Improving on last year’s 4-9 boys’ tennis record may come as a tall order for Andy Sarver’s 2008 Bland County Bears. 

Back in her high school playing days, Ashleigh Sarver was a pretty good girls’ tennis player. Her resume` includes a record of 61 wins, 0 losses in singles competition for four years, including an unprecedented four Group A state singles championships. Her doubles record of 58-3 for the same period of time includes one state championship, one state runner-up, and one state 3rd place finish. Only a loss in the 1997 Region C finish prevented a trip to state that year.

West Virginia native Mike Miller is entering his fifth season as Bland County Bears varsity baseball coach and the 2008 season might be his most challenging one yet. He is eager to get it started, however, and meet those challenges head on.

What a difference one point can make. Only days earlier, one point was the difference in Bland County’s 51-50 loss to Northwood in the Region C final. This past Saturday, one point was also the difference in the Bears getting a trip to the big show in Richmond today or going home with their 15th loss of the season.

Final score: 51-50

The Hogoheegee District and Mountain Empire District boys’ and girls’ basketball tournaments continue throughout this week.
Both districts’ girls’ tourneys began Monday night. The Fort Chiswell and George Wythe girls’ teams both received byes to the semifinal round.

Bland County falls to Narrows

Team improves to 4-2 in MED

Final score: 49-45

Bland County loses 61-41