a three-point play.
Park View could only answer with a basket by DeAndre Alexander and a foul shot by Thompson, as Halifax jumped to a 14-3 lead.
A 12-2 surge toward the end of the second quarter gave the Lions a 30-10 halftime lead which gave the home team a little more breathing room, according to Hailey.
Adams scored six points, Faulkner and Owen four and Cole two points, while Park View countered with two buckets from Bennett, one from Crute and a foul shot by Drummond.
The second half saw the Cougars make several attempts to get back in the contest, with Thompson scoring four points, Greenwood hitting a trey and Bennett and Drummond hitting field goals in the third quarter.
Halifax responded with five points from Adams, including a trey, while Faulkner had four, Cole three and Davis two to give the Lions a comfortable 44-22 lead going into the final period.
Faulkner and Owen added four points apiece in the fourth quarter, and Tucker and Adams added baskets for Halifax, while Park View got all but two of its 12 points at the foul line, Drummond three of four from the charity stripe.
Hailey said that the Lions played a smarter game against Park View, making better decisions on the floor with the ball than what they had in the past several contests.
That was good news with the biggest game of the year here against conference leader E.W. Wyatt Wednesday.
“This win sets it up for Wednesday but we had to have this one,” said Hailey.
“Wyatt will be a toss up, even here, but if we win, we lock up second-place and a quarterfinal tournament game at home.
“If we lose, there’ll probably be a coin toss for second and we don’t want it to come down to that.”
Westwood 22 Halifax 19
The Halifax County Middle School boys basketball team had a solid defensive outing at Westwood Tuesday, but subpar offensive effort ultimately led to a 22-19 loss in a non-conference game.
As poor as the shooting was from the floor (24 percent) and the foul line (50 percent), the Lions still had a chance to win the game, according to Hailey.
“We had a two-point lead with under 25 seconds left to play and a Westwood player hit a 30-foot prayer that banked in,” said Hailey.
“This was after we had come from seven points down with a little over a minute to play.
“We didn’t deserve to win this game but we should have.”
Faulkner scored nine points, including a five for eight game from the foul line to lead Halifax, which also got four points from Davis, three from Cole, two from Cameron Dailey and one from Adams.
Halifax had won the teams’ earlier meeting here by a 38-30 scored, but the Lions had difficulty with a tall and athletic Westwood team on the boards.
This led to the Lions spreading the floor on offense in large part to shorten the game and neutralize the Westwood size advantage, according to Hailey.
“Unfortunately, we also neutralized ourselves with poor shooting and turnovers,” he noted.
A weak first quarter by both teams saw the Lions lead 3-1, with Cole hitting a basket and Faulkner a foul shot for Halifax, and the score was tied 9-9 at intermission.
Faulkner had a field goal and went two for four from the line in the second quarter, while Adams and Cole were each one of two from the foul line for the Lions, but Westwood shut out the Lions 3-0 in the third quarter to lead 12-9 going into the fourth quarter.
Davis scored all his four points in the fourth quarter, Faulkner four and Dailey two, as the Lions rallied to put themselves in position to win the contest but fell just short.

Lady Lions Win Conference Crown

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Halifax County Middle School girls basketball team locked up another conference title and top seed for the Southside Middle School Conference Tournament with an easier than expected 69-30 win here over Park View Wednesday.
Destiny Betts led the Lions with 31 points and Jamilia Smith added 16, while nine others scored, including Melyse Brown with six, Jessica Stamps with three and Jameshia Smith, Trevia Hunt, Kendra Crews, Sadari Cowan Stephanie Carr and Brianna Lindsey with two points apiece.
Jaynee Campbell added one of two foul shots for Halifax, which improved to 7-0 in the conference and 14-0 overall.
Dearsha Mckvain led Park View with 12 points, and Jasmin Smith followed with eight, while Brianna Rogers had six and Brittney Ponton and Tiajeh Burnette two points apiece.
Park View had given Halifax all it could handle in the teams’ earlier meeting in South Hill before the Lions emerged with a 50-36 win, but Halifax jumped out to a 40-12 halftime lead in the rematch and were never seriously threatened after that.
Lions coach James Smith pointed to a couple of factors in the win, including a subtle change in his team’s defensive strategy.
“The girls came to me and suggested we put in a new press, because teams have seen our three-quarter court trap,” he explained.
“So, we’ve been practicing a 1-2-1-1 halfcourt trap and I think that surprised Park View today. It helps us too that with the 1-2-1-1 we have people already back on defense if a team breaks our press.”
Park View was also without one key starter, post player Marissa Clary, who sat out the game with an injury and Betts took advantage with ten first-quarter points and 11 more before halftime, according to Smith.
Jamilia Smith and Brown added four apiece, while Stamps added another basket in the first quarter, as Halifax raced to a 20-4 lead.
Mckvain scored all four of her team’s points in the first quarter and two more before halftime, while Smith, Rogers and Ponton added two points apiece in the second period.
Halifax countered with 11 points by Betts, including a three-pointer, while Jamilia Smith added four and Hunt and Carr two apiece, as the lead ballooned to 40-12 at halftime.
Park View responded with a run of its own to open the third quarter, Smith finishing off an 8-2 run to make it 42-20, but the Lions regrouped to run off 12 straight points for a 54-20 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Betts had eight and Jamilia Smith six in the third period for Halifax, and Betts added her final two early in the fourth before heading to the bench.
Brown, Crews, Cowan and Lindsey added buckets for the Lions, while Rogers had four and Mckvain, Smith and Burnette two points apiece for Park View in the final quarter.
Smith said that his team picked just the right time to play one of its best games of the season, and against a solid conference contender.
“I knew we had to play well and I told the girls that we’ll probably be seeing Park View again in the tournament. They have a good team,” he noted.
“We came out of the gate strong tonight, we missed a few layups but overall we played well.
“I like the fact that 11 different girls scored and everyone seems to know their roles, Destiny and Jamilia being our primary scorers and Melyse our primary ball handler and floor leader.
“Stamps did a good job of stepping in tonight, and our seven returnees are all playing well. That’s all we need.”
Halifax 77 Westwood 15
The Lady Lions had little trouble with home standing Westwood, leading 29-0 after one quarter on the way to a 77-15 win.
Betts led Halifax with 21 points, 14 before halftime, while three others hit double figures, Jamilia Smith with 16 and Jameshia Smith and Campbell with 10 points apiece.
Brown scored nine, Kelsey White five, Stamps four and Carr two points for Halifax, which led 41-4 at halftime.
Each Lady Lion had seen playing time by intermission and that pattern continued in the second half, a 17-3 run giving Halifax a 58-7 advantage with a quarter remaining.
With the Lions starters heading to the bench, the reserves took over for the final quarter, Campbell with eight points and White three in the fourth.