More Than Just Ducks

South Boston’s Duck Race Saturday features 20-plus prizes worth over $10,000 for those purchasing a $5 duck racer, but the town event also features something for everyone in the family.
“Anyone can come and view the race from the bridge in Riverdale, and the kids and adults can participate in activities and music, including karoke in Constitution Square Downtown for no cost,” said Jerry Van Eimeren, Destination Downtown South Boston Main Street manager.
The event also will include activities and food for sale.
“We have 10 inflatables for the kids that you have not seen here before including a new 68’ long obstacle course, a 31’ rock climbing wall, a rock & roll joust/boxing ring, a Humm-V Monster Truck Bouncer, a Batman Bounce House, and a 4-n-1 Bounce/Slide combo unit that also features a tunnel & basketball goal,” added Van Eimeren.
There also will be a ‘toddler area’ with a fun Caterpillar obstacle with slide and others as young as one year.
“You can purchase a full event, noon to 4 p.m. wristband pass for just $10 that includes unlimited access to all the inflatables with the exception of the Mechanical Bull ride and Spider Wall (where the kids can hang on the wall in all directions),” which you can purchase individual tickets for,” added the Main Street manager. For $2 more a child can have a full lunch plate.
There will be pony rides for $4 or $5 with a picture of your child on the pony for an additional $5. Main Street United Methodist Church youth group will provide fun games with prizes for the children such as pickup ducks, face painting, duck tattoos, bubbles andsidewalk chalk.
Food will be available from 11 a.m. throughout the event. Take home BBQ plates will be available for dinner. BBQ sandwiches, plates with homemade fries, coleslaw and baked beans will be for sale. Also available, ribs and Boston butts to take home for dinner. Pizza is also on the menu.
Quacky, the duck mascot, will be around Constitution Square during the entire event and available for pictures with the kids… so bring the camera. “AND… you can still adopt ducks for the big race between noon and 1:30 pm at our booth in Constitution Square,” said Van Eimeren. Duck T-shirts, hats, duck calls, ponchos and commemorative ducks will be on sale.
The duck race will start at 2 p.m.
Event proceeds are slated to benefit Destination Downtown South Boston in its efforts to save historic buildings from demolition, and to restore and revitalize the historic downtown business district.
DDSB is the presenting sponsor along with several other local Halifax County charities and corporate sponsors. For more information call the ‘Quackline’ at 575-6246 or visit www.ducksonthedan.com.

Budget, Police Dominate Halifax Council Agenda

A public hearing on Halifax’s 2008-09 proposed budget drew six speakers and one written comment Tuesday night supporting the town’s police department, but council also drew compliments for its tight budget proposal.
Businesswoman Marsha Hite described the reduced budget as “incredible,” and Tommy Reagan described the budget as “wonderful,” thanking councilmen for a budget that reflects no tax rate or fee increases.
The proposed $798,917 general fund budget reflects a 7.06 percent decrease over last year’s.
The total budget, $929,971, reflects changes due to the town’s transfer of water and sewer service to the Halifax County Service Authority. That total reflects a sewer fund balance with payments to the town by the HCSA for general obligation sewer bonds totaling $131,054.
Other figures impacting the budget include the reassessed value of real estate within the town’s corporate limits which increased from $95,153,829.21 in 2007 to $99,432,550 in 2008.
This 4.5 percent increase required the town to reduce its tax rate for real property from the current 19 cents per $100 assessed value to 18 cents per $100 to produce no more than 1 percent of the total tax levied from the previous year.
No tax increase will be required to balance the budget, according to town officials.
The machine and tool tax remains at 40 cents per assessed $100 and the personal property tax remains at $1.68 per assessed $100.
However, the council meeting did draw response to Councilman Allen Stevens remarks concerning town police department funding and coverage.
Council is expected to take action on the proposed 2008-09 budget at its June 5 meeting, approving and appropriating funds.
In other business, a public hearing was set for 7 p.m. June 5 on a proposed zoning ordinance amendments for C-1 Commercial Zoning District adding “Manufactured/Modular Home Sales (dealership)” and special use permit application for Halifax Homes, LLC.
Businessman Wayne Stevens is seeking the amendment to place a manufactured/modular home dealership on property adjoining his real estate office on Highway 501. In the original proposal, planning commissioners were told six to 10 homes would be located at the site.
Councilman Jack Dunavant also raised a question regarding the recent real estate reassessment. “How can you justify a $4 million increase in the Town of Halifax?” asked Dunavant. The councilman urged the town to make an official inquiry to the county about the new values. Councilman Dick Moore suggested the subject be addressed at the next joint meeting with supervisors.
Town Manager Carl Espy reminded council that VDOT will conduct a a design public hearing on the proposed roadway improvement and bridge replacement over the Banister River on Route 360 on Tuesday, June 10. The 4-6 p.m. hearing will be held in the public meeting room at the Mary Bethune Office Complex in Halifax.

