Body Found Saturday Morning At Greens Folly

South Boston police are seeking information in the death of 19-year-old Timothy J. Marshall of South Boston, found dead Saturday morning in the driveway at Greens Folly Golf Course.
“The victim suffered what appeared to be a single stab wound to the chest,” according to a press release issued by Sergeant T.M. VanAernem.
However, VanAernem said Marshall’s body has been sent to the Medical Examiners Office in Richmond for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
South Boston Police were called to the scene at 8:42 a.m Saturday, responding to a report that a male subject was lying in the driveway.
When police and Halifax County Rescue Squad personnel arrived, VanAernem said Marshall was found dead.
VanAernem said South Boston police and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Departments are continuing to follow up leads that have been called in.
“If anyone has any information regarding the death of Mr. Marshall, contact the South Boston Police Department at 434-575-4271,” urged VanAernem.
“Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 434-575-TIPS,” he added. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in the crime.
Due to the close political boundaries, South Boston Police Chief Jim Binner said his department is working closely with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Department.
“My officers are working with South Boston to try to resolve the case,” Sheriff Stanley Noblin confirmed yesterday.

House Battle Likely Over Uranium Study Bill

By SUE LINDSEY
The Associated Press
ROANOKE, Va. — A Virginia House of Delegates committee will be asked next week to kill or rewrite legislation passed by the Senate that calls for a study of whether uranium can be mined safely in Virginia.
The bill before the House Rules Committee in Richmond would create a commission to authorize a scientific study on mining a Pittsylvania County deposit estimated to be worth $10 billion. Virginia has had a moratorium on mining uranium since 1983, when a company was considering extracting the ore.
Del. Clarke Hogan, R-Halifax, said Friday that he opposed the study as proposed, and he and fellow members of the Rules Committee have been considering ways to amend the legislation. Many opponents of uranium mining live in Hogan’s Southside district.
One of Hogan’s concerns is that the study wouldn’t adequately address the dangers to public health and safety. He also thinks it doesn’t allow enough input from those in localities who would be affected by a mining operation.
“I feel real comfortable at this point that the concerns that I have are going to be addressed,” Hogan said. “The question is can we work out a compromise that we can live with. We’ll either have a compromise or nothing.”
The study has the support of Walter Coles Sr., who owns most of the property near Chatham where the uranium deposit lies. Coles and several partners have set up Virginia Uranium Inc. to explore the feasibility of mining the ore.
Coles suggested that the study be conducted by the National Academy of Sciences, and the bill sponsored by Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, was amended to specify a study by that agency.
Coles also has offered to foot the estimated $1 million bill for the assessment. He has said he would step back from any involvement, but mining opponents are wary of the suggestion of a public-private partnership.
One provision of the bill that troubles environmentalists is that the commission created by the legislation not only would receive the study results, but also would draft regulations to govern mining before reporting back to the General Assembly.
“Having them do both on the same deadline is begging the question,” said Nathan Lott, executive director of the Virginia Conservation Network.
In addition, he said, the budget passed by the Senate calls for the state Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy to assess the feasibility of setting up regulations and overseeing uranium mining while the study of its safety was being conducted.

