The Craig County girls will open the home basketball season next Monday, December 9, against Staunton River. The Rockets were scheduled to open the season at Staunton River on Monday of this week but results were too late for publication.
Craig has a new coach in Erica Crabtree. She replaces Brock Jones, and Brocks’ daughter Kailyn has moved to Narrows after leading the Rockets in scoring and rebounding as a freshman last year. That’s a big loss, but Crabtree has eight girls returning from last year’s team to make up those points and boards.
Returning seniors include Brooklyn Cayton, Gracie Huffman, Maddie Kendall and twins Madison and Morgan Underwood. Juniors are point guard Kallie Fisher, Daileigh Donithan and Jenna Boitnotte.
“Our goal for the season is to play team basketball and give maximum effort every game,” said Crabtree. “We want to focus on building our skills and improving every time we step out on the court.”
CALFEE IS FIRST TEAM ALL-DISTRICT IN FOOTBALL
The All-Pioneer District football team was released this week with the final district team, Bath County, eliminated in the playoffs. The Chargers lost to Grayson County, 20-0, in the Region 1C championship game last Friday.
Craig junior Carter was a two-position first team selection. Carter was named first team at both running back and kick returner.
The Rockets had five players on the second team offense. Senior Jaycob Wolfe was second team kick return while senior Josh Craft was named at running back and senior Isaac Lucas was selected at tight end. Junior Tristan Dooley was a second team wide receiver and Carter Price, a sophomore, was named on the offensive line.
Craig had six named to the second team defense, including five boys named both ways. Calfee and Wolfe were named second team defensive backs while Price was named on the line, Dooley at linebacker and Craft at all-purpose. Also, sophomore Noah Paxton was named at linebacker.
The Rockets had seven more players deemed Honorable Mention. That included seniors Joseph Lee and Blake Wright, juniors Caleb Fields and Isaiah Nichols, sophomore Peyton Fields and freshmen Bentley Smith and Jeremiah Fowler.