March 21, 2025 • 17 mins
When Coach Stephen Rogers stepped onto the Hendersonville High School basketball court three years ago to lead the Lady Bearcats, he brought more than just X's and O's. He carried forward a legacy that began in Brevard watching his father coach college basketball through the 80s and 90s – though surprisingly, coaching wasn't his initial plan.
"I was kind of nervous and didn't really trust myself with basketball skills," Coach Rogers admits with refreshing honesty. That candor perfectly reflects the approach that transformed the Lady Bearcat program into a powerhouse this season. After starting "a little rocky," the team's three senior leaders organized a players-only meeting that sparked an incredible 13-game winning streak and the program's deepest playoff run in nearly two decades.
What makes Coach Rogers special isn't just the tactical adjustments or the impressive 22-win season – it's his ability to build character alongside basketball skills. The team particularly loved winning road games in hostile environments, facing packed gymnasiums at basketball strongholds like Shelby before eventually falling to state finalist North Wilkes. Beyond the scoreboard, he teaches life lessons that resonate far beyond high school: "You hold your head high and be proud, but remember you're under a microscope, so do the right thing." With a nearly undefeated JV team ready to move up and young talent already contributing at the varsity level, the future of Lady Bearcat basketball shines brightly under his guidance. As he reminds his players before every game on his whiteboard: "All else, have fun, enjoy yourselves, and smile – that's what matters."
Want to hear more inspiring stories from community leaders making a difference? Tune in every Friday at 8:45 AM for the George Real Estate Group's Hometown Hero Series on WHKP.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The George Real Estate Group radio broadcast is
celebrating 10 years on WHKP.
The George Real Estate Group iscelebrating 10 years on the
radio live every Thursdaymorning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7
FM and AM 1450 and streamingonline at WHkpcom.
(00:24):
Each Friday morning at 845,.
The George Real Estate Grouppresents the Hometown Hero Award
to someone in our community whogoes above and beyond to make
our hometown a better place tolive.
Here's this week's HometownHero Show, 845 on Friday morning
.
It's our George Real EstateGroup Hometown Hero Series every
(00:48):
Friday morning and Noah joinsus for that.
I'm so glad he does and we justwouldn't miss it, would we, sir
?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Happy Friday.
I mean, this is my favoritepart of the week, the.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Hometown Hero Series.
I agree, I totally agree howyou been Good.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Are you?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
basketballed out yet?
No, not yet totally agree.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
How you been good.
Are you uh basketballed out yet?
No, not yet.
I mean, this is my favorite.
Also my favorite time of year,uh, between, uh, the ncaa
tournament, of course, themasters as well, coming up in in
april.
So that's right, it's a.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
It's a great time for sports it really is a great
time for everything the, therebirth of spring, and you know,
we've kind of all looked at, uh, stumps and limbs and mud and
stuff for a long time now andwe're about to get some of that
covered up with greenery andblossoms, and I'm well.
Those cherry blossoms are outright now exactly, and it is
beautiful and and you know whatit's.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Also, in regards to real estate, this is when real
estate's picking up.
I mean, by the way, january andfebruary we're.
We have a 6% increase in thenumber of homes sold this
January and February compared tolast January and February in
Henderson County, before thestorm.
Before the storm, isn't that?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
fascinating, it is.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
And so we are continuing to see strong demand.
It's not what it was, obviously, three years ago you know, in
2021, 2022, but it's stillhealthy.
I mean we're averaging some 124single family homes a month
selling, and that's not evenincluding condos, townhomes and
land and, by the way, ouraverage single family home price
in Henderson County is stillhovering around $550,000.
(02:16):
So still strong appreciation.
The home prices are holding,inventory levels are low.
Demand is still healthy.
I mean we've had this demandfor the last two years and so
it's a great time.
And we know real estate happensaround life.
It could be a really positivereason why someone's buying or
selling.
It could be a challengingreason but regardless, the
(02:37):
market's the market, theinterest rates are the interest
rates.