Two Injured In Car, School Bus Collision Wednesday

A Nathalie woman and her passenger were slightly injured Wednesday morning when their car collided with a Halifax County school bus, according to state police.
Sgt. David Cooper said Kim Denise Logan, 35, of Lower Liberty Road, Nathalie, was driving a 2006 Kia Optima when the school bus pulled onto the road in front of the car, resulting in the car hitting the bus at an angle.
Cooper said the bus was a 2004 Thomas bus driven by Yvonne Coleman Vaden, 56, of Java. The bus was carrying 15 middle school students at the time of the crash, according to Cooper.
He said none of the students was reported as injured, but when some of the parents arrived at the scene, four students complained of injuries and were taken home by their parents. The other 11 students were taken to school by a second school bus.
Cooper said Logan and her mother, Ernestine C. Faulkner, 64, who was a passenger in the car, were transported to Halifax Regional Hospital by EMS personnel with what he described as non life-threatening injuries. A hospital spokesperson said both Logan and Faulkner were treated and released.
The crash occurred at 8:05 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Rt. 610 and Rt. 842. Cooper said the road was closed approximately one hour when rescue and fire department units arrived at the scene.
Cooper said Trooper M.C. Forbes, the investigating officer, estimated damages to the bus at $2,000. He said Forbes reported the Kia was a total loss.
Forbes charged Vaden with failure to yield the right of way.
No one was injured in a two vehicle crash Monday, state police said.
Trooper D.H. Hess reported a 2001 Ford Ranger driven by Jennifer E. Walters, 26, of Bent Mountain, was attempting to make a left turn when it struck a 2003 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Kyle A. Duffer, 28, of South Boston.
Hess said Duffer could not stop and tried to swerve to miss hitting the Ranger. Walter’s truck struck the Dodge, causing it to strike a mailbox off the left side of the road, the trooper said.
The crash occurred at 5:25 p.m. Monday on Rt. 744 (Hyco Road), eight-tenths of a mile east of U.S. 501.
Hess estimated damages at $2,500 to the Dodge Ram and $1,200 to the Ford Ranger. He charged Duffer with following too closely.

Obituaries

Wanda Overbey Carter
Wanda Overbey Carter, 58, of 2244 Aarons Creek Road, Virgilina died May 14, 2008, at her home.
Ms. Carter was born January 8, 1950, in Halifax County the daughter of Decatur and Elizabeth Overbey. She was a member of Franklin Congregation Christian Church in Franklin, was a volunteer at Halifax Regional Hospital, and a secretary for Powell Realty.
Survivors include her parents of Virgilina; one son, Joseph Councill of Inwood, W.Va.; one brother, Donald Overbey and wife, Yvonne, of Ringgold; and her former husband, Lawrence Councill of Franklin. Her second husband, Ronnie Carter, preceded her in death.
Funeral services for Ms. Carter will be held at Hitesburg Baptist Church tomorrow, May 17, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Bob Watts officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home this evening, May 16, from 7:00 to 8:30, and other times at the home.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com

