Logs Roll, Disaster Averted

Those inside the store say the ground trembled as a gigantic rumble rolled - along with a truckload of logs - toward Jiffy 15’s large windows.
Marilyn Carter screamed, grabbed fellow employee Demetric Hunt and ran to the back of the Halifax convenience store as the logs careened off of the logging truck toward the store.
Carter also had the presence of mind to shut off the gas pumps as she ran.
One of the store’s gas pumps would take a direct hit as the logs rolled from the overturned trailer at the corner of North Main and L.P. Bailey Highway in Halifax late Friday afternoon..
But there was good news.
Halifax Police Chief David Martin and Lt. M.A. Womack, who happened to be at the store investigating another matter, immediately took charge at the busy intersection.
And the truck’s cab did not flip over, so driver Phillip Ross Garrett, 34, of Oxford, N.C., escaped serious injury.
“He was going northbound on Main Street, coming out of Halifax and taking a left on L.P. Bailey Highway,” explained Womack. “The weight shifted, and the (truck’s) fifth wheel gave way.”
Womack charged Garrett with two counts of defective equipment.
In other police reports, Robert Lee Fallen Jr., 23, of North Main Street, Halifax, was arrested Friday and charged with grand larceny through credit card fraud, Womack said yesterday. The alleged incident was reported Nov. 25, 2007. Womack was the arresting officer.
Kevin Demario Powell, 19, of Snead Lane, Halifax, was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 6, and charged with petit larceny. Womack said Powell allegedly stole a birdbath and sold it to a salvage facility.
Womack was the arresting officer.

Higher Ed Touts Creative Classes

“People cannot say this county has hid its head in the sand,” Southern Virginia Higher Education Center Director W. W. “Ted” Bennett told members of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) Friday morning during a presentation and tour of the center.
Long before the exodus of the manufacturing giants from Southern Virginia in the late 1990s, Halifax County officials recognized the need for a higher education presence in the county, he said.
The SVHEC was born out of the recognition that education is the foundation upon which strong communities, families and economies are built, Bennett added.
During an hour-long presentation, Bennett and other members of the Halifax Education Center staff outlined the mission of the center as well as new program initiatives and outreach efforts currently under way at its facility located on Bruce Street in South Boston.
“The leadership of this county has worked hard to promote an education ethic,” Bennett said, adding that ethic is permeating the community.
He pointed to recent success stories coming out of Danville, Halifax County’s neighbor to the west, a city that holds the national title for creating the most jobs for a jurisdiction with a population under one million.
“The secret to Danville’s success is its Institute for Advanced Learning (IALR),” Bennett said. “We have got to do the same here, and we are commencing on that route.”
According to Bennett, the SVHEC currently pays total salaries and benefits totaling $2.4 million per year to its 40 full-time employees and 50 to 60 adjunct faculty members.
When doling out state monies, he said legislators see the SVHEC and IALR as “one in the same.”
The Center’s leadership has recognized that to be prosperous in the face of a prolonged, profound economic downturn, collaborative efforts with coalition partners such as the IALR and the New College Institute in Martinsville are necessary.
“This collaboration has resulted in the HEC’s designation as the primary institution for K-12 outreach in the region,” Bennett said.
In 2006, the HEC was awarded a $100,000 research grant that allowed it to initiate its regional K-12 outreach efforts, focusing on science, technology, math and engineering areas.
“Out of this undeniable need came the establishment of the Center for Rural Education and Economic Development (CREED),” he added.
Through CREED, Halifax educators are inspiring a “culture of education” that will build on career pathways beginning with early childhood programs that are reinforced through grade 12 in order to support economic development in Southside, Bennett further explained.
Amy Lammerts, director of program development and marketing, next introduced IDA members to the business of art and design, and the new wood science WoodLinks project being developed at the center under the auspices of newly hired David Kenealy, director of wood science.
“We’re proud to be the first WoodLinks site in the state of Virginia,” Lammerts said, speaking of her desire to see it become a state certified program.
She also invited members to attend the Southern Virginia Forest Products Initiative Conference to be held March 13 at the Institute for Advanced Learning (IALR) in Danville.
“We think we have a great idea to advance economic development, and we think we’re on the right track with these things,” Lammerts said citing outreach efforts in the community include programs such as Kids’ College, PJ50 Plus and After School Arts and Design Experience.
An additional initiative of the HEC to capitalize on local assets and strengthen the region’s economic development efforts is the Center For Nursing Excellence (CNE).
Nettie Simon-Owens, director of workforce development, outlined objectives of the nursing center, explaining the new HEC program will address the regional and state-wide challenge of preparing qualified nurses and nurse educators to meet the growing needs of an aging society.
Soon to be located in an innovative and flexible nursing education facility at the center, the CNE will feature an instructional delivery model designed to advance the nursing profession in Southern Virginia, she added.
The Halifax Education Foundation is building out 4,175 square feet of existing space at the HEC for the CNE.
According to Simon-Owens, higher education attainment for more students entering nursing programs, state-of-the-art training experiences, expanded job placement opportunities, and increased salaries as a result of integrated curriculums within and across institutions are expected of the nursing program.
Bennett summarized the vision that began 20 years ago at the SVHEC describing it as a comprehensive higher education facility that has served as a recognized model throughout the state.
“At the heart of everything it does is the truth that education is the catalyst for change,” he concluded. “We believe we are headed in the right direction.”

