Open Volleyball Nites at SBS! February 28, 2009
Posted by Steve Elliott in Uncategorized.add a comment
After Spring Break we’re going to have Open Volleyball at the gym, Thursday nights at 6:30. We want to have competitive play so come ready to bump/set/spike. Moms and dad… boys and girls…
StoneBridge And Broadwater face off on Big Saturday February 28, 2009
Posted by Steve Elliott in basketball, boys, girls.add a comment
Five games. Three venues. Ultimately, two schools would be left standing to face off on a Big Saturday to remember in the Metro conference.
To start things off, the semi and final rounds of the JJV 8 boys and girls tournaments took place in Isle of Wight (girls) and Atlanti Shores (boys). On the boys side, StoneBridge won their semi final game whih set up a re-match with Broadwater, which had pegged SBS JJV 8 boys with their lone conference defeat earlier in the season. On the girls side, SBS’s young team extended its record to 11-3 in a thrilling double overtime victory over top-ranked Portsmouth Christian. It was sweet revenge for SBS after losing the lead and the game in overtime at PCS during the regular season. Christina Cash and Ellen Lee led the way for the Cavs in what turned out to be a 2:15 marathon that pushed Coach Cal and his team’s second game to a mid afternoon start.
By the time the girls hit the floor for their final, the JJV8 boys were putting the finishing touches on their conferene championship. Luke Unsworth and Josepth Gutshaw led the way throughout the season and are setting themselves up to be a solid inside-outside threat for SBS basketball throughout their high school careers. On the girls side, Broadwater proved to be too much but our girls continued to play hard until the final whistle. The season? A tremendous success: 11-4 record, the second place trophy in the conference tournament and a bright future for these young girls.
Coach Cal, whose day began with the trek 30 miles west to Isle of Wight for a 10am game, darted out of the gym some time passed 3pm and began the long trip to Broadwater for the boys game. Unfortunately for our boys, they fell at Broadwater, dropping them to fourth in the conference. But the day was a tremendous success, especially with two competitive schools facing off in three venues. I’m still a relative newbie to the Metro, but I can say that Broadwater is earning a fine reputation with me. Their teams always are prepared. Their kids always play hard and with respect. Their fans are cordial. I couldn’t think of a better team to face on Big Saturday.
SBS “Homecoming” Cavs Take Down Hampton Christian February 21, 2009
Posted by Steve Elliott in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
Dateline: February 20, 2009, Hampton Christian School
Okay, if you are looking for some excitement… If you want to recapture what it is like to live in a “small town”…. If you want to see some really good small school basketball…. then Hampton Christian High was your destination.
For the fourth time, the boys varsity was the chosen “foil” for a Metro conference opponent’s homecoming, this time at Hampton Christian High. I say we schedule eight homecomings next year because the Cavs finish their homecoming gauntlet with an impressive 3-1 record.
I arrived with a flock of high schoolers as the first quarter was nearing the end and things looked bleak. The faithful band of 60 or so SBS fans were huddled in one corner of the bleachers, ominously quiet as the scoreboard revealed our Cavs were already down 15 points. But things started to turn. I give these boys and their coaches a lot of credit. Basically, any hopes of making the state tournament would be dashed with a loss to Hampton — ranked 12th (the last playoff spot) in the state. The boys kept fighting. Jimmy Tabb started driving to the basket. Brian got his shoulder brace. And we chipped away, cutting the lead down to two at halftime.
(BTW, I liked their “homecoming” halftime festivities. They had any alumni in attendance come out on the court and get an ovation. The the cheerleaders did a very good dance routine with the lights dimmed and spotlights on.)
Back to the game….
Not sure what happened in the third quarter, but I can tell you our band of fans — packed tightly into the far corner of the bleachers — really raised a raucous. I’d say we were outnumbered 6-to-1 but made at least as much, if not more, noise. Maybe it was because we had more highlights in the second half. There was Joel Arcieri stepping up big with some key buckets. Brian Palmer’s trademark slash to the hoop for another two. Wesley Carroll — the quickest guy on the court — playing with four fouls yet managing key buckets and clogging up the middle on defense.
We built a lead and ended up winning by a half dozen. The “Homecoming” Cavs had done it again — the onloy blemish on the homecoming record being a loss at Atlantic Shores, but I’m not sure any team public or private in Hampton Roads could beat Shores.
Breaking Down The Big City
But the real winners were both schools and their fans. In an almost magical way, these basketball games reduce our large network of cities with 1.5 million-plus residents to a small town. It was as if the entire “village” of Hampton Christian had come out to celebrate in their unique way and they invited neighboring rival StoneBridge Village to play. Our region is large enough that it is rare to see someone you meet when you are out and about, shopping at Wal Mart or visiting the mall. But here, I was among family. There’s Mark Keating with is “StoneBridge Swimming” jacket. Jim Arcieri to my left, cheering his son and the team on. The cheerleaders just over my right shoulder. There’s Trey losing his voice to lead the “Stone… what?” cheer. Phil Herring… John Cash… The girls basketball team…. Kellie Unsworth… and my co-color commentator for this game, Greg Akins.
We sat admidst Hampton Christian villagers and had good, friendly discussions about the homecoming… if their star player has received a basketball scholarship…. etc. Truth be told, it’s a village that is still in shock from losing one of its students this year to suicide. I’m sure Hampton Christian Village will still be recovering for some time to come. Hopefully, this Homecoming, surrounded by friends and family and with their good neighbors from StoneBridge Village taking part, helped in that process.
Cavaliers Post Rare Sweep Of Fourpleheader February 21, 2009
Posted by Steve Elliott in basketball, boys, girls.add a comment
Dateline: Feburary 19, 2009
How much fun can one school’s basketball program have in one day? The StoneBridge Cavaliers basketball program, with players ranging from the sixth to twelfth grads, swept four games on three courts today in a rare “fourpleheader.”
The action got started with the JJV boys Metro tournament first round game in which the #1 ranked Cavs defeated Portsmouth Christian behind the solid play of Luke Unsworth and Joseph Gutworth. After a tight first half, the Cavs pulled away in the second half to advance to the second round.
Next up: the Lady Cavs JV team, which has been steadily gaining strength and building momentum. In this their last regular season game, the Cavs needed a win to secure the third seed in the conference tournament. Coach Crowe’s girls took a lead into halftime and then held off Hampton Christian’s strong charge in the second half. The hard work and commitment of these girls is paying off.
Game three: After Senior Sarah Tabb received her 1,000-point ball from Athletic Director Woolard, the Lady Cavs breezed to their 66th consecutive Metro Conference win. The Lady Cavs will have the opportunity next week to extend this remarkable streak to 69 games in the Metro tournament.
The nightcap involved a trip to Isle of Wight for a rare evening game or the JJV girls team, who entered their tournament as the 4th ranked team and were seeking to avenge an earlier loss to Williamsburg Christian. It turned out to be a defensive struggle and the low-scoring affair came down to a final defensive stop by the young Lady Cavs who advanced to the semi-finals.
Whew! Over 40 kids on three courts spread out across about 40 miles.