Glenn Clay
Glenn Clay, 38, of 1144 Woods Creek Lane, Scottsburg died May 12, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Clay was born October 14, 1969, the son of the late Bonnie Clay McKinney and was married to Janet Clay, who survives.
In addition to his wife survivors include five stepchildren, Dwight, Desiree and Dexter Clay, Devin Snead and wife, Christie, of Halifax, and Shawn Snead and fiance, Kayla, of Dryburg; his mother, Patty Clay, of South Boston; three brothers, Len Clay of Alton, George McKinney and wife, Kathy, of Cluster Springs, and Addie McKinney and wife, Debra, of South Boston; one sister, Patsy Luke of Williamsburg; two step-grandchildren, Allie Powell and Christopher Beadles.
Graveside services for Mr. Clay will be held tomorrow, May 17, at 11 a.m. Lebanon Methodist Church Cemetery, Drakes Branch, with the Rev. Bruce Hagy officiating.
The family will receive friends this evening, May 16, from 7:00 to 8:30, at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Lettie Short Conner
Lettie Short Conner of 5041 James D. Hagood Highway, Scottsburg died May 12, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Conner was born February 25, 1937, in Sycamore the daughter of the late Lundy Steveson Short and Lena Fuller Short and was married to Edward Aldine Conner, who survives. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband, survivors include three sons, Carson Conner and wife, Rebecca, of Millersville, Md., Michael Conner and wife, Jill, of South Boston and Robin Conner of Scottsburg; one daughter, Susan Wray Conner of Scottsburg; four sisters, Elna Burton and Joan Waller of Halifax, Frances Glass of South Boston, and Elaine Hamlette of Charlotte Court House; one brother, Al David Short of Greenville, S.C.; three grandchildren, Karen Clay, Nicholas Conner and Dale Conner; and one great-grandchild, Brian Clay.
Three brothers, Robert Lee, C.W., and James Short; and one sister, Dot Barksdale, also preceded Mrs. Conner in death.
Funeral services will be held today, May 16, at 3 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Frank Fuller officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Ernest Dunkley
Ernest Dunkley, 50, of Lynchburg, formerly of Halifax County, died May 12, 2008, at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Mr. Dunkley was born in Halifax County on January 4, 1958, to the late Mary Walton Latta and was the adopted son of the late Archie Glen Dunkley and Louise McCutchen Dunkley. He was married to Georgie King Dunkley and was an Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Kasheka Duncan of Alexandria, Latoya D. Scott and Tichina L. Dunkley, both of Lynchburg; one son, Dominick B. Dunkley of Lynchburg; five brothers, Earl Lee Thaxton of Alexandria, McKinley Walton of Orange County, Larry Walton of Dunfries, and Waddell Latta of Hillsborough, N.C.; three sisters, Roseland Ragland of Bridgeport, Conn., Hattie Chappell and Clarissa Jones, both of Alexandria; and three grandchildren.
Two brothers, Nathaniel Dunkley and Nathan Walton, also preceded Mr. Dunkley in death.
A memorial and visitation service will be May 18 at 2 p.m. at Crawford House Chapel in Halifax.
Public viewing for family and friends will be at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel in South Boston tomorrow, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Shirley Grinnan
Shirley Grinnan, 77, of Baltimore, Md., formerly of Clover, died May 12, 2008, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, Md.
Mr. Grinnan was born in Halifax County on March 31, 1931, to the late William Grinnan and Adlissa Lacks Grinnan.
Survivors include two sisters, Sadie Sturdivant and Marie Heard, both of Baltimore; two brothers-in-law, James Sturdivant and Ralph Heard; and one sister-in-law, Corrine Grinnan.
Funeral services for Mr. Grinnan will be held tomorrow, May 17, at 2 p.m. at St. Matthew Baptist Church with the Rev. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the Lacks Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church tomorrow.

Joseph Alexander Jones
Joseph Alexander Jones of Norfolk, formerly of Halifax, died in Norfolk at the age of 46.
Mr. Jones was born in Halifax County on March 23, 1962, the son of Fannie Lee Coles Jones and the late Charlie Mac Jones Sr. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and was a United States Navy veteran.
In addition to his mother of Halifax, survivors include five sisters, Lottie Coles of Clinton, Md., Marie Jones-Bowman of Randolph, Karen Clark of Norfolk, Olivia Ferrell of Danville, and Stephanie Terry of Norfolk; three brothers, James A. Jones Sr. of Nathalie, Charlie Jones Jr. and Larry G. Jones, both of Clover; his god-brother, Joseph Jones; and god-sister, Lou Willie Bullock.
One sister, Joan E. Davis; and one brother, Cornell V. Jones, also preceded Mr. Jones in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, May 17, at 11 a.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Ronald Claiborne officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of his mother, 4047 Abbott Hill Road, Halifax.

