Bristol Herald Courier | Tim Hayes | Photo Credit: Bristol Herald Courier
BRISTOL, Va. – It had all the intensity of a playoff game, and the final result turned out to be a familiar outcome for the girls basketball team at George Wythe High School.
GW dropped a 47-44 decision to longtime nemesis Honaker on Saturday evening in the Coach Ballard Lee Invitational at Virginia High’s Bearcats.
The Maroons lost at home to Honaker in the quarterfinals of the VHSL Class 1 state tournament last season and were also eliminated from the state tourney by the Tigers in 2020 and 2021.
The setback wasn’t of the season-ending postseason variety this time and George Wythe coach Doug Campbell was far from disappointed by the effort his team exhibited.
“Like I told my girls, this is a good test for us,” Campbell said. “The main thing I wanted to see us do was compete and I thought we came out and competed hard. … As long as they give me that fight every night, we’ll be OK.”
Meanwhile, Honaker (5-1) once again took care of business and claimed the tourney title after winning all three of its games in the event.
The Tigers never trailed on Saturday and led 36-25 midway through the third quarter. They just could never really put GW (6-1) away until the end.
GEORGE WYTHE (44) – Luttrell 5 0-0 14, Berry 3 3-3 11, Harris 2 0-0 5, Cline 2 1-2 6, Campbell 2 0-0 6, Faulkner 0 0-0 0, Davis 0 0-2 0, Mullins 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 4-7 44.
HONAKER (47) – McNulty 6 1-2 14, C. Keene 3 0-0 8, Miller 3 0-0 6, Farmer 4 0-1 10, Rose 1 0-0 2, Rose 1 0-0 2, Musick 1 0-1 2, Whaley 2 0-0 5, Campbell 0 0-0 0, A. Keene 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 1-4 47.
George Wythe 6 12 12 14—44
Honaker 15 12 11 9—47
3-point goals – GW 10 (Luttrell 4, Berry 2, Campbell 2, Harris, Cline), Honaker 6 (C. Keene 2, Farmer 2, McNulty, Whaley). Total fouls – GW 14, Honaker 13. Fouled out – none. Technicals – none.
J.V. Girls: Honaker 37, George Wythe 17