But at the George Real EstateGroup we're here to help our
clients navigate through thebuying and selling process.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
And you guys are in Flat Rock, North Carolina, but
you are everywhere.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
We are All of Western North Carolina and upstate
South Carolina.
We have over 20 agents.
We do again South and NorthCarolina and again grateful to
serve the community through realestate.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Thank you so much, Noah.
We appreciate you serving usand presenting our Hometown Hero
series every week.
Coach Stevengers is in thehouse.
Good morning coach good morning.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
How are you guys this morning?
Speaker 1 (03:09):
we're fantastic, sir, and we really appreciate you
coming out today.
Uh coach, is the uh the coachof the hendersonville high
school jv lady bearcat, andvarsity coach?
Speaker 3 (03:20):
yes and varsity coach um I and varsity coach Um I.
My assistant coach uh, she's uhTiffany Lemons.
She is my JV coach.
And so she graduated, uh, inclass of 1990.
So we're all in the family.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
That's awesome.
How long now you, how long haveyou been the coach in Henderson
, Hendersonville?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
high?
Um at the high school with thevarsity girls.
This is my third.
This is my third season withthem.
Um've been coaching for about14 years everything.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, so it's been a while.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Well, and you were sharing before we got on the air
.
Let's back up.
Where are you from originally?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Originally I'm from Brevard.
I grew up in Brevard, livedthere all my life.
My father coached at BrevardCollege through the 80s and 90s
Basketball.
Basketball yes, lived there allmy life.
My father coached at BrevardCollege through the 80s and 90s
Basketball, basketball, yes.
So then that kind of sparked me, and so then I just went from
there.
(04:18):
When you decided to get intoteaching.
Was coaching always part ofthat dream for you?
Actually, it was not, because Ireally didn't know if I wanted
to, because growing up I waslike, yeah, you know, I kind of
like this.
But then I was kind of, youknow, a little bit I'll be
honest a little bit nervous anddidn't really know and didn't
really trust myself withbasketball skills and stuff like
that.
But then I was like, you know,I sat back and I was like, hey,
you know I can do this.
And so then it just started.
(04:38):
I started at the middle schoolat Hendersonville Middle.
Actually, believe it or notstarted out in volleyball Nice,
assisting at volleyball and thenstarted assisting with the
basketball boys' basketball andthen a year later ended up
coaching both the boys and thegirls at the middle school At
(04:59):
the middle school.
So that was fun and thentransferred on down to.
I went on to the high schoolwhere, um, I learned a lot from
coach featherstone marvinfeatherstone, who's still at the
at the high school with thevarsity boys nice his assistant
for about five years.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
I was sitting back, wow yeah, five years time flies,
yeah, so, yeah.
So your your program.
I mean you've been part of it.
By the way, I bet a lot ofthose students you had in middle
school, I mean you've seen themthrough.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Absolutely.
That is a very self-fulfillingprophecy.
I guess seeing the kids growfrom middle school to high
school and then graduate andthen some of them go on to
college level and then it'sreally awesome to see it's a
great feeling and great I'm sureit is.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Uh, it has to be rewarding.
Well, tell us about this seasonthis season.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yes, well, this season, um, we started out a
little rocky but then, um, Itell you, I have, uh, three
seniors.
Um, they kind of all gottogether with a very young team
and they got together and theysaid we need to get some things
fixed.
So they kind of had a meetingamongst themselves and the girls
bought in and we understood ourroles.
(06:14):
This year, on basketball,you've got a lot of different
positions not necessarily ascore to a rebounder, to going
to make the inbounds pass, dothe little things.
The girls bought into that andwe went on a 14 game, 13 game
win streak.
That's something to be.
(06:36):
That's significant.
Yes, if anything withbasketball, it's really great
for your psyche.
You're walking into a gym.
It doesn't matter if you're athome or if you're away playing
somewhere else but this year'steam they really enjoyed going
to other people's houses andtaking the win from them.
