Monday, February 14, 2005

Barnes Murder Charges Dropped

Convicted Of Malicious Wounding In Hamilton Case
Paris Antwan Barnes, arrested and charged with the murder of Howard “Levi" Hamilton following an argument at a card game last February, was convicted Friday of the lesser charge of malicious wounding.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn convicted Barnes, a 35-year-old South Boston resident, after a three-hour bench trial in Halifax County Circuit Court.
An additional indictment charging Barnes with the murder of Hamilton was nol prossed by the Commonwealth during the trial.
Events surrounding the death of Hamilton remain sketchy, even with the conviction of Barnes.
Responding to a citizen report, South Boston Police discovered Hamilton lying in the driveway of a Suggs Street residence about 10 p.m. last February 27.
During the investigation, police determined that Hamilton had been assaulted at a residence on Kendrick Street, where witnesses told police Hamilton had been assaulted after an argument during a card game.
Hamilton was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital and subsequently airlifted to MCV Hospital in Richmond, where he died from his injuries.
At the time, police theorized Hamilton died from head injuries sustained as a result of repeated blunt force trauma.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White and Barnes’ attorney, Tracy Quackenbush, agreed there was a confrontation between Barnes and Hamilton, but disagreed on the severity of that confrontation.
Several witnesses to the confrontation testified that Hamilton had become upset over what he perceived as being dealt one less card then he deserved during a poker game at the Kendrick Street residence.
Hamilton then took what he thought was his share of the ante from the table, according to White.
“Barnes was the dealer and he got upset with Hamilton and decided he needed to be taken out of the game," said White.
“Barnes came around the table, raised his hands and shoved Hamilton," continued White.
The pair fell together over the recliner chair Hamilton was sitting in, with Barnes on top of Hamilton, continued White, referring to statements taken by witnesses at the card game.
“Barnes then began slamming Hamilton into the floor face first…going back to the table while Hamilton was lying in the floor.
White said that at one point, others at the card game helped Hamilton back into his chair, and that later Hamilton had asked to be taken home.
Witnesses to the altercation testified during the trial they saw some evidence of bleeding from Hamilton, but not to any great extent.
That was one of the arguments raised by Quackenbush, who told the court the confrontation was “simply a fight between two men."
“Words were exchanged, an argument ensued, and Hamilton got a nose bleed," said Quackenbush.
She continued by saying at most it was a case of unlawful wounding, but argued it should be a case of assault and battery.
“There were fighting words and there certainly was provocation," noted Quackenbush. There was drinking and the defendant reacted poorly.
“Given the circumstances, Hamilton was not obeying a request to calm down and Barnes reacted. “It was just a drunken fight, an angry reaction, not malicious wounding."
White pointed to testimony at trial from police investigators as evidence the altercation was more than just a simple fight.
Officer Chris Carswell testified he recovered a swatch of red-soaked carpet from the crime scene as well as several bloody paper towels taken from a trash can.
Lt. B.K. Lovelace testified he sprayed luminol, a substance that illuminates blood at the house where the card game occurred and on the headrest of the car that transported Hamilton that night.
“I saw evidence of blood on the floor, and on the top of the recliner where Hamilton lay his head," said Lovelace. “There was evidence of blood in the passenger seat [where Hamilton sat in the car]. It was examined and determined to be blood."
White reminded one witness of a statement he made to Carswell early in the investigation, denied by the same witness at trial, that Hamilton’s face was bloody and that he needed to be carried to the car after the incident.
Quackenbush countered by citing testimony indicating the victim and defendant were good friends and had spent much of the day together with no apparent animosity evident.
“It’s clear Barnes had no designs on hurting Hamilton," said Quackenbush. They spent the whole day together.
“It’s clear to me the evidence is that there was a card game, drinking and money got involved, and it was over before it started. It doesn’t rise to the level of malice or intent. There’s reasonable doubt for both."
In making his ruling, Judge Osborn referred to evidence of a one-sided fight, with Barnes the clear aggressor.
“This was not mutual combat," said Osborn. One person had to come around to the other side of the table to get to the other person.
“A man was injured and the altercation didn’t end voluntarily on Barnes’ part. The evidence indicated he had to be pulled off.
“I find evidence sufficient for malicious wounding."
Barnes was remanded to custody following the trial to await sentencing in a later court term.

