The day before his team played in the semifinals of the Region IV, Division 4 girls basketball tournament, Carroll County High School coach Marc Motley delivered an impassioned speech to his team.
He reminded his players they had been working since they were in kindergarten for this moment and had expended a lot of energy and countless hours attending summer camps
and playing on the AAU circuit in preparation to play in big games like the one that awaited.
Senior guard Kayla Goins intently listened and when she stepped to the foul line the next night with the game on the line, Motley’s words were still in her thoughts.
“I kept replaying what he had said and that we had worked so hard for this,” Goins said. “I knew I had to make those. There were no ifs, ands or buts about it.”
Goins calmly sank two free throws with 1.8 seconds left to clinch Carroll County’s 58-56 regional semifinal victory over Hidden Valley last Thursday and secure the Cavaliers a spot in the state tournament.
Carroll County (19-4) will play Spotswood on Saturday at 1:45 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the VHSL Group AA, Division 4 state tourney at James Madison University.
The play of Goins has helped the Cavs get this far.
She finished with 32 points in the victory over Hidden Valley, the latest act in a successful career.
“If you just looked at her, you wouldn’t think she could play at all,” Motley said. “She’s [5-foot-6], weighs probably 120 pounds. She doesn’t look quick and she doesn’t look real
athletic. But when the ball goes up in the air, it’s a different story.”
That’s a fact not lost on Southwest District opponents, who Goins tortured with her array of skills all season. Her statistics back up the praise: 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.2 steals
and 3.2 assists per game.
“We’ve had some really good players here,” Motley said. “I don’t know if she’s the most talented, but she’s definitely close. She probably understands the game as well as any kid I’ve coached and she gets more out of her ability.”
Carroll County has produced such talented players as Erin Gibson, Ingrid Easter and Emily Porter over the last few years. Goins has certainly put her name in the pantheon of Cavalier greats.
“Just to be compared to them, I don’t want to say it’s overwhelming, but it’s just something I never thought I would accomplish,” Goins said.
Many observers never thought Carroll County could get past River Ridge District power Hidden Valley and reach the state tournament. However, Goins made it possible.
“We played extremely well,” Motley said. “We felt going in that we were good enough to beat them, but I think maybe outside myself and a few of my players, many people didn’t think we were. We just came out and executed.”
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