(06:56):
Yes, we thrived on that.
It's nothing that we did notlike about playing at home in
front of Bearcats.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
But it was really rewarding to take a win at
someone else's home court.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
You said that very eloquently.
Yes, I'm not trying to be meanabout that.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
And I will say this year, you know, our first round
of the state playoffs.
We went down to well.
It was a home game and it wasgreat playing at home
first-round state playoffs,which normally doesn't happen
very often.
Normally we have to travel, butthis year we were.
We finished second in ourconference, so that gave us
enough to host a home game.
(07:38):
But then we won that game and wethen had to go down to Shelby
and in the world of peopleliving around here they know
Shelby is a football school, butthey are also a basketball
school and it's a wholedifferent world.
The fan base is huge in Shelby.
(08:00):
So, girls walked into a packedgym.
Wow Tough environment.
Yeah, it was a very toughenvironment but we prevailed
from my underclassmen to, like Isaid, the seniors stepped up
for me.
But, yeah, that was a great win.
And then we went on to NorthWilkes, which is I don't know if
(08:21):
a lot of people know where thatis Well, Wilkesboro no.
Yep, it's north of Wilkesboroand you're not very far from the
Virginia line, really.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
So it's out there.
It was about a three-hour and45-minute bus ride, oh wow.
Oh my, but they were a greatteam.
They ended up playing in thestate championship game.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
The team that you lost to.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, the one that we lost to.
Yeah, they actually went on.
Yes, what an experience.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
It was.
Is this the deepest?
Your team has gone into theplayoffs.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
It is for a while I'm looking back.
I'm really sorry I had to lookback and had some help from
folks in town or at the school.
Actually, let's see, I wastrying to don't quote me on
these dates, but I think thiswas the furthest since I'm
looking back.
I think it was since 05.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Wow, 20 years.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Yeah, that's significant, that is yeah since
they've gone that deep and thiswas our.
You know we've had this 20, wehad 22 wins this year.
That's awesome, but Mike Norman, was the coach before and he
well.
There were several in between,but he had great success back
with the girls when he was there.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
That's wild.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, so it's interesting and I think
Hendersonville High School theydo a great job of keeping up
with the stats and some of thethings from the past and, and I
think that's important, um yeahyou know a lot of these kids
maybe not not right now, whenthey're juniors and seniors and
stuff like that but it's neatfor them to go back and say you
(10:05):
know, hey I was part of that Iwas part of that absolutely,
absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Because, uh, noah, and I work here with our friend
Tippy Cresswell and, as you know, tippy was part of that 1972
state championship team atHendersonville High.
Hendersonville High hasbasketball running through its
veins, but you're talking aboutkeeping stats and so forth.
It wasn't done back in the day.
(10:30):
When we asked Tippy aboutthings like this, noah, he just
says you know it's not.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, it was just a lot of times.
It was what you remembered andthen what was carried on.
But our alumni society at thehigh school is doing a great job
.
They have their alumni room andthey go through and try to do
their best with that.
That's amazing.
Any particular moments thatstand out for you this season.
They have their alumni room andthey go through and try to do
their best with that.
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, any particular moments that stand out for you
this season.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
You know I will say the not trying to build up
anything, but I think it kind ofclicked for the girls this year
, for us, when we played.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
West.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Henderson High School at West and we were able to get
a win.
Wow, that was a big deal.
That was big for our girls.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
This year played West Henderson High School at West
and we were able to get a win.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Wow, that was a big deal, that was big for our girls
this year we had not won atWest in a long, long, long time
and, like I said, going back toyour psyche and just mentally
preparing for the games andstuff like that, it was nice
getting that win.
That's awesome, that it it was.
(11:37):
It was nice getting that win,that's awesome and um but uh.
But you know I I've always toldthe girls the last little thing
I always tell them on thelittle white board that I have
is I give them little pointerswhat to look for, what to do,
and then all else have fun,enjoy yourselves and smile
that's what matters.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
yeah, it is give.