DRBA Backs Uranium Moratorium

Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) members announced this week the group has adopted a resolution supporting the continued moratorium on uranium mining within the state.
Organized in 2002, the DRBA’s purpose is to preserve and promote the scenic rivers of the border region of Piedmont Virginia and North Carolina including a 3,300 square-mile region.
DRBA promotes the rivers for multiple uses, including recreation and commercial and municipal growth.
DRBA has over 500 members and four full-time professional staff in offices in Collinsville and Eden, N.C.
According to board member Carl Espy, the DRBA is opposed to Senate Bill 525 to establish the Uranium Mining Commission, an amended bill that has been referred to the House Committee on Rules for action this week.
According to the DRBA resolution supporting the continued moratorium on uranium mining within the Commonwealth, since the 1980s when the moratorium was issued on the mining and milling of uranium, “uranium mining in the U.S. and throughout the world has resulted in a host of serious problems, including toxic and radioactive contamination of groundwater and surface water in addition to the risk of cancer and other health problems for workers and the public.”
The resolution points out the Coles Hill Deposit near the Pittsylvania County community of Sheva is located within the Banister River Watershed of the Dan River Basin approximately 20 miles upriver from the Town of Halifax.
It also states the Banister River Reservoir currently serves as the source of drinking water for the Town of Halifax and is recognized as part of its strategic regional water supply by the Halifax County Service Authority.
“The Roanoke River Basin which is comprised of the Banister, Dan and Staunton (Roanoke) Rivers and their tributaries, provides drinking water for the City of Virginia Beach and other communities downstream as it empties into the Albemarle Sound on the coast of North Carolina,” the resolution states.
Another point addressed in the resolution states no precedent of a large-scale uranium mine in a wet climate such as the Virginia Piedmont exists where annual precipitation exceeds evaporation causing uranium tailings ponds to overflow as well as to leach into the water table.
The resolution concludes stating the economic benefits of a uranium mine remain uncertain with potential negative impacts caused by pollution, public health problems and decreased productive farmland.
In a letter Espy wrote to legislators on behalf of the DRBA, he outlines the following points DRBA believes legislators should address prior to voting on the bill:
n The geographic area of the proposed study should remain state-wide in scope and not focus solely on the Coles Hill deposit.
n Statutory and regulatory mechanisms should apply across the Commonwealth.
n While Virginia Uranium bears funding costs, a study should be commissioned by an independent party. Parties with a vested interest in the outcome of the study should be involved with neither issuance of requests for proposals nor engagement of the investigating firm.
n The study must conclusively demonstrate that the proposed mining methods are safe and free of short- and long-term impacts to human health, air quality, and surface- and ground-water quantity and quality.
n The study must include examination of the area’s hydrology, vegetation, wildlife, soils, archeology, cultural, historic and recreational resources, seismology, and meteorology (prevailing wind direction).
n All extended impacts of mining on land values, tourism, and downstream water resources must be assessed, including environmental and economic impacts occurring after the resources are depleted and the mines are closed.
Espy also asks legislators to consider the following:
n The uranium mining proposal appears to be at odds with efforts to foster the economic stability and well-being of Southern Virginia.
n Studies of successful efforts to attract investment to rural America show that long-term, sustainable economic growth will depend on a region’s ability to offer a high quality of life, to foster formation of small businesses and to encourage entrepreneurship.
n The uranium market is unstable and tied to unforeseeable events.
n Capital investment in uranium mining is extraordinarily high relative to the number of jobs created and long-term costs of doing business fall to taxpayers.
n International reports reveal that the work-related death rates for uranium mine workers are 50 times or more those of manufacturing workers.
n osts of mining have been passed on to taxpayers long after the mines are closed and “rehabilitation” has occurred.
n Nuclear energy carries the problem of disposal of highly radioactive spent fuel.
In his letter, Espy tells legislators, “We can do better” and suggests the following:
n A broader, long-term economic strategy points to the advantages of attracting small businesses invested in alternative energy sources, energy conservation and commercialization of energy-efficient technologies.
n Support of sustainable nature and heritage tourism and Southern Virginia’s attempt to brand itself as a desirable destination is needed.
n The region needs to invest in the amenities shown to attract new capital and businesses’ investment to improve the region’s quality of life. Local nature and heritage tourism initiatives and national recognition of the area’s special historical, cultural, recreational and natural resources and the stories of tobacco, textiles, furniture – the legacies of ways of life that have shaped the land and the people of this region – will take the region in a positive direction.

Obituaries

Edward Crawley
Edward Crawley, 61 of Clover died Thursday, February 21, 2008, at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville.
Mr. Crawley was born in Charlotte County on July 14, 1946, to the late Joseph and Frances Redd Crawley.
He received his education in Charlotte County schools and was a member of First Baptist Church, Wylliesburg.
Mr. Crawley is survived by two sisters, Bernice Foster and Ira of Clover, and Lottie Brooks of North Carolina; four brothers, Clarence Redd of Kingston, New York, John Henry Crawley and Barbara of Clover, Joseph Junior Crawley of Halifax, and Johnny Watson and Oprah of Chase City; two aunts, Alma Staten of Saxe, and Josephine Paige of Newark, N.J.; one great aunt, Betty Hamlette of Connecticut; one uncle, Mack Skipper of South Boston; one great uncle, Henry Redd of Drakes Branch; and a vast number of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Crawley will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 26, at Rocky Branch Baptist Church, Red Oak, with Rev. Dr. James E. Scott, officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.harrisfhc.com