IDA Donates Sinai Land To Higher Education Foundation

Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) members agreed to donate two acres of land located in the Halifax County Industrial Park to the Higher Education Foundation.
The unanimous vote came during the IDA’s regular monthly meeting held in the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center Friday morning.
At their December meeting, members approved selling two acres of land in the Sinai area to the Higher Education Foundation (HEF) for $20,000.
At that time, IDA Executive Director Mike Eades said the Higher Education Foundation was interested in securing the historic tobacco bag factory adjacent to The Prizery on Seymour Drive that was owned by the Harris family.
He also explained Mike Harris was interested in securing the two acres of property in the Sinai area.
At the end of December, the Harris family donated the historic building to foundation officials – a donation planned to be the beginning of a new arts and graphic design campus at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC).
During their meeting Friday morning, Foundation Chairman Wayne Conner asked the board to reconsider its decision to sell the property in the Sinai Industrial Park to the foundation, urging them to donate the two acres instead.
In a letter to IDA Chairman Garland Ricketts, Conner said the foundation envisions using the bag factory to expand the campus of the existing SVHEC.
“In order to assist the foundation in this initiative which will enhance the economic development of our area, the foundation requests the IDA to authorize the donation of two acres of land in the Sinai Industrial Park to the foundation,” Conner wrote.
He said if the land is donated, it will allow the foundation to use the $20,000 to renovate the bag factory building “to get it where it needs to be in the next year or so” which could potentially bring students into the area.
Halifax Education Center Executive Director W. W. “Ted” Bennett also spoke to the merits of the issue saying, “We feel we’re going to turn out to be quite an engine for economic development in not only Halifax County but this region.”
Referring to the donation of the two acres, Bennett said, “That’ll be $20,000 our foundation won’t have to raise.”
He estimated the foundation will have to raise approximately $3 to $4 million dollars minimum to make the bag factory “what it absolutely needs to be” to help IDA’s marketing of the area.
IDA board member William Kelehar offered the motion to give the land to the foundation.
However, once the land is “gifted” to the Harris family by the foundation, Kelehar said he would like to see the IDA have a right of first refusal if the Harris family should decide to sell the two acres of land.
“I would hate to see the land sold for some huge profit,” he added.
Conner said the foundation would put a clause in the contract that if the land was not used for its intended use, the foundation would have the right of first refusal.
In other business Friday morning, the IDA board members selected BB&T to manage the ABB Escrow Fund.
Six proposals were considered before the IDA executive director recommended BB&T’s Public Fund Money Rate Savings Account -the same vehicle IDA currently uses to invest its operating and retainage funds.
Eades advised board members to revisit investment options as funds accumulate in this account.
Also at Friday’s meeting, the IDA waived its right of first refusal to repurchase a 2.8165 acre tract located in the Halifax County Industrial Park, the site of the former RW Power Partners, L.P. cogeneration and recycling facility.
Eades said the property was sold by RWP to Energy Conversions (ECI) which ceased operations a number of years ago and abanadoned the site. RWP took back a purchase money deed of trust lien to secure seller financing.
Recently, RWP/ECI has found a purchaser for the site, Maryland Environmental Restoration Group (MERG), a sister company to Spririt Services, Inc. who has offered $150,000 for the property.
According to Eades, MERG/Spirit Services intends to re-open the facility, initially to perform waste oil recovery and recycling.
“No hazardous wastes will be handled at the facility,” Eades said.
The company, which plans to study the feasibility of restarting the cogeneration turbines, expects to create approximately five new jobs, he added.
In a letter MERG President Rich Ellman wrote to Eades, he describes MERG as “a company dedicated to the research, development and implementation of alternative energy resources.”
MERG’s sister company Spirit Services also is involved in different types of alternative energy and recycling projects including oil and water reclamation.
“MERG and Spirit are currently working on a joint venture to dry sewerage sludge so it can be used as a fuel supplement to coal. This would not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it also would lessen the burden on our already overcrowded landfills,” the company president said.
Ellman concluded his letter to Eades saying both companies are “very socially conscious,” and they would be interested in working with county officials by sharing any knowledge and expertise they can offer in an effort to contribute to the economic growth of this area.
Also at their Friday morning meeting, IDA members were informed the cranes are up and running at the new ABB expansion which is expected to be issued a certificate of occupancy by the end of this month.
Although IDA has not closed on the project, members acted on a recommendation from Mike Blankenship to reduce the contractor’s retainage from 10 percent to five percent.
He presented a final ABB expansion project construction budget that reflects $737,269.32 encumbered to date.
Blankenship also reported demolition and grading is complete at the former Georgia-Pacific site.
“All that needs to be done now is to seed it,” Blankenship said, anticipating he would close out documents next week.
“This has been a very smooth project,” he added.
At the conclusion of the IDA meeting, Eades informed members his office continues to seek grants and other financial resources to upfit the 5,500 square feet at Riverstone Technology Center to accommodate the Modeling and Simulation Center of Excellence.
Working with a $450,000 budget, Eades said he has been actively involved with representatives of Tetra Tech and Virginia Tech to create grant proposals.
He also informed board members the Virginia Department of Transportation has completed its appraisal for the former right of way on Sandy Beach Road in Riverstone. The appraisal value will be revealed at the Commonwealth Transportation Board meeting on March 20.
The IDA will hold its next meeting on March 21 beginning at 8 a.m. at Riverstone.