It is Give it your best, havefun.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yes, so you talked about earlier you mentioned
about you know theself-confidence to say I can do
this right, I can do this.
Well, I'm sure you have aspecial place in your heart for
teaching that to these kids.
I can do this.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
You can do this.
Yes, exactly, um you know I, Iguess, um, you know one of the
things that I I try not only toteach the girls basketball, but
also try to teach them uh,things in life and um and how
much during, especially duringbasketball season, with the
success we've had.
Um, you know, lots of peoplewill see you out in the
community.
Lots of people will will knowwhen we walk into a gym, um and
(12:32):
um, you hold your head high andyou'd be proud of that.
And um, but you also.
That means that you, um, you'reunder a microscope, so you got
to do the right thing.
And um, I know they, they areif any of them are listening,
now they're going.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Oh God, coach Rogers said do the right thing.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Um, oh God.
Coach Rogers said do the rightthing, it matters it, does it
does.
It's all about how you carryyourself, and we are bear cats.
So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Well, quickly, we've got about two minutes left.
What's the future?
Tell us about next season.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
The future is bright for us.
We have, like I said earlierI'm graduating three seniors.
I've got two juniors that aregoing to be stepping into the
role of leadership as my seniorsfor next year, and then pretty
much so from there.
I'm a young team, so I'mexcited for that.
Cool.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
And you had a really strong JV team.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yes, yes, my JV team this year, coach Lemon.
Yes, my JV team this year.
Uh, coach lemon, she.
Um, they only lost one gamethis year and you know they are.
They will only play with maybeuh five to six girls throughout
the season, so, um, they don'tget a lot of subbing, um, so the
girls play and that's all thetime.
Yeah, and that's not because Idon't want to have more girls on
the team, it's just, you know,I got to get the word out and
(13:49):
say hey come try out forbasketball.
But this year, like I say wewere a JV team was a young team
too.
It was a lot of freshmen andsophomores.
But that's going to feed intothe varsity program it does.
You're building again thelegacy there.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
And you know one of the legacy there Exactly.
And you know, one of the thingsI tried this year I'll be real
quick about it I brought back aplayer that I had on the team
last year or in the 2024 seasonand she graduated, and that was
helpful, just so that she couldmaybe talk to the girls and just
(14:28):
be.
They could look to her forleadership.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
That's awesome and, for perspective, that's amazing.
Noah's got a certificate foryou here.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
we'd like for you to have Thank you so much Awesome.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
And some certificates to area restaurants and so
forth.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Yeah, and some local gift certificates there, but
we're so thankful for what youdo in the community, thankful
how you lead your teams andagain, it's, it's, you're, it's
not just I mean, it's notbasketball's the vehicle, but
you're having lifelong impact onthese kids.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Well, and and that's one of the things that I I
didn't really realize it untilyou sit down and you think back.
But, um, but yes it is it isgreat.
I enjoy these kids and we learnsomething new every day.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
That's my motto Thank you.
Thank you so much for comingover today.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Thank you, guys.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Noah, we've got about 15 seconds.
Remind us who we are.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Again so grateful to be here sponsoring the Hometown
Heroes series of George Rills'group.
Have a wonderful day, have awonderful Friday and we'll see
you next week.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Join us next Friday morning.
Micah Chrisman from Manor FoodBank will be here on WHKP.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Life has a way of throwing us into deep waters
when we least expect it.
Dr Robin Hanley-Defoe knowsthis firsthand.
One winter day, her car skiddedon ice and plunged into a
freezing river, trapped insinking darkness.
She had seconds to act.
(15:49):
But instead of panicking, shereminded herself I can do hard
things.
She stayed calm, found a wayout and survived.
At the George Real Estate Group, we know that buying or selling
a home can feel like thatmoment Overwhelming, uncertain,
maybe even a little scary.
But here's the thing you can dohard things and you don't have
(16:10):
to do them alone.
