Photo by Brian Hoffman
Women who have played basketball at Lord Botetourt High School are invited to attend a “Tribute/Alumni Night” on December 22 in Daleville when the Cavaliers host Blacksburg. This will be a celebration of 57 years of girls’ basketball at LB.
Rodney Spickard, who was a standout for the LB boys’ team during his high school days and has children who were LB athletes, has been compiling information and highlights of the history of the girls’ team at LB. He has been working on it for the past several months with help from former LB coach Chuck Pound and current coach Renee Favaro.
“They have been helping me by checking my research and providing info to me,” said Spickard. “I decided because of the success of LB girls’ basketball for the last few decades I would put together a history of the team going back to the first team in 1969. For the first 10 years of the school, there was not a girls’ team, only boys.”
Spickard’s work has resulted in the following account.
By Rodney Spickard
The first Lord Botetourt girls basketball team was formed in the fall of 1969 under the leadership of Head Coach Anne King. Coach King led the team for nine seasons and won the Roanoke Valley tournament in 1971 and 1972, going a perfect 11-0 in 1971.
In the Fall of 1978, Coach Ed Purdy came to LB from Botetourt Intermediate School and took over as head coach and led the team for seven exciting seasons (78-79 to 84-85) while laying the groundwork for the success of future Lady Cavs teams. In addition, Coach Purdy was a valuable contributor to the Lady Cavs from 1993 to 1999 as an assistant coach and was part of the 1995 and 1996 State title teams. Coach Purdy was on the sideline as head coach or an assistant for a total of 13 seasons.
In the Fall of 1985, Coach Ralph Moore took over the team for three seasons and led the team to three straight Region III tournament appearances while winning the Blue Ridge District in the 87-88 season.
Then Coach Kelly Caputo led the team for one season (88-89) with a winning record of 15 wins and 7 losses.
In the Fall of 1989, David Wheat took over as head coach and led the team for eight exciting seasons, including two State titles in 1995 and 1996. Coach Wheat’s teams also won the Blue Ridge District three seasons (93, 95, 96) and the Region III tournament in 1995. Overall, Coach Wheat compiled a record of 135 wins and 47 losses, a winning percentage of 74 percent.
Coach Chuck Pound took over the Lady Cavs in the Fall of 1997 after being an assistant coach for b team since arriving at LB in 1987. Coach Pound was head coach of the Lady Cavs for a record 22 incredible seasons. Coach Pound led the team to a State title in the 2017-18 season (the Lady Cavs’ third State title ) and the State runner-up in the 2004-05 season. In addition to the State title, Coach Pound led the team to seven State tournament appearances, three Region III tournament titles, four Region III runner-ups, 15 Region III tournament appearances, 10 Blue Ridge District titles and four Blue Ridge District runner-ups.
Coach Pound compiled an incredible record of 404 Wins and 159 Losses; a winning percentage of 71.8 percent.
In the Fall of 2019, Renee Guilliams Favaro, a former Lady Cavs player, assistant coach and 2004 LB graduate, became the head coach and started off with an incredible first season, winning the Region III title and State title (Co-Champs due to COVID). In Coach Favaro’s second season, that was shortened by COVID, the team made a Region III appearance. In the 2024-25 season, Coach Favaro’s team won the Lady Cav’s fifth State title with an incredible 26-3 overall record.
In addition to two State titles, Coach Favaro has led the Lady Cavs to two Region III titles, a Region III runner-up, two Blue Ridge District Titles and three Blue Ridge District runner-ups. Coach Favaro has made the Regions all of her six seasons and a total of three State appearances that includes the two State titles.
Coach Favaro has compiled a record of 117 wins and 29 losses; a winning percentage of 80 percent.
In summary, LB has had 33 consecutive winning seasons with an overall record of 629 win and 208 losses for a 75 percent winning percentage. That includes five state titles, one state runner-up, 13 state appearances, six Region III titles, seven Region runners-up, 27 region appearances, 18 District titles and eight District runners-up.
Lord Botetourt grads who played in college
Name-LB Class-College
Gina Hilger 1989-Air Force Academy
Jenny Gates Griffin 1994-William & Mary
Sarah Hicks 1997-Virginia Tech
Ashley Moore Schoombee 1994-Campbell University
Sara Moore Jackson 1997-Campbell University
Nikki Moats Ratcliff 2006-Tennessee/Roanoke College
Amber Graham Hamme 2002-Campbell University
Kristin Graham Hunt 2004-Campbell University
Renee Guilliams Favaro 2004-Francis Marion University
Molly Hassell Simme 2016-Roanoke College
Marggie Quarles Haiges 2017-Lynchburg College
Brooklyn Shelton 2019-New York University
Ainsley Anderson 2024-Lander University
Grace Blaylock 2009-UNC Asheville
Sarah Boeren 2008-Bridgewater College
Whitney Dix Fry 2002-Emory & Henry College
Kate Spradlin Failla 2015-Longwood University
Maddie Caron 2025-Lenoir Rhyne University
Madilyn Winterton 2025-Lenoir Rhyne University
Amanda Farmer 2010-Ferrum College
Hannah Ward 2011-Roanoke College
Emily Wampler 2013-North Greenville University
Abby Kingery 2025-Hollins University
Gracie Huffard 2024-USC Aiken/Hollins University
Grayson Alfano 2024-Hollins University
Tamara Phillips 2006-Hollins University
Sarah Bane 2017-Randolph College
Hannah Bane 2017-Randolph College
Taylor Orange 2024-Ferrum College
Kelley Huffard Murphy 1985-Ferrum College
Lori Frier 1986-Ferrum College
Mandy Nichols-Hollins University
LB Mother and Daughters who played basketball
Mother-Daughter
Sherry Saville Graham-Amber Graham & Kristin Graham
Donna Spickard Wampler Simmons-Chelsey Wampler Craft
Jenny Gates Griffin-Olivia Griffin & Meredith Griffin
Alisa Ferrill Gunter-Kenleigh Gunter
Amanda Slusher-Paige Van Patten
Summer Plunkett Underwood-Addalyn Underwood