Obituaries

Elizabeth W. Barksdale
Elizabeth Margaret Weatherford Barksdale, 84, of 1027 Barksdale Drive, Halifax died February 14, 2008, at her home.
Mrs. Barksdale was born in North Carolina October 24, 1924, the daughter of the late Luther Cole Weatherford and Jenette ‘Nettie’ Marshall Weartherford, and was married to the late Thomas Hula Barksdale. She was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Nancy B. Francis of Halifax; one son, Ray Barksdale of Halifax; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Clifton Weatherford of Danville, Billy Weatherford of Martinsville and James Weatherford of Halifax; four sisters, Lottie Farmer, Helen Mitchell and Joan Barker, all of Danville and Dolly Richardson of Halifax.
Two brothers, Earl and Calvin Weatherford; and three sisters, Annie Ladd, Mabel Edmunds and Gladys Mayes, also preceded Mrs. Barksdale in death.
Funeral services were held February 17, at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jeaux Simmons officiating. Burial followed in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

Priscilla Jordan
Priscilla Jordan, 43, of Nelson died February 15, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Jordan was the daughter of Carolyn G. Winstead of Clarksville and Jay Deal of South Boston, and was married to Emmett Jordan. She had worked in retail and most recently was a private duty nurse.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. February 17, at Buffalo Baptist Church, of which she was a member, with the Revs. Jim McAlister and Gregory Thomas officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
In addition to her husband and parents, survivors include two daughters, Sarah and Samangha Jordan; and one son, Jonathan Jordan, all of Nelson; and three brothers, Tony Deal of Virgilina, Chris Deal of South Boston and Ronnie Winstead of Skipwith.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wclfh.com

Mary Lizzie Gooch
Mary Lizzie Gooch, 89, of Clarksville, died Thursday, February 14, 2008, at Chase City Nursing and Rehabilitation, Chase City.
He was born in Mecklenburg County, June 7, 1918, to the late James and Hallie Carter Royster. She attended the schools of Mecklenburg County and was a member of New Liberty Baptist Church, Clarksville. She was a homemaker who enjoyed quilting, pets walking and fishing.
Gooch was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Gooch Sr., two sons, Isadore and Larvester Gooch, and one daughter, Doretha Gooch Morse.
She is survived by three sons, Roy Gooch Jr., and Ricky White, both of Clarksville, and Rev. William Gooch Hicks of Richmond; three grandchildren, Rodney Gooch, Isadore Brown and Tonya Gooch Hawkins; five great-grandchildren, one sister-in-law, Bertha Royster of Summerton, S.C.; two daughters-in-law, Joyce and Shirley Gooch, one devoted nephew, Arthur Royster and a number of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 19, at the chapel of C.H. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Clarksville, with Rev. H.F. Peace, officiating. Burial will follow in New Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery, Clarksville.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.harrisfhc.com.