With decades of experience,we're here to guide you every
step of the way, turningchallenges into opportunities.
So if you're thinking aboutmaking a move, let's do it
together.
Call the George Real EstateGroup today, because when it
comes to your future, you'restronger than you think.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat
Rock, north Carolina, nearHendersonville in Henderson
County.
You can find them online atrealestatebygregcom.
The George Real Estate Groupcan be reached at 828-393-0134
or stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, flat Rock,
(16:49):
north Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 10.05 am on WHKP
107.7 FM and 14.50 am, or streamonline at WHKPcom or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
These podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
(17:13):
The George Real Estate Groupbrings you the WHKP Hometown
Hero Series every Friday morningat 845.
The George Real Estate Group radio broadcast is
celebrating 10 years on WHKP.
The George Real Estate Group iscelebrating 10 years on the
radio live every Thursdaymorning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7
FM and AM 1450 and streamingonline at WHkpcom.
(00:24):
Each Friday morning at 845,.
The George Real Estate Grouppresents the Hometown Hero Award
to someone in our community whogoes above and beyond to make
our hometown a better place tolive.
Here's this week's HometownHero Show, 845 on Friday morning
.
It's our George Real EstateGroup Hometown Hero Series every
(00:48):
Friday morning and Noah joinsus for that.
I'm so glad he does and we justwouldn't miss it, would we, sir
?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Happy Friday.
I mean, this is my favoritepart of the week, the.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Hometown Hero Series.
I agree, I totally agree howyou been Good.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Are you?
Speaker 1 (01:02):
basketballed out yet?
No, not yet totally agree.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
How you been good.
Are you uh basketballed out yet?
No, not yet.
I mean, this is my favorite.
Also my favorite time of year,uh, between, uh, the ncaa
tournament, of course, themasters as well, coming up in in
april.
So that's right, it's a.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
It's a great time for sports it really is a great
time for everything the, therebirth of spring, and you know,
we've kind of all looked at, uh, stumps and limbs and mud and
stuff for a long time now andwe're about to get some of that
covered up with greenery andblossoms, and I'm well.
Those cherry blossoms are outright now exactly, and it is
beautiful and and you know whatit's.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Also, in regards to real estate, this is when real
estate's picking up.
I mean, by the way, january andfebruary we're.
We have a 6% increase in thenumber of homes sold this
January and February compared tolast January and February in
Henderson County, before thestorm.
Before the storm, isn't that?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
fascinating, it is.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
And so we are continuing to see strong demand.
It's not what it was, obviously, three years ago you know, in
2021, 2022, but it's stillhealthy.
I mean we're averaging some 124single family homes a month
selling, and that's not evenincluding condos, townhomes and
land and, by the way, ouraverage single family home price
in Henderson County is stillhovering around $550,000.
(02:16):
So still strong appreciation.
The home prices are holding,inventory levels are low.
Demand is still healthy.
I mean we've had this demandfor the last two years and so
it's a great time.
And we know real estate happensaround life.
It could be a really positivereason why someone's buying or
selling.
It could be a challengingreason but regardless, the
(02:37):
market's the market, theinterest rates are the interest
rates.
But at the George Real EstateGroup we're here to help our
clients navigate through thebuying and selling process.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
And you guys are in Flat Rock, North Carolina, but
you are everywhere.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
We are All of Western North Carolina and upstate
South Carolina.
We have over 20 agents.
We do again South and NorthCarolina and again grateful to
serve the community through realestate.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Thank you so much, Noah.
We appreciate you serving usand presenting our Hometown Hero
series every week.
Coach Stevengers is in thehouse.
Good morning coach good morning.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
How are you guys this morning?
Speaker 1 (03:09):
we're fantastic, sir, and we really appreciate you
coming out today.
Uh coach, is the uh the coachof the hendersonville high
school jv lady bearcat, andvarsity coach?
Speaker 3 (03:20):
yes and varsity coach um I and varsity coach Um I.