Aubrey Walter Penick
Aubrey Walter Penick, 53, of 1100 Bagwell Drive, Scottsburg died May 13, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Penick was born in Halifax County on January 5, 1955, the son of the late General Grant Penick Sr. and Frances Acree Penick and was married to Paula Rhodes Penick. He was a member of Traynham Grove Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife survivors include two daughters, Lisa Penick of Yanceyville, N.C., and Samantha Penick of Scottsburg; five sons, Shamel Coppage of Virginia Beach, Christopher Penick of Roxboro, N.C., Aubrey Jordan and Christopher Rhodes, both of Nathalie, and Spencer Penick of Scottsburg; seven grandchildren; two sisters, Christine Thomas of Halifax and Vernell P. Davis of South Boston; two brothers, General Grant Penick Jr. and Ledges Lee Penick, both of Halifax; his mother-in-law, Frances Rhodes of Phoenix, Ariz.; three brothers-in-law, Kenneth Davis, Jeff Rhodes and Michael Rhodes; and three sisters-in-law, Rosa Penick, Althea Penick and Belinda Penick.
One brother, Leonard F. Penick, also preceded Mr. Penick in death.
Funeral services will be held today, May 16, at 11 a.m. at Traynham Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. William A. Keen officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Traynham Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, Halifax County Rescue Squad or the American Heart Association, c/o Jeffress Funeral Home, 2000 North Main Street, South Boston, 24592.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Richard Owen Traynham
Richard Owen Traynham, 91, of 2032 Traynham Grove Road, Alton died May 11, 2008, at The Woodview Nursing Home.
Mr. Traynham was born in Halifax County on April 27, 1917, the son of the late Richard Traynham and Elizabeth Street Traynham and was married to the late Mattie Reed Traynham. He was a member of Harmony AME Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Essie Thomas of Alton; two sons, Aaron Traynham of Randallstown, Md. and Ivory Traynham of Baltimore, Md.; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
One son, David Traynham, also preceded Mr. Traynham in death.
Funeral services will be held today, May 16, at 2 p.m. at Harmony AME Church with the Rev. Michael Dunn officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Lester Watkins Waller
Lester Watkins Waller, 65, of 1036 Dan River Church Road, South Boston died May 14, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Waller was born in Halifax County on February 1, 1943, the son of the late Willard W. Waller and Minnie Dalton Waller who survives. He was of the Baptist Faith.
In addition to his mother, survivors include one brother, Kenneth B. Waller and wife, Hilda, of Nathalie; one sister, Thelma June Vaughan of South Boston; special aunt, Bernice Thompson and husband, Charlie, of South Boston; three children; one brother-in-law, Coy Terry of Halifax; and a special niece, Bonnie Terry Childrey and husband, Jimmy, of Halifax.
One sister, Merle W. Terry, also preceded Mr. Waller in death.
Graveside services will be held today, May 16, at 1 p.m. at Mulberry Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Coy Terry officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Humane Society, P.O. Box 969, South Boston, or Mulberry Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

