Boys Basketball Preview 2023

Martins Ferry Purple Riders Expect To Resume Winning Ways

MARTINS FERRY — Derek Edwards enjoyed another successful season at the helm of the Martins Ferry boys’ hoop program last winter. The Purple’s 2022-23 campaign should prove a solid foundation for continued Riders’ winning in Edwards’ eighth year in charge of his alma mater Edwards, a former Associated Press D-III Coach-of-the-Year, guided the Ferrians to a sparkling 18-4 mark a year ago, including the OVAC Class 3A Tournament runner-up trophy, falling victim to Linsly in the championship game. “I was quite pleased with last year. We played in a lot of big games and won a ...

Red Devils Putting Growing Pains Behind Them With Seasoned Squad

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The St. Clairsville boys’ basketball team was younger than it’s ever been a season ago. Head coach Ryan Clifford is hoping that experience for his young players will pay off moving into the upcoming season. “We played four sophomores for the first time in the history of the school last year,” Clifford said. “We didn’t talk about it in the paper or try to join a different league. We worked and got better and by the end of the season we found ourselves in the district tournament.” Two seniors who did provide leadership last year were Luke Porter and ...

Steubenville Has Pieces To Replace With Late Arrivals Coming In

STEUBENVILLE — When one coaches basketball at a school that’s a perennial football power, they get used to getting a bit of a late start.  Veteran Big Red head coach Mike Haney is certainly in that category.  While, due to the Big Red football team’s run to the state semifinals, his team may be getting a later start than most, he’s excited about what they can when they get in basketball shape and get to their full potential by midseason.  “We’re used to it, we just went through the same thing last year,” Haney said. “Last year we practiced three times and went ...

Bruins Facing Adversity Even Before Opening Tip

WELLSBURG — It’s a new season in Wellsburg for the Brooke boys’ basketball team, but it’ll be another rendition of next man up, albeit, with a slight wrinkle. In 2022-23, the Bruins took the court down a pair of 20-point scorers with an entirely new starting lineup. Then-junior Leyton Toepfer responded with a breakout season, finishing with an honorable mention All-W.Va. Mention in Class 4A in helping the Bruins hover around the .500 mark against a daunting schedule. What “should” have been a season with four returning starters and some added additions has quickly ...

Weir Ready For Next Step After Regional Run

WEIRTON — Weir High is coming off a successful season last winter, finishing as Region 1 and OVAC 4A runners up and Section 1 champs while racking up 15 wins. That success and the gradual improvement each year under now fourth-year head coach Anthony Santangelo has led to a lot of excitement entering this season. “It was huge for the program,” Santangelo said of the regional run. “You saw the excitement in the community, you saw it amongst the guys. It’s very exciting. It’s my fourth year and that excitement from last year is huge.” Departing from that group were ...

Blue Eagles Return Plenty Of Experience, Talent For Last Year In Class Double-A

NEW MARTINSVILLE — Experience will be one of the strengths for Coach Dave Tallman and his Magnolia boys’ basketball team heading into the 2023-24 season with a pair of seniors and two juniors returning to lead the show for the Blue Eagles. In all, Magnolia’s returning players averaged nearly 50 points and over 20 rebounds a game total last season. With a roster consisting of 15 players, Tallman feels that his squad could have a little bit of an advantage in preparing for teams. “There is a lot of competition for positions and practice has been very fun,” Tallman admitted. ...