My assistant coach uh, she's uhTiffany Lemons.
She is my JV coach.
And so she graduated, uh, inclass of 1990.
So we're all in the family.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
That's awesome.
How long now you, how long haveyou been the coach in Henderson
, Hendersonville?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
high?
Um at the high school with thevarsity girls.
This is my third.
This is my third season withthem.
Um've been coaching for about14 years everything.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Yeah, so it's been a while.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Well, and you were sharing before we got on the air
.
Let's back up.
Where are you from originally?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Originally I'm from Brevard.
I grew up in Brevard, livedthere all my life.
My father coached at BrevardCollege through the 80s and 90s
Basketball.
Basketball yes, lived there allmy life.
My father coached at BrevardCollege through the 80s and 90s
Basketball, basketball, yes.
So then that kind of sparked me, and so then I just went from
there.
(04:18):
When you decided to get intoteaching.
Was coaching always part ofthat dream for you?
Actually, it was not, because Ireally didn't know if I wanted
to, because growing up I waslike, yeah, you know, I kind of
like this.
But then I was kind of, youknow, a little bit I'll be
honest a little bit nervous anddidn't really know and didn't
really trust myself withbasketball skills and stuff like
that.
But then I was like, you know,I sat back and I was like, hey,
you know I can do this.
And so then it just started.
(04:38):
I started at the middle schoolat Hendersonville Middle.
Actually, believe it or notstarted out in volleyball Nice,
assisting at volleyball and thenstarted assisting with the
basketball boys' basketball andthen a year later ended up
coaching both the boys and thegirls at the middle school At
(04:59):
the middle school.
So that was fun and thentransferred on down to.
I went on to the high schoolwhere, um, I learned a lot from
coach featherstone marvinfeatherstone, who's still at the
at the high school with thevarsity boys nice his assistant
for about five years.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
I was sitting back, wow yeah, five years time flies,
yeah, so, yeah.
So your your program.
I mean you've been part of it.
By the way, I bet a lot ofthose students you had in middle
school, I mean you've seen themthrough.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Absolutely.
That is a very self-fulfillingprophecy.
I guess seeing the kids growfrom middle school to high
school and then graduate andthen some of them go on to
college level and then it'sreally awesome to see it's a
great feeling and great I'm sureit is.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Uh, it has to be rewarding.
Well, tell us about this seasonthis season.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yes, well, this season, um, we started out a
little rocky but then, um, Itell you, I have, uh, three
seniors.
Um, they kind of all gottogether with a very young team
and they got together and theysaid we need to get some things
fixed.
So they kind of had a meetingamongst themselves and the girls
bought in and we understood ourroles.
(06:14):
This year, on basketball,you've got a lot of different
positions not necessarily ascore to a rebounder, to going
to make the inbounds pass, dothe little things.
The girls bought into that andwe went on a 14 game, 13 game
win streak.
That's something to be.
(06:36):
That's significant.
Yes, if anything withbasketball, it's really great
for your psyche.
You're walking into a gym.
It doesn't matter if you're athome or if you're away playing
somewhere else but this year'steam they really enjoyed going
to other people's houses andtaking the win from them.
(06:56):
Yes, we thrived on that.
It's nothing that we did notlike about playing at home in
front of Bearcats.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
But it was really rewarding to take a win at
someone else's home court.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
You said that very eloquently.
Yes, I'm not trying to be meanabout that.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
And I will say this year, you know, our first round
of the state playoffs.
We went down to well.
It was a home game and it wasgreat playing at home
first-round state playoffs,which normally doesn't happen
very often.
Normally we have to travel, butthis year we were.
We finished second in ourconference, so that gave us
enough to host a home game.
(07:38):
But then we won that game and wethen had to go down to Shelby
and in the world of peopleliving around here they know
Shelby is a football school, butthey are also a basketball
school and it's a wholedifferent world.
The fan base is huge in Shelby.
(08:00):
So, girls walked into a packedgym.
Wow Tough environment.
