Basketball Preview 2016

Patriots Girls Feel Ready to Contend in AAA

By JOSH STROPE WHEELING — The script has flipped for the Wheeling Park girls. In one year, the Patriots went from being young to experienced. “Experience was one of the things we lacked the past few years but that has all changed,” Wheeling Park coach Ryan Young said. “We expect to be in every game and expect to win every game. “Our strengths will be our speed and experience. The kids understand their roles and it has to be all of them together. We don’t have one kid that is going to carry us. “We are a little undersized, but we will make up for ...

Knights Always Thinking States

By KYLE LUTZ WHEELING — Every successful program goes through a rough stretch at one time or another. That time may have been the 2015-16 season for the Wheeling Central girls’ team. Penn Kurtz’s young team had to overcome some adversity throughout the season as the injury bug plagued some of key players. It was also the first time since 2003 that the Maroon Knights did not make the trip to Charleston for the West Virginia Class A Tournament as Madonna defeated them during sectional semifinal. But with a lot of experience coming back, the Maroon Knights look to get back on ...

Central Boys Out To Impress

By KYLE LUTZ WHEELING — Wheeling Central coach Mel Stephens knows that a player like Chase Harler comes around once in a blue moon. The former Maroon Knight sstandout has moved on to Morgantown at West Virginia University. However, that does not mean the cupboard is bare. The Maroon Knights have four returning starters from last year’s squad that made it to the West Virginia Class A state championship game before losing to St. Joseph in overtime. “We’re not going to replace Chase,” Stephens said. “I think a lot of times when you have that really good player, ...

Boggs, Tyler Girls Look To Build Off of 2015

By TRACY WATSON KIDWELL — As usual the Tyler Consolidated girls’ basketball team is getting a late start to practice due to what Coach Cathy Boggs calls “a wonderful problem to deal with.” That so-called problem is the fact the Silver Knights are yearly participants at the West Virginia High School Volleyball Tournament, which also delays a good portion of her team from arriving for basketball. With volleyball over, Boggs has her team assembled and will boast three returning starters and plenty of players who logged good varsity minutes last year. Tyler ...

Jones Optimistic on Knights

By TRACY WATSON KIDWELL — With three starters returning, one of which missed most of last season with a knee injury, plenty of experience and some new, unexpected faces on the roster, Tyler Consolidated Head Coach Rob Jones is optimistic his team can turn thing around this season. The Silver Knights were young and inexperienced, and suffered through plenty of injuries, in finishing last season with a 5-18 record. “We started two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior most of the time last year, a lot of that due to injuries,” Jones said. “But I am very optimistic ...

Chapman Back To Pace Magnolia

By TRACY WATSON NEW MARTINSVILLE — As the long-time girls’ basketball coach at River High, and entering his third season at Magnolia, Tom Tisher knows what it takes to win and feels that his Blue Eagles may have a little bit of that magic. Coming off a 16-7 record, and a trip to the regionals, Magnolia returns four starters from last season and a great nucleus of younger kids as well. The biggest hole to fill will be that of 1,367-point scorer Grace Berisford, who picked up her diploma last spring. Also gone from that team are Anna Gibb, Cedar Sands, Mandi Theordora ...