Led by Lindsey Martin’s hot hand and stifling team defense, Carroll County rolled past Richlands 49-24 in a Southwest District game Dec. 22 in Hillsville.

Martin knocked down five 3-pointers and scored 17 points — all in the first half — as the Lady Cavaliers cruised to a 37-17 halftime lead. Even with the starters seeing limited action in the second half, Carroll (7-1, 2-0 SWD) continued to harass the Blue Tornado, who scored just seven points after intermission and shot just 16.3 percent from the floor (7-of-43) for the game.

“We played excellent for the first two-and-a-half quarters. We were up 27 about halfway through the third, and even then the girls defended,” Carroll County head coach Marc Motley said. “Really the only drawback I saw was in 6-for-17 at the free throw line. We have to do a better job of that.”

Led by a barrage of 3-pointers, the Cavaliers took control of this game early, taking an 18-7 edge less than six minutes in as Carroll connected on its first four shots from downtown. After a driving basket by Kayla Goins, Martin and Goins both knocked down 3-pointers to put the Cavs up 8-0 less than three minutes into the game. After Richlands pulled to within 12-7, Martin and Rachel Dalton responded with back-to-back treys to put the Cavs back in front 18-7.

Carroll started the second quarter strong as well with Kaitlan Viars scoring in the paint and Goins adding another basket for a 24-12 advantage. Then Martin really got going from beyond the arch. The Cavalier sophomore drilled three more 3-pointers over the next three minutes to help Carroll increase its lead to 34-17. Martin went 5-for-6 from 3-point land in the first half as the Cavs rolled up a 20-point lead at the half.

“Lindsey had 17 and didn’t see the floor in the second half. The reason we didn’t take her out in the second quarter is because we like to ride somebody when they are hot,” Motley said. “We did an excellent job of finding her. Every time she was open, we made sure we found her. That’s not the first time she’s hit four or five in a game. She can flat light it up when she gets hot.”

Carroll put the game on ice in the third by outscoring Richlands 9-2 in the frame. Viars scored two baskets, while Rachel Dalton and Cydnie Cornell each had one in the quarter.

Richlands committed five turnovers in the third and only made 1-of-12 field goal attempts from the floor in the quarter. Motley was happy with the way his team played while being able to rotate players in and out throughout the contest.

“We were able to get 10 (girls) in during the first quarter and when I can get 10 in the first quarter I am really pleased,” Motley said. “We’ve had a game or two where I’ve pulled back my starters that didn’t play with fire the previous game. It showed them that there is nobody we put on the floor that is not expendable. The good thing is it is competitive and keeps them going.”

With a tough early season slate that has featured games with local powers Radford, Patrick County and Pulaski County, the Cavs have been tested and have succeeded for the most part as it gets into the meat of its district schedule.

“We talked to our kids the other day about three seasons — a regular season, a district season and the postseason. We play the regular season to get ready for district and the postseason,” Motley said. “We play all the top competition we can find in our area so we can be ready in the postseason. Then if we go 12-0 in the district, we will be that much better for it.”

Martin led the Cavs with 17 points, while Goins tossed in 12. Rachel Dalton and Viars each added six points for Carroll.

Rachel Alley’s eight points led Richlands.

Richlands 9 8 2 5 — 24

Carroll Co. 20 17 9 3 — 49

Richlands — Ringstaff 0 1-2 1, Robinson 2 1-2 7, Ferrell 2 0-0 5, Ratliff 0 1-2 1, Richardson 0 2-3 2, Alley 3 2-4 8. 3-pointers — Robinson 2, Ferrell 1.

Carroll — Fink 0 1-4 1, Goins 5 1-2 12, R. Dalton 2 1-2 6, Neely 0 0-2 0, Cornell 2 0-0 4, Scott 0 1-2 1, Martin 5 2-2 17, Viars 3 0-1 6, S. Dalton 1 0-2 2. 3-pointers — Martin 5, Goins 1, R. Dalton 1.

Carroll Co. 57, Galax 19

Lindsey Martin continued her tear from 3-point land Dec. 23 as the Cavaliers hammered Galax 57-19 in Hillsville.

Martin, who knocked down five treys in the first half of a win over Richlands the day before, canned four more 3-pointers and led the Cavaliers with 16 points. Rachel Dalton also connected three times from beyond the arc and scored 10 points, while teammate Shyann Dalton also reached double figures with 10 points.

Carroll took control of this game early and never looked back, racing out to a 23-3 lead. The Cavaliers did not allow more than six points in any quarter as the Maroon Tide were limited to just nine points in the first half and 10 in the second half. Carroll’s lead grew to 38-9 at the half and 50-15 heading into the final period.

Kaitlan Viars scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Cavs, who had nine different players score in the win.

Galax 3 6 6 4 — 19

Carroll 23 15 12 7 — 57

Galax — Russell 5, Bryant 4, Bobbitt 4, Shoemaker 4, Cassell 2. 3-pointers — none.

Carroll — Martin 16, R. Dalton 10, S. Dalton 10, Viars 6, Goins 4, Singleton 4, Dickens 3, Cornell 2, Neely 2. 3-pointers — Martin 4, R. Dalton 3, Dickens 1.