Yeah, it was a very toughenvironment but we prevailed
from my underclassmen to, like Isaid, the seniors stepped up
for me.
But, yeah, that was a great win.
And then we went on to NorthWilkes, which is I don't know if
(08:21):
a lot of people know where thatis Well, Wilkesboro no.
Yep, it's north of Wilkesboroand you're not very far from the
Virginia line, really.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
So it's out there.
It was about a three-hour and45-minute bus ride, oh wow.
Oh my, but they were a greatteam.
They ended up playing in thestate championship game.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
The team that you lost to.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
Yeah, the one that we lost to.
Yeah, they actually went on.
Yes, what an experience.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
It was.
Is this the deepest?
Your team has gone into theplayoffs.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
It is for a while I'm looking back.
I'm really sorry I had to lookback and had some help from
folks in town or at the school.
Actually, let's see, I wastrying to don't quote me on
these dates, but I think thiswas the furthest since I'm
looking back.
I think it was since 05.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Wow, 20 years.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Yeah, that's significant, that is yeah since
they've gone that deep and thiswas our.
You know we've had this 20, wehad 22 wins this year.
That's awesome, but Mike Norman, was the coach before and he
well.
There were several in between,but he had great success back
with the girls when he was there.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
That's wild.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Yeah, so it's interesting and I think
Hendersonville High School theydo a great job of keeping up
with the stats and some of thethings from the past and, and I
think that's important, um yeahyou know a lot of these kids
maybe not not right now, whenthey're juniors and seniors and
stuff like that but it's neatfor them to go back and say you
(10:05):
know, hey I was part of that Iwas part of that absolutely,
absolutely so.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
Because, uh, noah, and I work here with our friend
Tippy Cresswell and, as you know, tippy was part of that 1972
state championship team atHendersonville High.
Hendersonville High hasbasketball running through its
veins, but you're talking aboutkeeping stats and so forth.
It wasn't done back in the day.
(10:30):
When we asked Tippy aboutthings like this, noah, he just
says you know it's not.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Yeah, it was just a lot of times.
It was what you remembered andthen what was carried on.
But our alumni society at thehigh school is doing a great job
.
They have their alumni room andthey go through and try to do
their best with that.
That's amazing.
Any particular moments thatstand out for you this season.
They have their alumni room andthey go through and try to do
their best with that.
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, any particular moments that stand out for you
this season.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
You know I will say the not trying to build up
anything, but I think it kind ofclicked for the girls this year
, for us, when we played.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
West.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Henderson High School at West and we were able to get
a win.
Wow, that was a big deal.
That was big for our girls.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
This year played West Henderson High School at West
and we were able to get a win.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Wow, that was a big deal, that was big for our girls
this year we had not won atWest in a long, long, long time
and, like I said, going back toyour psyche and just mentally
preparing for the games andstuff like that, it was nice
getting that win.
That's awesome, that it it was.
(11:37):
It was nice getting that win,that's awesome and um but uh.
But you know I I've always toldthe girls the last little thing
I always tell them on thelittle white board that I have
is I give them little pointerswhat to look for, what to do,
and then all else have fun,enjoy yourselves and smile
that's what matters.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
yeah, it is give.
It is Give it your best, havefun.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yes, so you talked about earlier you mentioned
about you know theself-confidence to say I can do
this right, I can do this.
Well, I'm sure you have aspecial place in your heart for
teaching that to these kids.
I can do this.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
You can do this.
Yes, exactly, um you know I, Iguess, um, you know one of the
things that I I try not only toteach the girls basketball, but
also try to teach them uh,things in life and um and how
much during, especially duringbasketball season, with the
success we've had.
Um, you know, lots of peoplewill see you out in the
community.
Lots of people will will knowwhen we walk into a gym, um and
(12:32):
um, you hold your head high andyou'd be proud of that.
And um, but you also.
That means that you, um, you'reunder a microscope, so you got
to do the right thing.