Lloyd Seat Cole
Lloyd Seat Cole of Maple Court, South Boston, died Sunday, February 24, 2008, at his home. He was 69.
Mr. Cole was born April 25, 1938, in Halifax County, the son of the late Drewery S. Cole and Mary Hudson Cole and was married to Peggy Link Cole.
He was owner and operator of Riverdale Glass and a member of Mt. Cana United Methodist Church, the Mt. Cana Men’s Club and the Hyco Road Ruritan Club.
In addition to his wife of the home, he is survived by one son, Craig Cole of Virgilina; one daughter, Deborah Gardner and husband Mike of Cluster Springs; two sisters, Jean Brooks of West Point and Billie Canada and husband A.F. of Burlington, N.C.; two brothers, Hudson Cole of Crystal Hill and Lewis Cole and wife Faye of Petersburg.
He also is survived by one granddaughter, Christian Martin and husband David.
A funeral for Mr. Cole will be held Wednesday, February 27, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Cana United Methodist Church with the Rev. Randy Holmes officiating.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 26, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and at other times at the home, 1011 Maple Court, South Boston.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va. 24592, or Mt. Cana United Methodist Church, c/o Francis Perkins, 1048 Sweet Gum Road, South Boston, Va. 24592, or Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, Va. 24592.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com

Alice Lee Cook
Alice Lee Cook of Tanglewylde Drive, South Boston, died Thursday, February 21, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 49.
Ms. Cook was born in Halifax County on February 10, 1959, and was the daughter of the late Lee Alex Cook and Mary Alice Lovelace Cook.
She was a member of Millstone Baptist Church and was employed by the Woodview Nursing Home.
She is survived by one son, Jawhaun Cook, of the home; two sisters, Alender Wilson and Hazel Hynum, both of South Boston; two brothers, Alex Cook and Ricky Cook, both of South Boston; one sister-in-law, Jackie Cook; one aunt, and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Lawrence W. Lovelace.
Funeral services for Ms. Cook will be held Tuesday, February 25, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Jeffress Funeral Home in South Boston, and the family will receive friends at the home of Alex Cook, 1012 Webster Street, South Boston.

Herbert Lewis Smith
Herbert Lewis Smith, 50, of Sugar Hill Road, Brookneal, died February 22, 2008, at Avante of Roanoke Nursing Home, Roanoke.
Mr. Smith was born in Halifax County, July 9, 1957, son of Nellie Brightwell Smith and the late Chancie E. Smith. He was a member of Beulah Baptist Church.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by three brothers, James E. Smith and wife, Betty, of Keysville, David F. Smith and wife, Latrena, of Phenix, Jerry L. Smith and wife, Audrey, of Concord; one sister, Mildred S. Woodson and husband, Jerry, of Nathalie; a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and a special friend, Anna Guthrie.
One sister, Jane Marie Smith, also preceded Mr. Smith in death.
A funeral service was held at 3 p.m. February 24, at Beulah Baptist Church by the Revs. Shelby Royal and Sam Smith officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mildred Price Thomas
Mildred Price Thomas, 79, of Royce Circle, McLeansville, N.C., died Sunday, February 24, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Born September 20, 1928 in Reidsville, N.C., she was the daughter of the late William Harrison Price and Mary Boac Craddock Price and was married to the late Morris Thomas.
She was of the Baptist faith.
Mrs. Thomas is survived by two daughters, Linda Conner Reagan of South Boston and Jackie Lynn Cangus and husband Mike of Greensboro, N.C.; two sons, Dennis Ray Conner and wife Denise of Browns Summit, N.C. and Timothy Lamar Kincaid of McLeansville, N.C., one sister, Mary Thaxton of South Boston; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Terry Lee Kincaid.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced later by Brooks Funeral Home.

William Wyche “Dub” Wilkins Jr.