Lady Comets Down FC 3-1 To Win WVD Title

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
DANVILLE, Va. — Winning the Western Valley District regular-season championship has seemingly become an every other year thing for the Halifax County High School varsity softball team.
The Comets dethroned defending district champion Franklin County with a 3-1 win here in yesterday’s district championship playoff game to clinch the district championship and secure the district’s top seed in the Northwest Region Tournament.
With the win, the Comets are assured of playing at home through next week’s Western Valley District Tournament and are assured of home games throughout the Northwest Region Tournament as long as they continue to advance.
“It was a great win,” remarked Comets head coach Melanie Saunders.
“It’s a tough game for either one of us to lose because we’re very evenly matched. Both of us had good pitchers and good kids throughout all of the positions. It’s a tough game for either one of us to lose, but I’m glad we came out on top in this one.”
While winning the regular-season championship is a big achievement for the Comets, the real gem is that with the win, the Comets will play at home throughout the district tournament and throughout the regional tournament as long as they remain alive.
“That’s big for us,” Saunders noted.
“We’ve never really had that opportunity. Last year we were on the road right from the end of the regular season all the way through that last game (in the state quarterfinals.). It’s good for us to play at home and not have to travel so far. We’re looking forward to that.”
The Comets took advantage of opportunities that presented themselves and struck early, getting two runs in the top of the third inning with the help of key hits. Christine DeGeorgis started the inning with a single and Stephanie Clark walked to put runners on first base and second base. A sacrifice bunt by Ally Thompson with two strikes moved the runners up a base.
DeGeorgis scored when Lashunda Davis grounded out to first base to put the Comets up 1-0. Clark scored when Betty Rose dumped a single just over the Franklin County first baseman’s head to put the Comets up 2-0.
Halifax County scored again in the top of the sixth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Paige Rickman walked and moved to third base on a one-out double by Amber Bowman. Whitney Womack reached base on a fielder’s choice that Franklin County was unable to make a play to load the sacks. A walk to Johanna Spencer forced in Rickman for the Comets’ third run of the game.
The three-run cushion put the Comets in good shape for the rest of the contest.
“It’s exactly opposite of what happened the last time we played them,” Saunders noted.
“We left runners on second and third (base) in at least three innings. We had scoring opportunities and couldn’t put the bunts down. Tonight we were able to put the bunts down when we needed it, advanced the runners and got the key hit when we needed them.”
The Comets’ defense turned in a solid performance, turning away a Franklin County threat in the fourth inning by erasing a Franklin County runner that was caught in a rundown between second base and third base. Thompson, the Comets’ rightfielder, second baseman Lyndsay Lawter, Davis at shortstop, and Bowman at third base all had a hand in the play that accounted for the final out of the inning.
Franklin County did manage to score a run in the seventh inning after Clark struck Chezdan Baker with a pitch. A double by Kashina Hancock moved Baker to third base and Baker scored when Kristen Montgomery grounded out to second base for the second out of the inning.
Halifax County had seven hits in the game with Clark, Thompson, Rose, Rickman, Bowman, Womack and DeGeorgis all getting a hit each.
Clark, in a solid performance on the mound, fanned six batters while yielding only one walk and five hits.
“She did a great job,” Saunders said of Clark.
“It’s always good when the defense behind you makes plays. I think what really helped her was us jumping out (in front) nearly and getting those runs and giving her a little bit more momentum and encouragement from the players.”
Last night’s game was a continuation of a developing history of tough battles between the two teams. The Comets (17-2 overall, 9-1 district) and Franklin County (15-5 overall, 9-1 district) have competed for top district honors in each of the last three seasons. In 2006, Halifax County needed nine innings to top Franklin County 7-6 to win the regular-season championship. Franklin County, however, bounced back to edge the Comets in the championship game of the district tournament to claim the district’s top seed for the Northwest Region Tournament.
Last year, Franklin County topped the Comets to win the regular-season championship and lock up the district’s top seed for the Northwest Region Tournament. The Comets bounced back to win the district tournament to earn the district’s second seed in the regional playoffs.
Yesterday’s playoff game for the district title was also the season’s rubber match between the two teams. Halifax County defeated Franklin County 2-0 in Rocky Mount early in the season but stumbled and lost 4-2 to Franklin County at home on May 6.