And um, I know they, they areif any of them are listening,
now they're going.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Oh God, coach Rogers said do the right thing.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Um, oh God.
Coach Rogers said do the rightthing, it matters it, does it
does.
It's all about how you carryyourself, and we are bear cats.
So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
Well, quickly, we've got about two minutes left.
What's the future?
Tell us about next season.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
The future is bright for us.
We have, like I said earlierI'm graduating three seniors.
I've got two juniors that aregoing to be stepping into the
role of leadership as my seniorsfor next year, and then pretty
much so from there.
I'm a young team, so I'mexcited for that.
Cool.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
And you had a really strong JV team.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Yes, yes, my JV team this year, coach Lemon.
Yes, my JV team this year.
Uh, coach lemon, she.
Um, they only lost one gamethis year and you know they are.
They will only play with maybeuh five to six girls throughout
the season, so, um, they don'tget a lot of subbing, um, so the
girls play and that's all thetime.
Yeah, and that's not because Idon't want to have more girls on
the team, it's just, you know,I got to get the word out and
(13:49):
say hey come try out forbasketball.
But this year, like I say wewere a JV team was a young team
too.
It was a lot of freshmen andsophomores.
But that's going to feed intothe varsity program it does.
You're building again thelegacy there.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
And you know one of the legacy there Exactly.
And you know, one of the thingsI tried this year I'll be real
quick about it I brought back aplayer that I had on the team
last year or in the 2024 seasonand she graduated, and that was
helpful, just so that she couldmaybe talk to the girls and just
(14:28):
be.
They could look to her forleadership.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
That's awesome and, for perspective, that's amazing.
Noah's got a certificate foryou here.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
we'd like for you to have Thank you so much Awesome.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
And some certificates to area restaurants and so
forth.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Yeah, and some local gift certificates there, but
we're so thankful for what youdo in the community, thankful
how you lead your teams andagain, it's, it's, you're, it's
not just I mean, it's notbasketball's the vehicle, but
you're having lifelong impact onthese kids.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Well, and and that's one of the things that I I
didn't really realize it untilyou sit down and you think back.
But, um, but yes it is it isgreat.
I enjoy these kids and we learnsomething new every day.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
That's my motto Thank you.
Thank you so much for comingover today.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Thank you, guys.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Noah, we've got about 15 seconds.
Remind us who we are.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Again so grateful to be here sponsoring the Hometown
Heroes series of George Rills'group.
Have a wonderful day, have awonderful Friday and we'll see
you next week.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Join us next Friday morning.
Micah Chrisman from Manor FoodBank will be here on WHKP.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Life has a way of throwing us into deep waters
when we least expect it.
Dr Robin Hanley-Defoe knowsthis firsthand.
One winter day, her car skiddedon ice and plunged into a
freezing river, trapped insinking darkness.
She had seconds to act.
(15:49):
But instead of panicking, shereminded herself I can do hard
things.
She stayed calm, found a wayout and survived.
At the George Real Estate Group, we know that buying or selling
a home can feel like thatmoment Overwhelming, uncertain,
maybe even a little scary.
But here's the thing you can dohard things and you don't have
(16:10):
to do them alone.
With decades of experience,we're here to guide you every
step of the way, turningchallenges into opportunities.
So if you're thinking aboutmaking a move, let's do it
together.
Call the George Real EstateGroup today, because when it
comes to your future, you'restronger than you think.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat
Rock, north Carolina, nearHendersonville in Henderson
County.
You can find them online atrealestatebygregcom.
The George Real Estate Groupcan be reached at 828-393-0134
or stop by their office at 2720Greenville Highway, flat Rock,
(16:49):
north Carolina.
Tune in live each week onThursdays at 10.05 am on WHKP
107.7 FM and 14.50 am, or streamonline at WHKPcom or download
these podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
These podcasts wherever you getyour podcasts.
(17:13):
The George Real Estate Groupbrings you the WHKP Hometown
Hero Series every Friday morningat 845.
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