Fort Defiance basketball: Neil Diamond, candy and preparing for its first state tournament in years

FORT DEFIANCE — Kirby Ransome hears the song in her head every night as she's trying to fall asleep.

"Sweet Caroline," by Neil Diamond. Fort Defiance basketball coach Mike Gale plays it at the end of every practice when his team is shooting free throws. Gale started doing that when he was head coach at Stuarts Draft. It's just continued as he's moved to another part of Augusta County.

"Fifteen years from now that song's going to come on and they're going to think about this," Gale said. "Maybe it will bring a tear to their eye and they'll think about missing basketball."

Gale said that partially with tongue in cheek, although for Ransome and the other five seniors on the Fort roster, it's getting close to the time that high school basketball becomes just a memory. Fort has, at most, three games remaining in its magical season.

The first of those three are Friday night when Fort travels to Carroll County High School in Hillsville for the Class 3 state quarterfinals. It's the first time since 2003 that Fort Defiance girls basketball has reached the state tournament.

Fort Defiance is 20-4 this season, champions of the Shenandoah District and top seed in Region 3C. Ransome said the Fort students have been very enthusiastic about the team's success, especially since the postseason began.

"The gym's packed," said Ransome, an all-Region 3C first-team selection. "I've never seen it so packed. It's amazing to see."

Looking back to her freshman year, senior Lilian Berry said she would have never believed anyone who said this team would end up in states before she graduated. Ransome said she would have had doubts if someone had said that at the beginning of her senior season. Yet, here they are.

"It's just a special experience for all of us," Berry said.

All of this in the first year with Gale in charge. The veteran coach brought along "The System" style of play, shooting lots of 3-pointers and playing hard-nosed, in-your-face defense that constantly presses the opponent.

"He's been super supportive, especially since we were coming into a whole new system," said junior Ellie Cook. "He's done nothing but help us grow into better basketball players."

With the basketball season extending into March, several players are missing early practices and scrimmages with their spring sports teams. Two of those players will actually be Division I scholarship athletes in those sports — Berry will play softball at Penn State next year and Cook has committed to James Madison University soccer.

Berry said missing the start of softball isn't a concern for her or her coaches and teammates.

"I think they're proud of us for going so far," she said. "They're just rooting us along. We'll get there when we get there."

The players hope that's not until after next week. If Fort wins Friday it would have a quick turnaround to play in the semifinals Monday against the winner of Spotswood and Staunton River. The state championship in Class 3 is scheduled for Thursday, March 10.

This Thursday will be the final practice before a trip to Hillsville Friday. When the players finish they will head to the locker room, stopping at a candy bucket on the way in for a postgame treat — Gale said that was a tradition at Fort before he arrived, so while he supplies the candy he can't take credit for the idea — but not before a few more renditions of "Sweet Caroline."

"It's the worst," Ransome said. "I've heard it so many times ... it's terrible."

One day, a decade or so down the road when she hears that song again, Ransome will probably change her mind as she thinks about this special season and all that Fort has accomplished.

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Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Fort Defiance girls basketball prepares for the state tournament quarterfinals