George Thomas Sydnor
George Thomas Sydnor of Colorado St., Virgilina, died February 12, 2008, at his residence at the age of 53.
He was born in Washington, DC on November 3, 1954, and was the son of Alvah Thomas Sydnor and Corinne Great Sydnor. He was employed by Halifax County Public Schools after being employed for a number of years by Fairfax County Public Schools.
In addition to his parents of Atlantic Beach, N.C., he is survived by one sister, Karen Dudding of Gainesville, Fl.; two nephews, Dallas Dudding of Stafford and Darryl Dudding of Tampa, Fl.; and one niece, Karla Dudding-Nix of Lexington, Ky.
A memorial service for Mr. Sydnor will be held at 11 a.m. today, February 18, at Union Christian Church in Virgilina.

Charlie Martin Hogg Jr.
Charlie Martin Hogg Jr., 61, of Berry Hill Rd., South Boston, died Sunday, February 17, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born October 15, 1946, in Everett Wash., to the late Charlie M. Hogg Sr. and the late Peggy Georgina Whittingham Hogg.
Mr. Hogg is survived by three brothers, David Hogg of Warner Robins, Ga., Timothy Hogg of Florida, and Ricky Hogg of Nathalie; and by one sister, Janice Williams of Cary, N.C.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Sherry Hogg and Lori Hogg.
A private service for Mr. Hogg will be held in Georgia at a later date.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Southside Community Services Board.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com.

Stanley D. Whitt
Stanley D. Whitt, 47, of Knightdale, N.C., died February 16, 2008, after a short but brave battle with pancreatic cancer. Born June 21, 1960, in South Boston, he was a graduate of Danville Community College and James Madison University.
He was employed by RBC Centura as a Delivery Systems Data Manager.
He served his community as a member of the Knightdale Land Use Review Board for seven years and was active as a coach for his children’s sports teams in the Knightdale Parks and Recreation Leagues for many years. He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed playing golf and third base for the St. James United Methodist Church softball team for many years.
He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents and his brother, Michael.
He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Ellen, and his children, Eric and Meredith, all of the home.
He also is survived by his parents, Lacy and Joyce Whitt, and his sister and brother-in-law, Becky and Ricky Hutcherson, all of South Boston.
He is survived by his niece Shawn Short and her husband, Eric, their children, Patrick and Brooklyn, of Nathalie. He also leaves behind many great friends, his golfing buddies and the members of his college fraternity, Theta Chi.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, February 18, at St. James United Methodist Church, 3808 St. James Church Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27604 with visitation following in the church fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Staunton River Community Church Building Fund, First Baptist Church, South Boston, Organ Fund or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245.
Condolences to the family may be made at www.poolefuneral.com under Obituaries.

Frances J. Naeyaert
Frances J. Naeyaert, 85, a long-time resident of Bonita Springs, Fl. passed away Thursday, February 14, 2008, after a brief illness.
She had been a resident of Bonita Springs since 1957 coming from LaPeer, Mich.
Born January 1, 1923 in Detroit, Mi., she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Marie (nee Yeschner) Mayberger and was the wife of the late Raymond E. Naeyaert who passed away in 1992.
She was a former volunteer for the Clean-Up Bonita campaign.
Survivors include her son, David “Bunman” Naeyaert and wife Joyce of Bonita Springs, Fl.; two daughters, Sherry Botana and husband Omar of Estero, Fl., and Lorraine Healey of Spartanburg, S.C.; two brothers, Edward Mayberger and Harold Mayberger of Detroit, Mich.; one sister, Lucille Vance of Detroit, Mich.; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Monday from 6-9 p.m. at Walter Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home, 28300 Tamiami Tr., So. Bonita Springs.
A funeral will be held Tuesday, February 19, at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Hugh J. McGuigan, pastor of Our Lady of Light Catholic Community, officiating.
Burial will follow in Naples Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice, 27200 Imperial Parkway, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.