Friday Wreck Injures One

The driver of a 1999 Freightliner tractor-trailer was listed in critical but stable condition at the Medical College of Virginia yesterday after an accident on U.S. 501 near Volens Friday, according to Trooper M.C. Forbes of the Virginia State Police.
Forbes said that Robert P. Hill, 68, of Fayetteville, Pa., ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned the truck and trailer on the passenger side.
The road was blocked for over three hours as debris was removed from the accident site, Forbes said.
According to police, Hill was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital for what were described as “major injuries,” where he was then airlifted to MCV.
The trooper said the tractor-trailer was a total loss.
In other state police business, a pedestrian was struck Saturday while walking near the site of the former Clover Elementary School, according to Trooper Stanley Noblin.
The incident occurred on Mount Laurel Road at approximately 10:45 a.m.
According to the trooper, a 1982 Chevrolet operated by Frank Robinson, 65, of Clover was traveling south on Route 92 when a pedestrian identified as Marcelus Lacks, 71, reportedly walked into the side of the Chevrolet as it traveled down the road, according to Noblin.
Lacks was listed as injured in the accident, according to police.
No charges were filed in the accident, Noblin said.

New Board To Seek School Funds

The Halifax County School Board is expected to appointments to the Halifax County Public School Education Foundation Board of Directors during their regular monthly meeting tonight.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Mary Bethune Office Complex Public Meeting Room.
The Board created the foundation in December to find alternative funds and resources for the school system, including grant funding only available to foundations.
“The intention is to present an initial recommendation for the board of directors,” said Assistant Superintendent of Schools Larry Clark. “The way the by-laws have been drawn for the establishment of the foundation, the school board would be responsible for appointing people to those positions.”
Clark said Superintendent Paul Stapleton had selected the proposed nominees.
“He has asked the board to submit nominees and is also aware of the various service organizations and leaders in the community,” said Clark. “That has probably been the source of those names.”
Initial recommendations for the 15 member board of directors were proposed during the trustees December meeting.
That list included Arthur Reynolds, James W. Bradshaw, Rose Hawkins, Ted Bennett, Fields Thomas, Judy Kraft, John Cannon, Doug Bowman, Logan Young and Chris Lumsden.
Trustees are also expected to request a waiver from the state to exclude the school system from the pre-Labor Day opening requirements.
“The board has historically supported opening before Labor Day,” said Clark. “We meet the state’s requirements for a waiver.”
Clark said those requirements were based on an average number of days missed per year over the past ten years.
“We will present the waiver request to the board for their approval so our calendar committee can start with an opening school date set before Labor Day,” added Clark.
The board will also be presented with a program featuring area students in honor of School Board Recognition Month.
In return, the board is expected to recognize two outstanding area residents, Harvey Dillard, who has been named Virginia’s Mentor of the Year, and Craig McCargo, who achieved the HCHS basketball career scoring record this year.

Obituaries

Annie Ruth Jones Clark

Funeral services for Mrs. Annie Ruth Jones Clark will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 15, with services at the Crossroads Baptist Church.
The Rev. Brenda Smith will officiate.
Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Mrs. Clark, of Coleman Drive in Alton, died Friday, February 11 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was 55.
Mrs. Clark was born in Halifax County on August 9, 1949, the daughter of Edward Lee Jones Sr., and Mrs. Nannie Ruth Hamlett Jones.
She was a member of the Crossroads Baptist Church and was employed by Turbeville Elementary School.
Mrs. Clark is survived by her husband, Robert Junior Clark; one daughter, Traci Clark of Alton; two sons, David R. Jones and Thomas F. Lee, both of Alton; her parents; one sister, Mary Lipscomb of South Boston; six grandchildren; one daughter in law, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Edward Jones, Jack Jones, Mack Hamlett and William Jones.
The family will receive friends at the Coleman Drive residence in Alton.

