HIGH SCHOOL BOYS HOOPS: A day after becoming a dad for the first time, Chilhowie coach Matt Snodgrass guides Warriors to win at Honaker (copy)
Chilhowie's Luke Mullinax gets tripped up as he dribbles the ball ahead of Honaker's Silas Harris Friday night.
Chilhowie's Gabe Rouse takes a shot against Honaker on Friday night.
Chilhowie's Jayden Schwartz goes up for a shot as Honaker's Jeremiah Rose defends.
Chilhowie's Luke Mullinax goes up for a shot as Honaker's Kamden Beavers defends Friday night.
Honaker's Parker Lowe drives the ball down the line as Chilhowie's Luke Mullinax.
Chilhowie's Hudson Sturgill goes up for a shot between Honaker's Kamden Beavers (15) and Jeremiah Rose (11).
Chilhowie's Garrett Dickison dribbles to the basket as Honaker's Jeremiah Rose defends.
Chilhowie's Luke Mullinax drives to the basket as Honaker's Lincoln Combs defends.
Honaker's Silas Harris shoots a layup over Chilhowie's Mason West.
Honaker's Kameron Keene shoots the ball over Chilhowie's Hudson Sturgill.
Honaker's Colton Lowe shoots a three point shot against Chilhowie.
Honaker's Parker Lowe shoots the ball over the Chilhowie defense Friday night.
Chilhowie's Hudson Sturgill shoots a three point shot at Honaker on Friday night.
Chilhowie coach Matt Snodgrass talks with Gabe Rouse Friday night at Honaker.
Chilhowie's Jayden Schwartz drives the ball to the basket as Honaker's Parker Lowe defends.
Chilhowie's Jayden Schwartz shoots a layup against Honaker on Friday night.
Chilhowie coach Matt Snodgrass.
HONAKER, Va. – While he certainly appreciated that 65-54 Hogoheegee District win over Honaker on Friday night, it paled in comparison to the life-altering event Chilhowie High School boys basketball coach Matt Snodgrass experienced a little more than 24 hours earlier.
His wife, Hillary Overbay Snodgrass, gave birth to the couple’s first child on Thursday at 8:11 p.m., as a seven-pound, eight-ounce baby girl known as Cutler June Snodgrass made her way into the world at Bristol Regional Medical Center.
Matt Snodgrass missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday to welcome the new addition to his family, and he wasn’t sure if he would be at Friday’s game until a few hours before tip-off.
The coach made it and the whirlwind of emotions continued as he had many things running through his mind, not just the gameplan.
“I don’t know where I was more useless,” Snodgrass said. “Here at the gym tonight or in the delivery room last night.”
Chilhowie (10-8, 4-1) rallied from a five-point halftime deficit to win on Friday and remain one game back of leader Patrick Henry (13-3, 5-0) in the Hogoheegee District standings.
The triumph also meant Snodgrass is 1-0 since becoming a proud poppa.
“Our kids and assistant coaches really stepped up and carried us,” Snodgrass said. “I’m at a loss for words with what these last couple of days have been like.”
Friday night was far from stress free for Snodgrass as Chilhowie saw an 18-10 lead turn into a 29-24 deficit after Honaker (3-15, 0-5) closed the first half on a 19-6 run.
“That game was kind of what we expected,” Snodgrass said. “We have a lot of respect for Honaker. A lot of people say that Honaker’s bad, Honaker’s awful, but they’re just young. They have a lot of young talent and play hard.”
Chilhowie took the lead for good on freshman Bryce Robinson’s 3-pointer with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter and then held off the Tigers the rest of the way.
“We just came out after halftime and we were ready to play,” said Chilhowie senior Hudson Sturgill.
The Warriors also had to play without 6-foot-3 senior Asher Chapman, who is day-to-day after suffering an ankle injury during practice on Thursday.
“I missed practice and Asher Chapman rolls his ankle,” Snodgrass said with a smile.
What was it like not having Snodgrass around on the eve of a key game?
“It was really different,” Sturgill said. “We probably didn’t practice as hard as we should have, but I’m happy for Coach Snodgrass.”
It appeared Honaker might be celebrating an upset as the Tigers played well in spurts.
The Tigers received 12 points each from Parker Lowe and Colton Lowe on Friday, while Silas Harris (11 points) and Jeremiah Rose (10 points) also scored in double digits.
However, the Tigers were left with familiar frustration as 27 turnovers spelled doom.
“That’s a great basketball team and Coach Snodgrass does an amazing job with those guys,” said Honaker coach Aaron Lowe. “We were there the whole game and the last five minutes of the fourth quarter we had too many turnovers and boneheaded mistakes that cost us. We did a lot of things that I'm proud of, but it’s those little things that are absolutely killing us. I don’t know how many close games we’ve lost.”
The Tigers appear to be on the cusp of a breakthrough.
“I feel like we are,” Lowe said. “We’ve got a good group. I know we’re young, but I tell them I don’t care what grade we are in they have to show up and play 32 minutes no matter what happens. We have to grow up and step up. The only thing we can hope is games like this will pay off for us.”
Sturgill has stepped up for Chilhowie this season after playing a bit role on last year's Region 1D runner-up team. He finished with eight points and eight rebounds on Friday.
Gabe Rouse added 11 points and seven rebounds while battling sickness.
Jayden Schwartz finished with 17 points as most of those came at the free throw line, while Garrett Dickison supplied 10 points.
Cell phone in hand and trying to get service in Honaker’s A.P. Baldwin Gymnasium, Snodgrass was checking in on the real MVP moments after Friday’s game.
“Hillary is my hero,” Snodgrass said.
CHILHOWIE (65) – Mullinax 0 2-2 2, Dickison 3 3-4 10, Bl. Robinson 1 2-2 4, Sturgill 3 1-1 8, Schwartz 3 11-13 17, Br. Robinson 2 2-4 8, Rouse 4 3-4 11, West 2 0-0 5. Totals 18 24-30 65.
HONAKER (54) – P. Lowe 5 1-2 12, Combs 1 0-0 2, Keen 2 1-2 5, Hubbard 0 0-0 0, Rose 3 4-5 10, C. Lowe 4 1-1 12, Beavers 1 0-0 2, Harris 4 2-2 11. Totals 20 9-12 54.
Chilhowie 18 6 20 21—65
Honaker 10 19 11 14—54
3-point goals – Chilhowie 5 (Br. Robinson 2, Dickison, Sturgill, West), Honaker 5 (C. Lowe 3, P. Lowe, Harris). Total fouls – Chilhowie 18, Honaker 24. Fouled out – none. Technicals – none. JV game – Chilhowie won, 44-25.