Mr. William Wyche “Dub” Wilkins Jr. of 2083 Wilkins Road, Alton, Va., died Saturday, February 23, 2008, at the age of 91 at his home, Lynwood, where he was born January 10, 1917.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church, where he will lie-in-state from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Rev. Richard Henderson, Rev. Jeaux Simmons and Rev. Michael Texiera will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at his home following the services.
He was a retired rural mail carrier and worked out of the Alton Post Office for 32 years.
Additionally, he was a tobacco and cattle farmer all of his life, and he proved that Turbeville cantaloupes could be successfully grown on the “wrong side of 58.” He was a charter member of the Halifax Livestock Producers Association, and was recognized for outstanding service from them, as well as from the Halifax Soil and Conservation District. In 1976, he received the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award.
Dub was a very proud graduate of VPI in Blacksburg. He graduated in 1938 with a BS in agronomy and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. In 1988, he became a lifetime member of the Old Guard.
During World War II, he served as Battery Commander of Headquarters Battery, 489th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 4th Armored Division, 3rd Army with General George Patton in the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe.
Among other awards, he received five battle stars for the European Theater, one Purple Heart, a Bronze Start with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Unit Presidential Citation. For the past 61 years, he has attended or hosted the annual reunion of his fellow military veterans.
An active lifetime member of Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church in Turbeville, Dub has held numerous positions within his church for the past 70 years. At the time of his death, he was an elder and a trustee.
Dub was very active in his community. He was a charter member of the Turbeville Men’s Social Club, the Turbeville Fire Department, the Turbeville Ruritan Club, and the Turbeville Hang-down Club. He also was an active member of the American Legion Post 8 and the Sons of the Confederacy.
A strong believer in education, he encouraged the youth in his community to always do their best. He served as the PTA President of the old Turbeville High School before he had children, and was a boy scout and a 4-H club leader through the years. He went on to serve for 16 years on the Halifax County School Board and 10 years on the Danville Community College Board.
Dub was a son, husband, soldier, father, grandfather, and friend to one and all. He loved people and always welcomed them into his home. “Bullbat time” was enjoyed every night at 5 p.m. with whoever was there. He always was interested in what others had to say and responded with the familiar “sho-nuf!” He was a true officer and a gentleman and enjoyed sharing his war experiences and his love of the outdoors with “the younger generation”.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Margaret “Stuff” Granger Wilkins, daughter Marsha W. Owen and husband Tom of South Boston, son William W. Wilkins III and wife Donna of Alton, sister Louise Shelton of Atlanta, Ga., brother Bailey Wilkins and wife BJ of Amherst, Va., sister-in-law Margaret E. Wilkins of Virginia Beach, grandsons Ben Owen, Zach Owen, and William W. Wilkins IV and wife Sarah, granddaughters Maggie Wilkins and Elizabeth Wilkins. He was preceded in death by his father, William Wyche Wilkins Sr. and his mother, Eva Byerley Wilkins.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston, Va. 24592, Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church, 4227 Turbeville Road, South Boston, Va. 24592 or Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Ave. South Boston, Va. 24592.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com

Four To Be Inducted Into Sports Hall Of Fame

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Four outstanding former athletes will be inducted when the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame holds its annual induction banquet in April.
The four individuals, Lawrence Carter, Robert “Frosty” Owens and Dr. James Priest and the late Hubert A. “Dude” Austin, will be inducted during the 20th annual Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet to be held on Saturday, April 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Halifax County Middle School cafeteria.
Advance tickets for the induction banquet are on sale for $20 each. Tickets at the door will be $25 each. Tickets may be purchased at True Value Hardware and Electric Service Company in South Boston, Halifax Pharmacy in Centerville and Velro Christian Book Store in Halifax. Tickets may also be purchased from members of the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors.
Carter grew up in the Sinai area and attended Sinai Elementary School where former principal Gaitha Richardson introduced him to athletics. He was a standout player for the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball in 1972 and 1973. In addition, Carter was a starter in the 1973 Virginia High School League all-star basketball game on a team coached by his high school coach, the late Don Thompson.
Following high school, Carter went on to attend Lees-McRae College and Belmont Abbey College.
Carter resides in Lincolnton, N.C. where he is a basketball official and works with youth in the community.
Owens, a native of South Boston, began playing sports at an early age, playing midget football, Dixie Youth Baseball and midget basketball.
At Halifax County High School, Owens starred in football and also played baseball, basketball and ran track. He went on to attend Hampden-Sydney College where he had an outstanding football career and became a four-year letterman.
Owens returned to Halifax County High School in 1978 where he served as head baseball coach. Halifax County High School won five Western District baseball championships and won the 1984 State Group AAA baseball championship during Owens’ tenure.
Priest, like the two previously mentioned inductees, started playing sports at an early age. He played baseball in the Scottsburg Dixie Youth Baseball League and played midget football and midget basketball.
An excellent baseball player, Priest played baseball through the local Babe Ruth and Connie Mack baseball leagues. In 1964, he was involved in the sports program at Halifax County High School, playing baseball, football and basketball.
After having attended college and medical school, Priest returned to Halifax County in 1980 and began serving the community as a coach, coaching Babe Ruth baseball, tee ball, Halifax County Middle School and American Legion baseball teams.
Priest also served as the president of the Halifax County Dixie Youth Baseball League in 1994 and 1995.
Austin grew up in the Clover area and played both baseball and basketball. He later went on to play in the Halifax County Baseball League.
After his stint in the military services was completed, Austin moved to Brookneal and later went on to coach and serve as president of the Brookneal Dixie Youth Baseball League.
While at Brookneal, Austin was elected as a National Director of Dixie Youth Baseball and served in that capacity for 16 years.