James Earl Hill

James Earl Hill, 54, of 3169 Cedar Grove Road, Alton died February 10 at his home.
He was born in Thomasville, N.C. on October 19, 1950, the son of Robert James Hill and Wilmer Louella Hopkins Hill and was married to Beverly Kay Wilborne Hill.
Mr. Hill was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church and an Army National Guard Veteran. He was a maintenance supervisor with Bernstein Management in Maryland for 20 years and then with Hunt Management in Fla.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Barbara H. McAdams and husband, James, of Severna Park, Md., and Ashley Hill of Alton; one son, Brian Hill and wife, Melody, of Pasadena, Md.; four grandchildren, Matthew Lennox and Shelby McAdams, both of Severna Park, Tyler Hill and Ethan James Hill, both of Pasadena; two brothers, Robert S. Hill of Connersville, Ind. And Allen Craig Hill of Boston, Mass.; one sister, Judy McCoy of Winter Haven, Fla; his mother of Winter Haven; and his mother-in-law, Mecia Wilborne of Alton.
Mr. Hill was preceded in death by his father, and one brother, Michael R. Hill.
Funeral services will be held today, February 14, at 1 p.m. at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Liz Buxton officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, 24592, or Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston.

Virgie DeJarnette Younger

Virgie DeJarnette Younger, 89, of 12218 L.P. Bailey Memorial Highway died February 11 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Younger was born in Halifax County on December 31, 1915, the daughter of the late Henry C. DeJarnette and Virginia D. DeJarnette and was married to the late Aubrey Barksdale Younger Sr. She was a member of Catawba Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, A.B. Younger Jr. of Nathalie and Billy Younger of Louisville, Ky.; one sister, Bernice D. Wendell of Cape Charles; three grandchildren, Lisa Hiatt of Nathalie, Greg Younger of Cluster Springs, and Teresa Younger of Louisville, Ky.; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Younger were held February 13 at 2 p.m. at Catawba Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael O’Shea officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Donald “Edgar" Powell, Sr.

Donald “Edgar" Powell, Sr., 85, died at his home located at 1204 Golf Course Road, Halifax, Va. on February 12, 2005. Mr. Powell was given life by his parents, the late Addison Grayson Powell and Bessie Mae Howard on September 28, 1919. He grew up in the Dan River community working hard on his family’s farm. He moved to Polkton, N.C. as a young adult to take care of the Leggett family farm. This is the place he met his wife to be, Mary Alice Horton.
He served his country during World War II and was there on “D" day. After the war he married Mary Alice Horton. Some of the places he worked were: Shelton Motor Company, Powell Motor Company, Hupp’s Mill Plaza Bowling Alley, Maddox Oil Company and Glen-More Clothing Store.
Mr. Powell’s spirit and heart were broken upon the recent loss of his wife on October 29, 2004. He is survived by two children Donald “Donnie" Edgar Powell, Jr., of Halifax, Va. and Kay Horton Powell Fridenstine of Woodbridge, Va.; two grandchildren, Terri Powell Burdette of Sutherlin, Va. and Eric Warren Fridenstine of Stafford, Va. In addition, two great-granddaughters, Presley Faith Burdette (entered heaven on April 8, 2004) and Emilee Mae Fridenstine of Stafford, Va. He is also survived by one sister, Mattie Mae Yancey of Oxford, N.C. Preceding him in death were four brothers: Charles Edward Salley, Sr. (half-brother), Addison Bradshaw Powell, Eddie Hampton Powell and Grayson Carrington Powell.
The funeral services will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel, 115 Main St., South Boston, Va. on Monday, February 14, 2005 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Douglas Gibson conducting the service. Burial will follow at the Dan River Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family is most grateful to Frances Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Powell’s loving caretaker for approximately six years. A special thank you to Joyce Powell, friend of the family for her devoted care and friendship. (Paid)