Wyatt McGellan Poindexter
Wyatt McGellan Poindexter, 71, of Nathalie died February 14, 2008, in South Boston.
He was the son of the late Jesse Poindexter and Jimmy Shipps Poindexter.
He is survived by three sisters, Lee Vanison and Geraldine Poindexter, both of Nathalie, and Carlyle Keller of Cambria Heights, N.Y.; one brother, Charles S. Poindexter of Odenton, Md.
A memorial service for Mr. Poindexter will be held Monday, February 18 at 1 p.m. at the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home And Cremation Service in Brookneal with the Rev. Robert Tucker, officiating.
Condolences may be emailed to Jeffressfh@aol.com.

Comets Hope Third Time Is Charm

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team is hoping that the law of averages will turn into its favor.
Halifax County (12-10 overall, 3-7 district) travels to Roanoke tonight to face Patrick Henry (11-11 overall, 4-6 district) in the first round of the Western Valley District Tournament. The winner of tonight’s game between the diswtrict’s number four and number five seeds will advance to Tuesday night’s second round and will travel to Danville to face regular-season champion GW, the state’s second ranked team. For tonight’s loser, the season ends.
Tonight will be the second time in less than a week that the fifth-seeded Comets and fourth-seeded Patrick Henry will have faced each other on the hardwood. Patrick Henry defeated the Comets 70-52 last Wednesday night in the regular-season finale for both teams to snare fourth place in the district standings and land a home game for tonight’s openong-round tournament game.
Wednesday night’s game was a one-point game with three minutes left in the third quarter. A spate of turnovers coupled with poor shot selection and resulting shooting on the part of the Comets, opened the door for the Patriots to quickly pull away.
In the first meeting between the two teams here earlier in the season, the Comets had the upper hand only to see the game slip out of its grasp in the closing minutes and have Patrick Henry escape with a 48-45 win.
Tonight’s game, with a chance to extend the season at stake, will be a rubber match of sorts for the two teams. Comets head coach Lynn Ramage and his players hope that tonight’s third meeting between the two teams will be the charm.
“People say it’s hard to beat a team three times,” Ramage said.
“I hope that will be the case with us. We’re hoping the third time will be the charm.”
Ramage pointed out that last Wednesday’s game against Patrick Henry was a game that his team could have won.
“It was a very winable game,” Ramage said.
“They (the players) know it was too. We make a shot here, grab a loose ball there and it could have been a different ballgame.”
Ramage gave credit to the Patrick Henry players for a good effort.
“They were a little more aggressive to the ball, a little bit more physically active than our kids,” Ramage said.
“They play hard and they attack the glass.”
Ramage pointed to his team’s poor shot selection, espcially in the third quarter after his team had pulled to within a point with three minutes left in the third quarter, and some miscues on the defensive end as key points in his team’s loss.
“We hurt ourselves with our shot selection in the third quarter,” Ramage pointed out.
“Also, on our help and receover defense, they were helping too much and couldn’t recover to the shooters. I don’t think we communicated well on that flex cut. They were running a flex cut from the wing down instead of baseline. Our reaction time was slow.”
Ramage and his players have been working hard to get ready for tonight’s district tournament opener. The Comets coaching staff and players gathered Thursday, Friday and Saturday for practices, looking to shore things up and prepare for tonight’s contest.
A big thing, the Comets coach noted, is that his players need to put aside the disappointment of last Wednesday night’s outcome and focus on tonight’s rematch with the Patriots.
“We had a chance to get a home game and we didn’t get it,” Ramage said.
Life goes on. Right now, we’ve got to worry about what we’ve got to do, which is go back to Patrick Henry and play them for the third time.”
Ramage said he expects his Comets team to be focused and ready to face the task at hand tonight.
“Like we have done all year long, our kids will come out and do the best they can,” Ramage remarked.
“This (Patrick Henry) is a team we can compete with. I don’t feel like we’re playing a team we can’t beat.”