Spring Sports Practice Opens Today

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
A new sports season dawns today at Halifax County High School.
Today is the opening day of try-outs and practice for all 11 of Halifax County High School’s spring sports teams. For the large number of student athletes trying to land a spot on the roster for the 2008 season, today is a day of excitement that leads into a week of anxiety.
With pre-season scrimmage games scheduled to begin March 5 for some teams, coaches will be hard at work this week evaluating the players trying to land a spot on the teams. Due to the rapidly approaching date of the pre-season scrimmage games, coaches will be scrambling to settle in on their rosters by the end of the weekend in order to get in a practice or two with their teams before their first pres-season tests.
Halifax County High School Athletic Director Allen Lawter has released the schedules for the school’s 11 teams. The Comets varsity and junior varsity softball teams and the Comets varsity girls soccer teams will open their respective seasons on Wednesday, March 12. Most of the other Comets teams will open their season on Friday, March 14.
Halifax County High School’s varsity and junior varsity softball teams will open up on March 12 against neighboring border rival Person High School of Roxboro, N.C. The Comets varsity team will travel to Roxboro, N.C. for a 4 p.m. contest while the Comets jayvees will host the Rockets jayvees at 4 p.m.
Halifax County High School’s varsity girls soccer team will open its season on March 12 with a road game against Prince Edward County in Farmville. That contest is slated for a 6:30 p.m. start.
The Comets varsity softball team is expected to have several of the key players from last year’s team returning for this season’s campaign and, Comets head coach Melanie Saunders is expecting to pick up several players to help compliment and bolster the group of returning players.
Last year’s Comets varsity softball team finished second in the Western Valley District behind Franklin County in the regular season but rebounded to defeat the Eagles in the Western Valley District Tournament championship game. The Comets went on to make their way to the State Group AAA quarterfinals and finish the season with a 21-5 overall slate.
This season the Comets varsity softball team will play a 20-game regular-season schedule. The schedule includes a doubleheader against Commonwealth District member Albemarle High School here on Saturday, March 15. The only new team to the schedule is William Fleming High School of Roanoke, which joined the Western Valley District for the start of the 2007-2008 season.
Last year’s Comets girls soccer team finished fifth in the district, lost in the district tournament play-in game and finished 8-7 overall. This year’s schedule includes 16 games featuring the same teams that were on the team’s schedule last year.
The Halifax County High School varsity and jayvee baseball teams will open their respective seasons on Friday, March 14, with the varsity team hosting Martinsville High School in a 5 p.m. contest and the jayvees traveling to Martinsville High School for a 5 p.m. contest.
The following week, starting on Monday, March 17, the Comets varsity team will kick off an interesting string of games in which they will host three teams from the chilly northern portion of the country. On March 17, the Comets will host Great Valley, Pa. in a 3 p.m. contest. On Wednesday, March 19, the Comets will host Garden City, N.C. in a 7 p.m. game and, on March 21, the Comets will host Loyalsock, Pa., a team coached by former Comets standout Casey Waller, in a 7 p.m. tilt.
New to the Comets’ schedule are games against Person High School (away on March 28), Bluestone High School (home on April 2) and Amherst County High School (away on April 14).
The Comets jayvee baseball team has 18 games on its schedule with Holy Cross, Person High School, Bluestone and Amherst County new to the schedule this season.
Halifax County High School’s varsity boys soccer team, which opens its season on March 14 with a home game against Martinsville High School, has a 16-game schedule for 2008. The Comets girls and boys tennis teams will both have 16 contests this season. Both teams will open their season on March 14 against Martinsville High School with the Comets girls team playing at home and the boys team going on the road that day.
The Comets girls and boys track teams are currently scheduled to compete in eight events this season. However, Lawter pointed out that additional meets may possibly be scheduled. The Comets’ season opener on March 31 against Person High School and GW is the only home meet.
New to the Comets’ track schedule for this season are invitational meets at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke and Amherst County High School.