It’s Now A One-Game Season

HCHS Faces Archrival GW Again Tuesday In Danville, This Time In The Western Valley District Tournament Semifinals

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

The success of Halifax County High School’s basketball season boils down to one game.
That game will come Tuesday night when the Comets travel to Danville to face archrival GW in the semifinal round of the Western Valley District Tournament.
For both Halifax County (10-12 overall, 3-5 district) and GW (17-4 overall, 6-2 district), Tuesday night’s game is the season. The winner will advance to Friday’s tournament championship game and, barring an upset of regular-season champion Franklin County by Patrick Henry Tuesday night, will go into that contest with a berth in the Northwest Region Tournament in hand.
The loser will stay home with its season having ended.
For Halifax County, Tuesday night’s game will be the biggest game it will play all season as it attempts to salvage a disappointing season filled with a handful of late losses in close games and a couple of losses to teams the Comets were expected defeat.
“It (the season) is on the line,” said Comets coach Garrett Dillard.
“ It’s a grudge match. It’s one of those things like they used to have in wrestling where you have everybody in the ring and the last man standing wins. The last man standing gets to play for the district championship.
“It’s not over until it’s over,” added Dillard.
“That’s the way we’re going to have to play when we go up there.”
Halifax County, with its 3-5 district mark, finished in a tie for third place with Patrick Henry. Luck was with the Comets when it came time for the coin toss to decide which team would be the third seed for the district tournament, with the Comets getting third place and Patrick Henry getting fourth place.
By winning the coin toss, the Comets need only one win, a win Tuesday over GW, to advance to the Northwest Region Tournament. Patrick Henry needs two wins, a big upset win over Franklin County Tuesday and a win Friday in the tournament championship game, in order to advance.
The good fortune of winning the coin toss was one of the few good breaks the Comets have enjoyed this season.
The Comets, returning this season with its starting lineup intact from last year, were seen by many people in the Western Valley District as a strong contender for the district title. However, things didn’t turn out that way.
Halifax County, for the first time in several years, finished the regular season campaign with a losing record. The Comets ended the season with three consecutive losses, two of them coming in overtime against district leaders Franklin County and GW.
The Comets’ five losses in Western Valley District play have come by a total of 21 points with three of the losses coming by three points or less. Their two largest losses in district play came in a seven-point loss to GW in Danville and a seven-point loss to Franklin County in overtime.
Halifax County High School’s goal for the season was to make it into the Northwest Region Tournament. Now, with a disappointing losing record, a win over GW Tuesday night is the only thing that will salvage the season.
“If you lose, you have 13 losses,” noted Comets coach Garrett Dillard.
“ You can find some good individual success stories. You can find some moral victories. You can find everybody stayed eligible-type stuff and everybody is on track to graduate-type stuff. But, as far as basketball goes, if you lose, it’s been unsuccessful, especially when you look at the losses to Carlisle and Tunstall and when you look at how we lost so many games in the last minute, some in the last seconds.”
Dillard says he expects Tuesday night’s game to be another close contest – another hard-fought game that has come to typify the longstanding series of games between the two teams.
“Hopefully, we’ve been through it enough that if we get into that situation, coaches, players, everybody will know what to do,” said Dillard, noting that his team must eliminate mistakes down the stretch in order to win.
“We just have to finish it. We need to get a lead and not turn the basketball over in the last minute and make our free throws.”

