By Allen Hamrick
Football and volleyball seasons have come to a close for both CCHS and CCMS, and fall sports are officially finished. The Lady Panther volleyball team was Sectional Champions and made it to the Regionals before their clock ran out. CCHS football had a great season, finishing 7-2 overall and made it to the playoffs for the first time in years. This past Sunday, after much turmoil and strife involving COVID-19 interference, the Panthers butted heads with Bluefield in the first round of the playoffs but came up short of the win. The CCMS Lady Mustangs finished the year as CWVAC Champions and brought the trophy back home to CCMS. The Mustang football team got to the big game but came up just short. The Mustangs finished second in the CWVAC conference and had a great season overall. Cross country athletes at both schools did a great job and let people know that Clay Countains can run with the rest of the pack. This fall season for all the teams was not just a battle between the teams but they also had to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. No matter what a person believes about COVID, the fact is it was a tough season for all teams because of the difficulties they faced each game.
Now it’s time for winter sports once again. So, break out the field jackets, mukluks and hand warmers, it’s time for some hard court basketball action. The Lady Panthers will try once again to make it to the big dance at the State Championships. With the talent that is on the court this year, they should be good contenders for the title. The Panthers are coming off a pretty good season from last year and hope to renew the embers burning from last year’s team. It looks as though they will bring back the power jumping capabilities from last year and will challenge even the strongest under the hoop for rebound dominance. Outside the ring, they will have sharp shooters who can scratch the net with ease.
The Lady Mustangs will be trying once again to regain the glory that is associated with the Lady Mustang franchise. The CCMS Mustangs will not have the height of previous years, but what they lack in height will be made up with speed so it could possibly be the year for a double championship from the CCMS basketball teams. The CCMS Mustang wrestling dynasty will be looking for a new coach so the team’s future is up in the air as of this writing. The CCHS wrestling team has the chance to become one of the finest wrestling teams in school history. So, let’s get ready to rumble for winter sports.
Ready, set, … WHOA!!!! HOLD ON!!! WHAT??? Winter sports have been put on hold until WHEN??? JANUARY!!! That’s right; Governor Justice has just mandated that, due to Corona rearing its ugly head again and cases spreading like wildfire, all winter sports be put on hold until at least January 11. So, here we go folks; the virus has once again upset the apple cart. The unknown future of education and school sports is once again cast to the wind. So, stay informed and keep in touch so that you will know when and if everything gets back on track.