By JIMMY WALLS
Contributing Writer
The year 1996 saw the girls' programs at all schools improve their overall quality of athletes. They're now becoming a competing force in the field of girls' athletics.
The winter season saw Guyan Valley tromp Hamlin in the Hamlin Holiday Tournament, 71-48, as Matt Adkins put in 24 points and hit the boards for 19 rebounds. The next week, they came back and dominated the Bobcats in regular season, 79-56. Justin Blankenship and Matt Adkins put in 16 each, while Sam Barnett was getting nine for the Bobcats.
The Hamlin girls edged Harts, 50-44, with Angie Scites getting 12 points and 21 rebounds. Melissa Adkins and Ginny Boggess each had 14 points, while Kendra Mitchell was leading the Lady Lions with 16 points.
Henry Hager ran in the 100th Boston Marathon.
Hamlin came on for a win over Duval, 62-48, with Sam Barnett getting 11 and Matt Fulks 14, while Aaron Beckett was chipping in 17, to lead the way. Jason Lewis tallied 12 and Robert Mosteller 11 for the Yellow Jackets.
Back to the girls, GV knocked off Hamlin, as Melissa Cook put in 20 points. Ginny Boggess led with 14 and Angie Scites 13. Hamlin then turned around and topped Duval, 48-47, as Angie Scites racked up 24 points and Melissa Adkins getting 11. Beth Belcher scorched the nets for 24 points.
The leading girls' scorers were Beth Belcher with a 19.3 average, followed by Kendra Mitchell with 18.8; Angie Scites 17.7; Ginny Boggess 13.5 and Missy Cook at 11.6.
The boys saw Brent Gillenwater with a 26.0 average. David Frye at 22.0; Richie McCann 20.0; Brad Vance 20.0 and Jeff Eldridge 15.2.
The Lady Wildcats outscored Duval, 63-42, with Debbie Dolin and Elizabeth Vance getting 12 each and Missy Cook 18. Beth Belcher rolled for Duval with a 21-point game. Angie Scites tallied her 1,000th career point.
The Guyan Valley boys were able to knock off Harts in regular season with Matt Adkins gettin 19; Chris Williamson 18; Justin Blankenship 12 and J. Elkins 10. Brad Vance came up with 13, Frye 22, Dalton 10 and Napier 12.
The Hamlin girls won the sectional contest and advance to the Regionals, but they fell to Williamson, 68-49. Scites tallied 10, Adkins 11 and Boggess 18.
Duval fell to Sherman in the girls' sectional. GV won the Boone-Lincoln conference over Harts with Jose Clay, Joe Workman, J.R. Adkins and Josh Nida providing the punch. Harts was led by Adam Vance and Brad Browning. Justin Blankenship tallied his 1,000th career points. GV boys defeated Harts and Hamlin in the sectional, but they lost to Burch in the Regional.
The Hamlin Buddy League champs were Jake Anderson, Justin Edwards, Chad Dotson, Zach Adkins, Daniel Hager, Brittany Dean, Amanda Pritchard, Jarred Holton, Betsi Linville and Ashley LeLuz.
Duane Hunting was selected to call the Girls' State basketball tournament. All-County girls selected were Ginny Boggess, Beth Belcher, Brenda Moore, Kendra Mitchell, Angie Scites, Debbie Dolin, Erica Graley, Melissa Adkins, Heather Smith and Missy Cook.
For the boys, it was Richie McCann, Brad Vance, Justin Blankenship, Robert Mosteller, Chip Ellis, Andy Roberts, Sam Barnett, Chris Williamson, Jason Elkins and Brad Napier.
Ronnie Morrison won the heavyweight power lifting championship. Making All-State were Angie Scites, Kendra Mitchell, Beth Belcher, Brad Vance, Richie McCann and David Fry.
GV mercies Duval to win the County baseball, 16-3, as Gary Johnson, Tanner Johnson and Jarred Yeager lead the way.
The Lady Wildcat girls' softball defeated Hamlin, 9-4, behind Missy Cook, Katrina Elkins and Allison Johnson.
Duval baseball goes to South Carolina to play over Spring Break. Pennington went 3-4 as GV defeated Hamlin and Hamlin defeated Harts, 11-3, behind Sam Barnett and Jason Salmons. Harts' girls go to Regional after beating GV. Next for the Lady Lions was Williamson and Buffalo Putnam, which they dispensed.
In the State softball tournament, they defeated Marsh Fork and Wheeling Central, but Central came back out of the losers' bracket to take the State championship, leaving Harts as runner-up.
Duval fell to Tug Valley in AA. Making baseball All-State were Chip Ellis, Craig Headley, Earnest Vance, Lee Pennington, Kevin Holley, Gary Johnson and Chris Porter.
Waterways opened in the corner of Lincoln County.
Jeff Jordan became Lincoln Journal sports editor.
Hamlin Bobcats jr. hi. football start out with a 4-0 record.
The Varsity gets a 7-0 start on the season.
Ryan Pritchard is named sports editor of the Journal.
Hamlin extends its winning streak to 19 games, which is the state's longest.
Duval fell to Wayne with Jimmy Damron, Jr. running offense for the Pioneers. The Wildcats beat S. Galia with J. R. Adkins, Tony Bias, Jason Clay, Lee Pennington and Gary Johnson providing the offense for the 43-7 win.
Hamlin drops the last game of the season, which stops their winning streak They have to meet Vinson again in the first round of playoffs and fall again, despite offense efforts of Shawn Browning and Roger Smith. Vinson repeats the win with a 21-0 shutout.
Hamlin jr. high. fell to Chapmanville in finals of the conference.
Making All-Conference were: Brandon Enochs, Brandon Smith, Kenny Bias, Travis Pritchard, Walt McGrady, Chad Wendell, Mike Pauley, Brandon McCallister, Tim Caldwell, Josh McCoy, Shawn Smith, Kris Johnson, Robert Greenhill, Chad Roberts, Mike Bickell, Paul Stickler, Aaron Graley, Gary Linville, Brandon Linville, Seth Richmond and Matt Bivall.
Making All-County football were: Roger Smith, Brant Gibson, Gary Johnson, Billy Jarrell, Terry Adkins, John Stanley, Jared Linville, Clint Madden, Travis Beasley, Josh Miller, Lee Pennington, Jason Salmons and Greg Sizemore. Defensively, it was Jason Salmons, Josh Miller, J. R. Shull, Clint Madden, Cory Beck, Jason Adkins, Kevin Holley, Brian Browning, Shawn Browning, Roger Smith, Robert Mosteller and Aaron Beckett.
The Lady Bobcats win the County basketball jr. hi., as they defeated Harts, 53-35. Shawnita May scored 16 and Danielle Salmons 11. Bridgett Eldridge and Miranda Adkins led Harts.
The Jr. Lions won the boys' title. Adam Vance eight, Jeff Brown six, Willie Wiley 11 and Isiac Duty eight. Chad Adkins scored eight and Bradley Adkins five for Hamlin.
Timmy Stratton won the West Virginia Alumni Tennis tournament.
Shawn Browning was named All-State defensive football player and Roger Smith, Josh Miller, Greg Sizemore, Gary Johnson, Robert Mosteller and Kevin Holley were honorable mention.
The Hamlin Bobcats won the Hamlin Holiday Tournament over GV, 38-35. Beckett had nine, Fulks five, Miller eight and Shull six, while Roy had eight, Porter seven and J.R. Adkins nine, for the Wildcats.
Another year down, and, as stated earlier, the girls are rising in quality and able to compete with others in their ranking. The boys work hard and continue their efforts to better the athletics of Lincoln County.