The Charlestown Lady Pirates traveled to Mitchell Indiana for another out of conference basketball match-up against the Lady Jackets.  Charlestown earned their third straight victory with a 55-40 advantage, improving their season record to 5-7.  Top scorers for the Lady Pirates were Bri Harvey, finishing with 21 points, Lexi Logsdon added 13 points, and Bethany Hall, Erin Kimbrell, and Gabi Gagnon all three finished with six points each respectively.  Next for Charlestown will be hosting the 40th annual Girls Basketball Holiday Tourney Tuesday and Wednesday (Dec 22nd and 23rd) in the CHS Sports Arena.  Charlestown will play Providence Tuesday evening at approximately 7:30 pm; after Silver Creek and Clarksville play at six.

The Charlestown Lady Pirate Basketball team improved to 4-7 on the season after outlasting visiting Floyd Central (4-7) in double overtime in the CHS Sports Arena Wednesday evening.  After leading the majority of the game, Charlestown allowed the Highlanders to push the game to extra frames twice before prevailing 52-46 in non-conference play.  The Lady Pirates outscored Floyd Central 11-4 in the first period, and 22-18 at the half.  Charlestown was led in scoring by Bri Harvey’s 18 points, balanced by Senior Lexi Logsdon’s 14.  Samantha Matthews hit the shot of the game in during first overtime, hitting a deep jumper at the buzzer to tie the score at 45, and send the game into a second overtime.  The Matthews shot spurred the hosts in the second overtime to put the Highlanders away; not only avenging last year’s overtime heartbreaking loss, but also giving the Lady Pirates a fourth win over Floyd in the last eleven match-ups.  The Charlestown Lady Pirates next travel to Mitchell Saturday for a noon Junior Varsity tip and subsequent Varsity tip at approximately 1:30 pm versus the Bluejackets.

The Charlestown Lady Pirate Girls Basketball program will be hosting a community-wide event on Monday evening, November 2nd, open to the public.  The season kick-off event will include a Chili-Supper, Silent Auction and Girls Basketball Exhibition games, all at the Charlestown High School beginning just after 5:00 pm.  The Chili Supper will take place in the Charlestown High School Cafeteria, from 5:15 pm to 8:00 pm.  The Chili Supper will cost $6 per person and will include chili and drink (come and go as you please).  Admission to the exhibition games is $2 per person, see below schedule.  Auction Items will be baskets in the Main Gym that people can bid on.

Exhibition Game Schedule, all on the Main CHS Sports Arena Court:

600-610: (6-7 year old CBDL Teams) ( Storm vs Liberty ); 610-620: (6-7 year old CBDL Teams) (Fever vs Dream ) ; 625-635: (8-9 year old CBDL Teams) (Lynx vs Sky ); 635–645 (8-9 year old CBDL Teams ) (Mercury vs Shock); 645-655 (8-9 year old CBDL Teams) (Spark vs Sun); 700-710 (10-12 year old CBDL Teams) (Stars vs Mystics); 710-720 (10-12 year old CBDL Teams) (Sting vs Rockers); 725-740 : Jonathan Jennings vs Pleasant Ridge; 740-755: CMS 6th Grade CYLP Team vs  CMS 7th Grade; 755-810: CMS 8th Grade vs CHS Split JV Team; 815-830: CHS Split JV vs CHS Varsity.

The Charlestown High School Girls Basketball Program concluded their Fall Youth Basketball Skills Academy, which began on August 15^th and ended this past Saturday, September 26^th.  This was a free event that was offered to any player from the 3^rd-6^th Grade.  There were a total of twelve sessions that had over 50 players that attended and averaged around 28 players per session.  These young ladies were coming in Tuesday nights from 6:00-7:30 and Saturday mornings from 8:30-10:00 am.  Coach Prichard and  his staff were very satisfied by the turnout and the hard-work that these players put in, by working on their skills.  He stated that, “there seems to be a shift in how youth sports are conducted these days, whether good, bad, or indifferent, according to Prichard.  “ Many sports now play more games, than they ever practice and pay a heavy price in the wallet and pocketbook for it”.  “All I know is that I still believe in the importance of repetition of skills over game play,  and keeping things affordable”.   There were also 6 girls that had perfect attendance, and earned, “Totally Committed Player” trophies.  It is now our programs hope that these players join our basketball developmental league (CBDL), tryout for their school teams, and maybe even take that next step to play on a travel team.

The Skills Academy was really a community wide effort.  Many girls coaches from all levels in Charlestown came back to help out with these sessions, along with former players.  So a big thank you goes out to Former Players :  Treasure McFarland (Class of 2000), Kristin Pickerell (Class of 1998), Angela Coleman (Class of 1996),  Kaelin Thacker (Class of 1998),  Kristin Cox (Class of 1992),    Coaches:  Jim Worley, Steve Miller, Chad Crace (High School Staff);  Kristin Traub (Middle School Coaching Staff),  John Orr and Jeff Farmer (Elementary Coaches) Russ Hooker and Jimmy Watson (CYLP).

Super 6 – (Totally Committed Players/ Perfect Attendance Winners):  Left to Right:  Kylee Payton,  Kenyada Neyhart, Taylor Smith, Gabrielle Hooker, DeMaria King, and Alanna Snyder.  For more information about Charlestown Lady Pirate Basketball, go to www.PiratePride.BLUE/GirlsBasketball.