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By KYLE LUTZ
MOUNDSVILLE -- Since around the middle of the season last year, it was becoming pretty clear that the John Marshall boys' team was getting to where they wanted to be. With a young team on the court, the Monarchs started to play up to their potential. With three returning starters in senior Logan Grimm and juniors Gunner Thompson and Krsna Nathini, John Marshall looks to take that next step.
This season, Chad Clutter will be in charge of the surging Monarchs. Before making the move to JM, Clutter coached at Cameron for 14 years and made them a contender every year as he tallied a record of 193-124, including three sectional titles, five Mason Dixon Conference Championships and had a winning season 13 times. He also has been named the Mason Dixon Coach of the Year five times along with receiving the OVAC Sportsmanship Award three times.
"Coaching at JM as a new school just reminds me of the early years at Cameron," Clutter said. "New players, new parents and you get to start from scratch by implementing a new set of expectations and overall philosophy of basketball. It's kind of exciting. I am looking forward to building a positive and competitive program at John Marshall."
It seems like the whole school is excited to try and take part as over 50 players from Grades 9-12 attended tryouts.
"You start with gaining the interest of players and get them to want to be a part of a positive program," Clutter said. "Seeing a total of 52 players from grades 9-12 is exactly where you want to be. It creates a great sense of competition."
Grimm, who broke the school record for most 3-pointers is the lone senior for the Monarchs. Along with Thompson, who made Third-Team All-State in Class AAA, and Nathini, the juniors are Tanner McLaughlin, Brandon Dougherty and Dustin Hall.
The sophomores include Ryan Campbell, Sean Fitzpatrick, Tyler Haynes, Hunter Hobbs, Devin Norris, Aaron Reid, Tyler Sadoski, Brennen Wright and Bryce Yoho.
"We are in the early stages of putting together a team of like-minded players that will make each other better on and off the court," Clutter said. "We will expect our players to execute the evenings game plan, be the best of teammates to each other and have the confidence to place ourselves in a situation for a chance to win each and every night."
Coaching Cameron for several years, Clutter knows what it is like to be in a competitive atmosphere as West Virginia Class A Section One had one of the most talented sections with Magnolia, Bishop Donahue, Wheeling Central and Madonna.
Moving on up to West Virginia Class AAA, Clutter will see the talents of Wheeling Park, Brooke, Parkersburg, University, Morgantown and some big Ohio schools with Steubenville and Union Local.
"AAA is tough in West Virginia," Clutter said. "Our schedule falls right in the middle or slightly above average as far as being competitive. We know we will have to bring our "A" game night in and night out in order to gain double-digit wins this season, but then again I never step on the court without expecting to win. Those players who prepare in practice and have that same kind of mentality will be the heart and soul of the 2016-17 Monarchs."
Clutter is assisted by Jason Eikleberry, Justin Eikleberry and Zach Robertson.