Lady Comets Look For Rebound In WVD Tournament

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff WRiter
It will be a relatively quick turnaround for the Comets varsity girls basketball team tonight in the first round of the Western Valley District Basketball Tournament.
Halifax County, less than a week removed from a 48-37 loss to Patrick Henry on Senior Night, takes on the very same Lady Patriots team at Patrick Henry High School starting at 6 p.m.
The Lady Comets are seeded fifth for the tourney after finishing the regular season with a 2-8 mark in the Western Valley District and 10-12 overall record, both district wins coming over E.C. Glass.
Patrick Henry, seeded fourth, finished the regular season with a 6-4 mark in the district and is 16-5 overall.
The Comets are looking for a better result against Patrick Henry than in last year’s district tournament semifinal game, also played in Roanoke.
Halifax County held a 23-21 halftime lead but lost 58-42, ending a season in which the Comets collected three district wins and came close to win in several others.
Comets coach Ray Reaves believes his team matches up well with Patrick Henry, despite the two previous losses this season.
“We’ve battled with this team for two games (48-40 and 48-37 losses) and I don’t think that psychologically speaking we’ll be hurt going up there,” began Reaves.
“It won’t damage our motivation or determination. “Had we been matched up with any of a couple of other teams in the first round, it may have been iffy, but we don’t mind seeing PH based on how I feel or how the girls feel.
“Take nothing away from PH, they beat us twice already this season and they did their job,” continued Reaves.
“But, at the same time if we put together four good quarters of basketball and do all the things we need to do, we can win the game.”
Inconsistencies in execution, particularly on the offensive end, have hurt the Comets this season, whether they occur during one of four quarters or on consecutive possessions.
At times, the Comets, with only two seniors on its roster, have started two freshmen and three sophomores, and growing pains were evident at the start, according to Reaves.
He quickly added that progress has been made as the season wore along.
“We were making a lot of mistakes early in the season, but we’ve toned those down as time as moved along,” explained Reaves.
“We’ve undergone some growing pains and the girls knew from the start that we would, and they listened to the coaches when we told them that.”
Take away a few missed shots and a few turnovers, against Patrick Henry in the final regular season game and during the season, and things may be different as far as the tourney seeding goes, indicated Reaves.
Ultimately, as far as the tournament is concerned, the Comets won’t be bothered by who they’re playing, he added.
“It’s just tough on us physically to ride a bus for two hours and then play basketball,” said Reaves.
“But, I think we match up well against this team, and if I can do my job and get the right people on the floor in the right situation and call the right defenses, we’ll be okay.
“We can’t go up there expecting to win, but we can’t go up expecting to lose, either, so we’ll have to take care of business.
“Wishing to win a ball game won’t do it for us, and I give Patrick Henry credit.
“They came down here and took care of business and will look to do the same up there.”
If the Comets can avoid injury and illness, they’ll be in good shape come tonight, said Reaves, while noting that it will take a total team effort to defeat Patrick Henry.
“We’re in good shape, I think the girls are still motivated,” said Reaves.
“We had a good chance here (against Patrick Henry) but we let it slip away, and I think the girls know why.
“But, they’ve stuck together all year and have continued to work on things they needed to work on.
“This group has a lot of heart and determination, and that’s hard to teach, but it makes my job easier.”

 

Jayvees Cap Season With 20 Wins

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
It isn’t very often that a team gets a chance to enjoy a 20-win season.
But, it is something that this year’s Halifax County High School junior varsity boys basketball team can celebrate.
The Comets jayvees finished their season on a high note Wednesday night by downing the Patrick Henry High School jayvees 71-47 in Roanoke. Wednesday night’s win improved the Comets’ record to 20-2 on the season and gave the Comets the unofficial district jayvee title.
“This feels really good,” said Comets head coach Chris Johnson.
“I’m very proud of these guys. As good as it feels to me, I want it to feel even better for the kids. I wanted the kids to be able to experience something like this. They may not understand it now. But 15 or 20 years from now, they can look back at it and say it was a heck of a season.”
The game was nothing short of a total team effort for the Comets. Every player that suited up for the game scored. Ironically, it was a group of players that usually were not among the first five or six players in the scoring column that scored the most points.
Ricky Carr led the team with 10 points and was the only player to reach double figures. Deshawn Clarke chipped in seven points and Iric Webster, Deion Lipscomb, Devin Walton and Keith Gutrich each scored six points.
“Everybody that played contributed in some way,” Johnson pointed out.
“Everybody scored, everybody played good defense and I think just about everybody had at least one steal. What more can you ask for from a group of guys?”
The Comets raced off to a 12-3 lead in the first four and a half minutes only to see the Patriots rally to make it a five-point game at 17-12 at the end of the first quarter.
A 6-0 Comets run in the middle of the second quarter, the last basket coming from Marcus Williams, gave the Comets a 28-17 lead. After the Patriots broke the run with a free throw, the Comets scored nine unanswered points to up their lead to 37-18 with less than a minute left in the first half.
After leading 41-21 at halftime, the Comets continued to build their lead in the third quarter, using a 6-0 burst midway through the quarter to run up a 51-27 lead with 3:38 left in the period.
Halifax County led 57-31 at the end of the third quarter and easily held on through the final seven-minute period to cap the 71-47 win.