Lions Boys Beat Park View 43-33 For Tourney Crown

Halifax Caps Perfect 15-0 Season With Win

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

It’s hard to beat a good team three times in one season, but that’s just what the Halifax County Middle School boys basketball team accomplished here Saturday against Park View in the finals of the Southside Middle School Conference Tournament, beating the Cougars 43-33.
The win marked the third conference tournament title for the Lions under coach Mike Hailey and the first time in his six-year tenure that the Lions finished the regular season and tournament undefeated.
Halifax defeated two opponents to get to the finals, destroying Amelia 72-9 Wednesday before routing Russell 55-26 in the semifinals on Friday.
Park View got to the finals after a quarterfinal win over Powhatan and a 50-37 win against Central of Charlotte Courthouse in Friday’s semifinals.
Lemal Adams and Tremel Lipscomb led the Lions with 11 points each in the title game, while Durrell Chandler had 10 points. Russell White added six points, while Delquan Torian and Keon Chandler chipped in two points apiece. Deshon Dabbs was one for two from the foul line for one point.
Barry Hite led Park View with a game-high 18 points, including four treys, three of them in the fourth quarter as the Cougars attempted to rally. Romane Branch had seven points, Wellington Johnson six points (one trey) and Tivin Jones two points for Park View.
The Lions got off to a 7-2 lead and never trailed, using a 1-3-1 zone defense to stymie the Cougars the rest of the game.
That, and several key minutes by his reserves with three starters in early foul trouble were the keys to the win, according to Hailey.
“I was real impressed with Park View when I saw them play Friday," said Hailey. “I knew it was going to be a real tough task, real tough. Every time we’ve played them, they became more comfortable with what we were doing, so I was tickled to death with how we responded."
The Lions led midway through the first quarter 7-2. Adams was fouled on an inside move and hit a free throw, Durrell Chandler drove the lane for two, and Hite scored for Park View. Lipscomb hit a jumper and Adams was fouled on a putback, hitting both foul shots.
The teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter, with the Lions owning the lead 11-6.
It was 13-9 after an Adams basket and Hite’s first trey early in the second quarter, and the Cougars got as close as 15-13 on a three-point play by Hite and a foul shot from Johnson.
Lipscomb hit a big 3-pointer and Dabbs his foul shot as the Lions led 19-13 at halftime.
A big key to the Lions lead was the play of its reserves after starters White, Adams and Torian were saddled with early foul trouble.
“Three rookies on the floor, the game on the line, the score tight and we weathered it," noted Hailey.
“We even expanded our lead a little, but we didn’t get hurt, and that was huge. That was the biggest part of the game, the second quarter, we could have folded right there.
The Lions took their first double-digit lead of the game in the third period after two straight Adams putbacks and two White foul shots gave Halifax a 27-16 advantage.
Park View got as close as 29-21 on a Branch basket, but Chandler gave the Lions a huge lift with a off-balance banker off the glass with no time left to give Halifax a 31-21 lead with a quarter left.
The Cougars had one last surge left, Hite hitting two straight 3-pointers after a Lipscomb field goal to close to within 33-27 early in the last quarter, but a driving basket from Lipscomb and Torian field goal restored the Lions’ 10-point lead with half the quarter gone.
Halifax held off Park View from the foul line the remainder of the game, Chandler hitting four of four and Lipscomb two of two from the foul line to offset 3-pointers from the Cougars’ Hite and Johnson.
Durrell Chandler’s score at the end of the third quarter was big, and so was the Lions performance at the free throw line down the stretch, according to Hailey.
“That was a big bucket from Chandler, seconds to go, he drives the lane and takes it to the hole the way he should," said Hailey. And, isn’t that weird how that worked with free throws. Our worst stat of the year, but we were eight for eight in the second half and six for six down the stretch."
Halifax, shooting barely 50 percent from the charity stripe as a team for the season, was a blistering 12 for 16 in the title game, for 75 percent.
“They were all crucial," remarked Hailey.
Halifax 55, Russell 26
(Friday Semifinals)
A solid game on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor gave Halifax a big win over Russell in the tournament semifinals.
Adams and White dominated the inside the entire game for the Lions, Adams finishing with 20 points and White with 15 points. Durrell Chandler contributed seven points, including two treys, and Torian counted a 3-pointer among his five points. Sam Lantor had four points, and Tremel Lipscomb and Deshon Dabbs chipped in two points apiece.
Halifax led 16-4 after one quarter and 28-12 at halftime, before pulling away in the second half.
The Lions played a very “clean and efficient game" against a dangerous team, according to Hailey, shooting 50 percent from the floor and limiting Russell to 21 percent for the night.
The only blemish on the night was an eight for 18 performance from the foul line.
Adams and White dominated the boards on both ends of the floor, with Lipscomb controlling the game from his point guard position, said Hailey.
“Tremel Lipscomb was nothing but superb with assist after assist for our big guys and his ball handling was sensational," he added
The Lions’ dominance inside was apparent early on, Adams scoring 12 points in the first quarter. Chandler hit his trey for a 16-4 advantage.
White and Torian had five points each in the second period and Lipscomb added a bucket for a 28-14 lead at intermission.
White had eight points, Adams six points and Chandler a trey in the third quarter to hike the lead to 45-20.
Lantor had four points in the fourth quarter, and baskets from Dabbs, Adams and White finished the scoring for Halifax.