Comets Girls Basketball Made Progress

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Some people look at the 10-13 record compiled by the Halifax County High School varsity girls basketball team and say the season wasn’t a very successful one.
Comets head coach Ray Reaves differs in his opinion.
“Would I have liked to have gone 20-3?” Reaves queried.
“Of course. I’d have loved to have won the Holiday Classic Tournament and moved on and won the Western Valley District championship and the district tournament and moved on into the regionals and state tournament. It didn’t happen, but, there are a lot of little things that happened that make me fairly satisfied with what did happen this year. The Comets, with their 10-win season, produced the best overall record a Comets girls basketball team has produced in at least eight years, a significant milestone to mark.
“Ten wins in a season, compared to what we have done in the past, is real good,” Reaves pointed out.
“I honestly think we were a 10 to 14-win team. I don’t think we were a 20-3 team because of the youth and inexperience we had. I knew we were not going to be the powerhouse team that a lot of folks thought we were because I was able to see strengths and weaknesses, not only in individual players, but also in the team as a whole. I knew what the Western Valley District was going to have, what the talent level was out there that we were going to have to compete against.”
Talent-wise, this year’s Comets girls basketball team was one of the best to take the court in recent seasons.
“We said at the beginning of the year we had a very talented squad from top to bottom,” Reaves pointed out.
“We had talent at just about every position and were deep at several positions, which gave us some options. I’m real happy with the talent level we had this year. It’s a testament to what our jayvee program has done over the last couple of years. Our head jayvee coach, Matthew McCargo, has done a heck of a job getting these girls ready. With him having a lot of the girls on his AAU Storm travel team, it makes things even better because they have had a chance to work together for several years.”
While the team had plenty of talent, it was inexperience at the varsity level that hindered the team.
“The only thing that got us into trouble this year was their inexperience at this level,” Reaves said.
“It’s not that they can’t play the game, it’s just that there are some things that you have to learn over time. The speed, the pace of the game, knowing when and when not to do certain things, I think that hurt us. But, the good thing is that I’ve got them for two or three more years together as a group. That bodes well for years to come.”
The Comets coach said some of the biggest highlights of the season came in small things, things that did not necessarily have to do with basketball itself.
“A lot of people concentrate on that overall record,” Reaves pointed out.
“Of course, we want to win a lot of ballgames and lose very few. But, there were a lot of small mountains we were able to climb as individuals and as a ball team. I’ve got a couple of post players that have really come a long way in developing their skills under the basket. I’ve got several guards that have really become a more aggressive player.
“You also have those achievements that these girls have made that have very little to do with basketball,” added Reaves.
“I’m talking about things like changes in behavior and attitude and perception of school in general. We’ve had some girls come a long way as far as staying out of trouble and doing what they’re supposed to do in school and being more responsible on and off the basketball court. That’s what high school athletics is about, helping build not only talent, but character in the girls. Those little things are the things I enjoy the most.”
The Comets girls basketball program, with its corp of talented young players and the group of developing players on the jayvee level is in good shape, Reaves said.
“This program is definitely moving in the right direction,” Reaves said.
“Several years ago, you might not have been able to say that because of the turnover not only in the coaches, but also in the players. It was still up in the air as to what this program was going to be like in the next few years.
“I honestly think this program is in good shape for the next three to five years,” Reaves continued.
“A lot of that goes back to what Matt has been able to do at the jayvee level. He’s taken a very inexperienced team this year and the girls really came through in the end, worked really hard and became much better ballplayers by the end of the season. Having that feeder program feed into what we’re trying to do at the varsity level makes my job a lot easier.”
The Comets coach is predicts that more wins will come next season.
“Next year we should add five, six or eight more games in the win column because these girls will have had a year of experience under their belts,” Reaves pointed out.
“If the girls continue to work hard in the off-season like they have been doing, we should be able to add more wins to what we had this year.”