1Carteret: Students. Sports. Success.

Girls Hoops, As Advertised

The final game of the WCHS Holiday Tournament was a thriller!
Final score: ECHS 59 CHS 46

This game was loaded with sub-texts —

• The arrival of ECHS ten minutes prior to tip-off
• The tenacious CHS box-and-one defense to open the game.
• The sheer athleticism and scrappiness of ECHS
• The height and depth of CHS
• The triumphant return of the ECHS power forward from ACL surgery
• The close charging call within the last three minutes
• The two previous games between these two teams
• The combined 16-3 record to start the season, the only losses coming at the hands of each other

All of these points can be expanded. However, the main point is this:

It is a rare treat to have two superior teams from the same county playing against each other for the third time in the same season. Every single one of the girls on both teams is a winner. The game in microcosm is a testament to the value of sports and to the quality of athletic programs in Carteret County Schools.

The coaches, the parents, the fans, the future employers and associates of our fine athletes . . . these are the most truly blessed of all.

SHOWDOWN

Both CHS girls and ECHS girls won their first round games in the WCHS Holiday Basketball Tournament on 12/21/06. This sets up a showdown in the tournament final on 12/22. Tip-off around 7:00 at West.

Combined, the two teams have a record of 15-2 . . . the only losses coming at the hands of each other.

CoachCasts: Montford (ECHS) and Yount (CHS)

Girls b-ball is blistering hot in Carteret this year, with two teams posting a combined 13-2 record to open the season. The only losses were to each other. The possibility exists that these two teams could meet again in the WCHS Holiday Classic on Thursday 12/20.

Here’s a special holiday audio bonus: New Coachcasts

ECHS Coach Montford’s CoachCast
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CHS Coach Yount’s CoachCast
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Croatan Girls Even Score

The first matchup between ECHS and CHS could be called the “Carol of the Bells” as Logan L. rang up 30-plus points in an ECHS victory. The second matchup could be called “Oh Tannenbaum” as CHS Coach Yount kept his tall package on the floor most of the game to counter the ECHS athleticism. The result: a gritty head-to-head matchup that resulted in a narrow 49-43 Croatan victory.

CHS sprinted out to a 13-0 lead, but ECHS fired back to end the first stanza with a slim lead. CHS was up by two at the half, and the game was close down to the wire. Now, the season series between the cross-county rivals stands at 1-1. (Each team has only one defeat on the season.) This is a testament to two talented teams and two savvy coaching staffs.

As for braggin’ rights . . . not quite yet. The two teams may meet for a third time on neutral ground at the WCHS Holiday Tournament (Dec. 20-21). If so, you know who my money’s on? The fans. They are guaranteed to see brilliant, competitive b-ball action by two very talented teams. And this is a Christmas gift indeed!

Here’s the Photo story …

The Sound of (gym) Music

The sounds of gym music will fill the air Friday night as ECHS and CHS square off in the Cougar den. The undefeated Lady Mariners face the Lady Cougars in a battle for clear-cut braggin’ rights in the county. On the WCHS hardwoods, the Patriots face D. H. Conley. The Patriots look to rebound from two tough losses and add another V to their 6-2 record.

The basketball page has been updated, and WCHS Coach McClanahan launches the initial CoachCast of the B-Ball season. –

BCMS Bulldogs Finish Season Perfect

The middle school boys soccer season wrapped up with BCMS as champions. The Bulldogs scored one goal early in the second half to defeat runner-up Morehead Middle 1-0. Congrats to all young men who participated in this soccer season. And a special thanks to all coaches who dedicate countless hours in the development of our student athletes!

Here’s a photo montage of the game (4 min 45 sec).

Round One: ECHS Girls

Elevation 101 by Croatan Shooting Guard

The WCHS boys hoopsters are on top this year as they dismantled ECHS and CHS four games to nil. The battle for bragging rights for girls basketball in the county, though, is not over. Round One between ECHS and CHS girls went to ECHS in a game that was closer than the score would indicate. Round Two occurs this Friday in the Cougar den.

Here is a link to a news blurb and Music Photo Story of the first ECHS and CHS game.

Santa’s Sportshop

Tenacious D

WCHS boys (6-0) continue to swarm opposing offenses.

Braggin’ Rights
The girls from ECHS (3-0) v CHS (4-0) are in showdown this Friday and then again next Friday. As an appetizer, here’s a sports report and PhotoStory video of the recent ECHS v WCHS girls matchup.

A 12-2 Football Team is only Losing Five Seniors
In this CoachCoast, ECHS Coach Don Kiefer has some final thoughts on another fine season.

Early December Sports Stories

Fast Breakin’
The high school basketball season is well underway. Three varsity teams are undefeated and looking strong. You can follow the results of the WCHS boys, ECHS girls, and CHS girls on their respective school websites.

Heavyweight Contenders
Wrestling season is in full gear. The CHS grapplers have had a strong opening to the season. Check out the awesome website that Coach Perry keeps for his titans of the mat.

And the winner is . . .
The final numbers for middle school volleyball have been tabulated by our law offices of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe. We have tri-champs: Down East, Morehead Middle and Pamlico! They all posted impressive 10-2 records and split head-t0-head on the season.

BCMS Boys Soccer Juggernaut
The much anticipated showdown between two undefeateds, BCMS and MMS, has transpired. Unofficial results: BCMS 4 and MMS 1 (at MMS). With a strong post-season run by a young CHS team, the path to soccer supremacy may well lead down Highway 24 in the near term.

The Value of Participation in Organized Athletics
Released in September, “The Workforce Readiness Report Card” from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, and the Society for Human Resource Management found the nation’s new workforce entrants “woefully ill-prepared for the demands of today’s—and tomorrow’s—workplace.” Donna Klein, president, CEO, and founder of Corporate Voices for Working Families, says the study’s results were “amazing and sobering.”

“After-school programs that provide opportunities for young people to remain in school to get experience in art, music, drama, computers, community leadership, and athletics help kids develop applied skills,” Klein says. “There is lots of research showing this holistic approach to youth development is more beneficial in the long run than segmented development.”

—from The Workforce Readiness Crisis (Susan McLester and Todd McIntire)