 

 

Lions Girls Upend Central
40-26 To Win Tourney Crown

Halifax Undefeated Champions For Third Straight Year

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

Halifax County Middle School girls basketball coach James Smith has maintained all season that 40 points should be enough win every game, considering his team’s speed and athleticism on defense.
That proved to be the difference in the Lions’ 40-26 conquest of previously unbeaten Central of Charlotte Courthouse here Saturday in the championship game of the Southside Middle School Conference Tournament.
Halifax reached the finals with a 50-25 rout of E.W. Wyatt in the tournament semifinals here Friday.
Point guard Brittany Roberts led the Lions with 16 points in the title game, Tiffany Wilson finished with seven points, while Shakiyla Jeffreys had five points. Whitney McCargo, Myisha Younger and Lauren Daniel chipped in four points apiece.
Castar Harper led Central with a game-high 20 points, most all of them on short jumpers and putbacks inside the paint.
The tourney championship is the third straight for the Lady Lions and the sixth in Smith’s eight-year tenure, but this one didn’t come easy against a tall and fundamentally sound Central squad.
The key to the game was a change in strategy in the second quarter, with the Lions clinging to 17-14 lead. Halifax held a 9-6 lead after one quarter, Roberts hitting a trey and McCargo and Daniel the baskets for the Lions.
“We tried to feel them out a little bit and stay close to them in the first half," said Smith, who admitted the taller Bobcats were having success against his trademark zone trap defense.
“They were so tall, they’d pass over it," remarked Smith, who added his team stuck with the strategy until two minutes were left in the half.
“We switched to a man-to-man, and I saw it was working a little bit," said Smith, emphasizing another purpose for the switch was taking the ball out of the hands of Alicia Cook, Central’s talented point guard.
That change in strategy held Central scoreless the rest of the half, Myisha Younger and Jeffreys hitting baskets to give the Lions a 21-14 cushion at halftime.
To that point, Central had used its height advantage to get several good looks inside, Harper with 12 of her team’s points by halftime.
Smith said that was the focus of his halftime talk.
“I told the girls to come out in a man-to-man and jump on them quick, and to keep the ball out of no. 32 (Smith’s) hands," said Smith.
The increase in tempo seemed to favor Halifax, Daniel hitting a follow shot, McCargo a layup after a steal and Jeffreys a trey as part of a 6-0 run that put the Lions up 28-14 before Central scored.
Jeffreys converted a steal into a layup, Roberts hit two foul shots after another Central turnover and Jeffreys hit another basket, as the Lions led 34-21 entering the fourth quarter.
Harper hit her final basket of the game early in the fourth quarter to get Central to within 34-23, but Halifax pulled away, Roberts with two foul shots after a drive to the hoop and Wilson with another basket.
Wilson took a length of the court pass to score the final points of the game for the Lions, clinching their third consecutive undefeated season.
The basketball found the hands of Lions point guard Roberts several times in the fourth quarter, and that was by design, according to Smith.
“Roberts is one of our returning starters from last year and she took charge in the fourth quarter," began Smith.
“She had a good tournament last year and made first team, all conference, and she kind of took over the game today.
“They [Central] tried to take Jeffreys and McCargo out of the game, but Lauren stepped up tonight with key baskets and rebounds. Younger came in and did well, and Tiffany hung in there despite foul trouble."
Halifax 50, E.W. Wyatt 25 (Friday Semifinals)
The Lions had to deal with a third matchup this season with E.W. Wyatt in the tourney semifinals Friday night, overcoming foul difficulties to pull away to a 50-25 win.
A total of 42 fouls were called in the contest, 21 on each team, with one Lions starter fouling out, another finishing the game with four fouls and two others with three fouls each.
Jeffreys led the Lions with 12 points, hitting a trey and seven of 10 shots at the free throw line, while McCargo finished with 11 points, including a 3-pointer and two points from the charity stripe.
Wilson added seven points, Roberts six points, Younger five points, and Daniel four points, while Betty Rose and Johanna Spencer each added a basket. Nia Brown was one of two from the foul line for the Lions’ final points.
The key to the win against a physical Wyatt team was getting an early lead, according to Smith, and the Lions did just that, leading 16-8 after one quarter. McCargo held the hot hand early, counting a trey among her seven first-quarter points, while Wilson added five and Jeffreys and Roberts two points apiece.
“We got out of the gate well compared to the last time we played them," said Smith, recalling the teams’ last meeting here in January.
The Lions trailed Wyatt 11-7 after the first quarter in that game, the only time Halifax was behind all season entering the second period.
“That fast start helped a lot, and so did the balanced scoring," he noted.
A 13-2 run in the second quarter gave the Lions a comfortable 29-10 at halftime, Younger working inside for four points, Jeffreys hitting three of four from the line, and Roberts, Daniel and Wilson adding a field goal each.
Jeffreys hit a trey and McCargo and Daniel baskets in the third period, but Wyatt closed the gap to 37-21 entering the final quarter, where the Lions went to a spread offense to take advantage of its speed on the perimeter.
Roberts, Rose and Spencer hit baskets, Jeffreys hit four of four foul shots, McCargo two foul shots and Brown one, as the Lions sealed the win.