Comets Take WVD Title With Win Over GW

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Senior Justin Bagbey has waited three years for a Halifax County High School varsity baseball team to win the Western District crown and earn a home game in the first round of the Northwest Region Tournament.
His wait ended here Tuesday night when the Comets won the Western Valley District regular-season championship with a 4-1 win over archrival GW.
It was the fourth time that the Comets have won the district regular-season title in nine years. The last time the Comets won the district regular-season title was in 2006.
“In my tenth-grade year we won the regular season, but then you had to win the district tournament to play at home (in the Northwest Region Tournament),” Bagbey explained.
“It’s been worth the wait. It feels great.”
Bagbey had a big say in the outcome of Tuesday’s game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning that accounted for half of his team’s runs in the game.
Michael Ferrell kicked off a four-run first inning Comets rally with a double. He scored from second base on a GW throwing error that occurred when Daniel Wilborn hit a ground ball to second base. Bagbey followed by sending a fastball from GW hurler Josh Hackworth out of the park for his11th home run of the season. The two-run blast put the Comets up 3-0.
“I really wasn’t expecting to get a pitch to hit because when we went up to Dan Daniel (Park) they didn’t pitch to me,” Bagbey said.
“I saw the fastball out of his (Hackworth’s) hand and I just put a good swing on it and hit it solid.”
The Comets weren’t through.
Hurler Jeremy Foster hit a double to left field with two out to keep the inning going. Bill Wooding, running for Foster, scored from second base when Kyle Long reached base on an error on a ball hit to centerfield to put the Comets up 4-0.
“One of my philosophies is to try to jump on a team early,” noted Comets head coach Kelvin Davis.
“Our guys came out of the gates really hungry for this game. Fortunately, we got four runs and all of them were in the first inning. That’s the game of baseball.”
Halifax County made the four-run lead hold up until GW’s Zach Gibson, who led off the top of the fourth inning with a single off of Foster, moved to third base on a double from D.J. Pomposini and scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Dominique Fitzgerald. The Comets got out of the inning with no further damage, leading by the eventual final 4-1 score.
Both teams threatened in the fifth inning but came up empty. GW loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning with two hits and a walk but the Comets defense prevailed with shortstop Eric Brandon fielding a ground ball from Gibson and triggering a double play to get his team out of the inning.
The Comets loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning with a one-out single from Wilborn and walks to Bagbey and Brandon. Halifax County saw that potential scoring opportunity go by the board when Michael Owens, who was running for Bagbey, got picked off at second base for the second out of the inning. Dale Trent popped up to first base to end the inning.
The Comets got another strong effort from Foster on the mound. Foster, who nailed down his fourth district win of the season as a pitcher, struck out five GW batters and yielded five scattered hits and two walks.
While Foster did his job on the hill, the Comets turned in another solid game defensively, making plays at key times to squelch GW bids in both the fourth and fifth innings.
“They’ve been doing it the last four or five games,” Davis said.
“They’re really been picking it up for us. We work hard during practice on the little things about the defense. These guys know we’ve got to play defense. They know early that early on in the season that defense was what let us down in some of the games we lost.”
Offensively, the Comets had six hits in the game with Ferrell, Wilborn, Bagbey, Brandon, Foster and Kyle Long each getting one hit.
GW had five hits in the game.
Tuesday’s win by the Comets (14-5 overall, 8-2 district) was the team’s eighth win in a row and its seventh straight district win.
The win and the district championship were dedicated to the late Tyler Hunt, the Comets’ pitcher and first baseman who tragically lost his life in a highway traffic crash earlier this spring.
“They wanted this season to be dedicated to Tyler Hunt,” Davis said of the members of the Comets team.
“That’s all they have been talking about. They wanted to do this for him. I’m glad we were able to put things together to where we could do this.”

Comets Edge GW In 2 OT Thriller

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
It took a long time for the Halifax County High School varsity girls soccer team to pick up a Western Valley District win. But, it came at just the right time.
The Comets edged GW 2-1 in a two-overtime thriller Tuesday night in Danville and earned a home game for Monday night’s first-round Western Valley District Tournament opener against GW.
“It’s great to finally get a win,” said Comets head coach Sid Young, whose team finished the season with a 9-6-1 overall mark and a 1-8-1 mark in Western Valley District play, a mark good enough to earn the Comets a fourth-place finish in the district standings.
“The last three games that we’ve played, starting with the game against Franklin County, we’ve played well,” Young pointed out.
“I didn’t think we played as well in Tuesday night’s game against GW as we did against Franklin County, but we still played extremely well.”
The Comets and GW battled to 0-0 deadlock through the first half. GW broke through with a goal to take a 1-0 lead with five minutes left in regulation. Halifax County’s Sarah Rosche answered it with a goal with 2:59 left in regulation to create another tie.
Rosche scored again 42 seconds into the first of the two five-minute overtime periods to put the Comets up 2-1. From there, the Comets held on to take the win.
“If nothing else, this (win) will help give the girls some confidence going into Monday’s tournament game, especially since we beat them in overtime,” Young said.
“If you go into a game thinking that you’ve got a chance to win, it makes a big difference.”
Young said the recent switch that he made in the team’s formation to get more speed into the middle of the defense continues to work well.
“I’m kicking myself for not having made the switch earlier,” Young said.
“Earlier in the season, we had trouble with other teams’ speed down the middle. We made some changes so we would have more speed in the middle and moved Melissa Smith, one of our faster players, back to play sweeper. We stills end her up occasionally on offense.”
The Comets finished Tuesday night’s regular-season finale against GW with the edge in shots on goal. Halifax County got off 29 shots while GW managed to get off only 11 shots.
Comets goalkeeper Nia Brown had nine saves. The GW goalkeeper had 21 saves.