[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 45 (Friday, April 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E525-E526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      STATE CHAMPIONS TIMES THREE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 2, 2004

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, while the nation focuses on the culmination 
of the NCAA men's basketball March Madness and the Final Four this 
weekend in San Antonio, Texas, the Sixth District of North Carolina is 
already basking in the glow as the home of three state high school 
basketball championship teams. Trinity High School in Randolph County, 
Thomasville High School in Davidson County, and Westchester Academy in 
Guilford County are the respective homes for high school basketball 
champions this season, and we are proud to acknowledge their tremendous 
seasons here.
  Trinity High School completed a remarkable season on March 13 at the 
Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill when it captured the North Carolina 
High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 3-A boys basketball 
championship with a win over Dudley High School of Greensboro. Led by 
state Coach of the Year Tim Kelly and state Player of the Year Josh 
King, the Bulldogs finished the year with a 31-1 record.
  Despite that gaudy regular season record, many people did not give 
Trinity much of a chance going into the game against the Dudley 
Panthers. Coach Kelly told the Greensboro News & Record that a tough 
regular season schedule prepared his baby-faced warriors for the 
toughest battle of the year. ``We think we saw the right mix to get 
here,'' Coach Kelly told the newspaper. ``We didn't get a free pass. We 
didn't get to pass go and collect $200. We had to pay our way to get 
here and our kids were aggressive. We might look like choirboys when we 
walk into the building, but we're not. We're going to attack and be 
aggressive on both ends of the floor.''
  When it was over, the Bulldogs celebrated a 73-64 win over the 
Panthers, led by King's 21 points, along with 18 from championship game 
MVP John McEachin. Coach Kelly will tell you, however, that it took a 
total team effort to beat a talented Dudley squad. ``I really feel like 
this team was destined to win tonight,'' the coach concluded. ``We wish 
(Dudley) luck next year with everything they have coming back. I'd hate 
to have to play them next year, but maybe we'll get that opportunity.''
  So do all the Bulldogs fans, but before we look ahead to next season, 
let's take one more moment to savor this year's championship. 
Congratulations are in order to Coach Kelly and his assistants, Joey 
Freeman, Richard Brendle, Richard Austin, Lindy Hall, Brent McDowell, 
and Brian Nance. Again, led by Player of the Year King, and MVP 
McEachin, every member of the Bulldogs can take pride in the title 
quest. The other members of the championship team included J.B. 
McDowell, Jason Lewis, Spencer Smith, Jonathan Watts, Tim Kelly, Brian 
Downing, David Idol, Matt Watkins, Dane Young, Ben King, and Dustin 
Everette.
  Assisting all season long were managers Kristy Craig, Jennifer Hiatt, 
Carson Wheeler, Jerome Porter, along with statisticians Ashley Gentry 
and Blair Farlow. To Principal Daryl Barnes, Athletic Director Doug 
Tuggle, the coaches, players, students, faculty, staff, family, and 
friends of the Trinity Bulldogs, we say congratulations for capturing 
the 3-A state boys basketball championship.
  Speaking of threes, the girls basketball team at Thomasville High 
School is celebrating its third straight NCHSAA 1-A state championship. 
Also known as the Bulldogs, Thomasville defeated Farmville Central 67-
48 on March 13 to win the crown at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. It 
was the second year in a row that

[[Page E526]]

Thomasville defeated Farmville Central in the title contest, but this 
year the squad was led by someone who wasn't even supposed to start the 
game. Charnette Davis was surprised by Head Coach Eric Rader when she 
was tapped to be in the starting lineup, and Charnette responded by 
scoring 18 points and pulling down 11 rebounds to be selected as the 
game's MVP. Charnette was also named as the MVP of the Western Regional 
final.
  This third crown capped a remarkable 30-1 season, and Coach Rader 
told the High Point Enterprise that, in his mind, the final outcome was 
never in doubt. ``When you have the heart of a champion like these 
ladies do, they never lose,'' Rader told the newspaper. For the last 
three years, the Thomasville Bulldogs have not lost and can celebrate 
this ``three-peat'' with pride and honor. The citizens of the Sixth 
District congratulate Coach Rader and his assistants Sara Larrick, 
Holly Harvey and Kelvin Caraway. In addition to MVP Davis, every member 
of the Thomasville girls basketball team contributed to the third 
straight title, including Leah Harris, Impris Manning, Mary Allen, 
Brittanny Marsh, LaShonda Cosby, Wudi Alford (who was named Most 
Outstanding Player for her 18-point performance in the championship 
game), Brittany Sanders, Tameka Thomas, Erin Crowder, Kendra Rutledge, 
Sha Harris, and Jenny Burgess. Providing valuable assistance all season 
long were managers Byron Lattimore, Andrew Oakley, Clifton Carroll, 
along with statistician Shanterra Robinson and video coordinator 
Jonathan Caraway.
  Again, we congratulate Principal Dick Gurley, Athletic Director Woody 
Huneycutt, the coaches, players, students, faculty, staff, family and 
friends of Thomasville High School on the winning of their third 
straight 1-A girls basketball championship.
  In keeping with our theme of threes, another high school in our 
district won its third boys basketball championship in five years and 
its second in a row. On February 28, Westchester Academy of High Point 
won the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 
(NCISAA) 2-A title. The Wildcats defeated Carolina Day of Asheville 74-
52 at Ravenscroft High School in Raleigh. Even though this was not the 
first title for Westchester, Head Coach Pat Kahny said this one was 
significant. ``This was special,'' Coach Kahny told the High Point 
Enterprise. ``There was a lot of pressure trying to repeat as the 
number one seed, and there was pressure because we played before the 
biggest crowd all year.''
  The title contest culminated a tremendous 29-2 season for the 
Wildcats. Following two consecutive losses at a tournament in December, 
Westchester ran off 20 straight wins on its way to the championship. 
Leading the way to the title was Jacob Briles, who poured in 37 points 
in the championship game while Toby Grauel added 21. Coach Kahny, 
however, does not think the offensive firepower the determining factor 
in the outcome. ``Our defense in the second quarter was the key,'' 
Coach Kahny told the Enterprise. We forced a number of turnovers and 
got several easy baskets in transition. They (Carolina Day) have a very 
good offensive team. To hold them to 23 points in the first half was a 
tremendous effort.''
  Coach Kahny and his assistants Ken Hyde and Adam Schwartz led that 
tremendous effort all season long. In addition to Briles and Grauel, 
the members of the winning squad included Britt Hutchens, Myles Pearl, 
Kemil Kepinski, Will Moore, Dexter Garner, Coleman Team, Jack Vance, 
Emir Dukic, Jack Tucker, Anthony Peters, Robert Byrd, and Tuck Tucker. 
Supporting the squad all season long were managers Candice Gilliland, 
Andrea McNamara, Kathryn Thompson, and Jeff Galloway along with 
publicist Lore Fariss.
  Once more, we are pleased to congratulate Headmaster Tommy Hudgins, 
Athletic Director Kahny, the coaches, players, students, faculty, 
staff, family and friends of Westchester Academy for winning the NCISAA 
2-A boys basketball championship.
  On a final note, Mr. Speaker, I am proud to acknowledge that either 
current or former staffers of mine are graduates of Trinity, 
Thomasville and Westchester. It makes their state championships all the 
more sweet, and we offer our heartfelt thanks for making us proud.

                          ____________________