 

Lewis Steps Down As Head Coach Of Varsity Girls Cagers

Family Priorities Key In Decision

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

Friday night’s game at GW was the last for Stephanie Lewis as head coach of the Comets varsity girls basketball team.
It was not an easy decision to make, according to Lewis.
Lewis, who currently coaches in both the middle school and high school soccer programs, is married to Michael Lewis, himself a coach in the Comets baseball and football programs.
The couple is expecting their first child this year.
“It was a hard decision that I debated with Michael and my family in Northern Virginia for quite a while," said Lewis.
“These girls and coach Rutledge have become a part of my second family. But, with starting a family, Michael and I talked and he said things could still work.
“I needed to adjust my priorities, and I knew getting home around 7:30 or 8 p.m. from practice was not going to work with raising a child. Also, with coaching middle school and high school soccer, it just got to be too much."
Both she and her husband are making adjustments at this time, she continued.
“It just got to be too much with not having enough time for my family here in town and those who live far away. Michael felt that things would work if I wanted to continue coaching, but I did not want to miss this key point of the baby’s life.
“It is going to be an adjustment for both of us, because with us both coaching, adjustments will have to be made."
The fact that she is stepping down does not mean she will forget her players, she emphasized.
“These girls have been a big part of my life, and despite the fact I’m stepping down I will not forget the entire varsity team or those who have already graduated and touched my life in one way or another," said Lewis.
Coach Rutledge and I have tried to take time to get to know these girls as individuals and not just athletes. I hope those who have already graduated can say that I have tried to help them achieve their dreams in helping them get to college, whether through sports, academics or helping with writing scholarship letters. I believe in these girls as true student-athletes."
“I will miss dearly the five girls who are leaving especially Margaret [Beale], Kelly [Royster], and Ashley [Crowder], who have been with me for three years. I have seen Chelle [Newman], Dakiesha [Teeters], Kelly, Margaret and Ashley play, grow and develop into wonderful young ladies over these past four years.
“I just hope that whoever takes my place truly takes the time to get to know these girls besides what they do on the floor."