Notice how this article from the Gazette does not mention any Mohigan player even though we have been to states 4 out of last 5 years and the semi-finals the last 2 seasons.
Boys tourney: Tex’s swan song just one story
By Rick Ryan
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Tex Williams’ farewell appearance will be only one of many interesting storylines for this week’s boys basketball state tournament, which tips off Wednesday morning at the Civic Center.
Williams, the longtime coach at St. Albans, and his Red Dragons figure to be the sentimental favorite of the four-day event, since he’s already announced his resignation at season’s end. Twice he’s led SA teams into the Class AAA finals, losing by one point each time.
St. Albans squares off with Capital at 7:15 p.m. Thursday.
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Williams admits he’s breathing easier these days, relieved that SA upset George Washington in the regional finals to earn an unexpected trip to the big show.
“Yes, yes, yes,’’ Williams said. “With all the factors, and this being my final year, it certainly is a pleasing thing to be at this point. If someone would have asked if making the state tournament would be a satisfying goal, I’d say yes, it would be. Everything after that, naturally you’d enjoy. We feel we’ve had a high achievement to make it this far.’’
Carl Clark, who’s led Capital to a pair of state championships, realizes what the Tex factor means. Not too many unattached fans will be pulling for the Cougars this week.
“Everybody wants Tex to go out as a winner,’’ Clark said. “Regardless of whether he wins the ballgame or not, he’ll go out as a winner. That’s the way I have to look at it. I have the utmost respect for Tex. St. Albans is my [alma mater]. I would hope they do well, just not against us.’’
But St. Albans won’t be the only interesting story at this week’s tournament.
At least two schools that bring sizable fan followings — Woodrow Wilson and Logan — will be back in town, along with some teams making their very first trips:
* Calhoun County, a school that’s been around for 81 years, finally broke through the regional logjam and advanced in Class AA. The Red Devils will face another Kanawha Valley favorite, Winfield, in the tournament’s opening game at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Oak Glen, which went through several lean decades as a Class AAA team, is another first-timer in the Class AA field. The Golden Bears (24-0) ousted defending champion Magnolia in overtime in the Region 1 finals and are the state’s lone remaining unbeaten team.
* Trinity, a non-denominational all-faiths school from Morgantown, will play in the Class A tournament in just its third postseason try. Trinity, which plans to open a 36-acre campus next year in Sabraton, started in 1997 and joined the SSAC three years later.
Several of the state’s top players will also be convening at the Civic Center, led by St. Albans’ Adam Williams, a 6-foot-5 senior wing and a University of Kentucky recruit. The son of coach Tex Williams, he averages 22.6 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists and earlier this week won the Bill Evans Award as the state’s player of the year.
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Here are some more notable players competing at the Civic Center this week:
* Josh Miller, Capital — A 5-9 junior point guard and returning first-team all-stater with exceptional ball-handling skills, he averages 19 points and nine assists.
* Zach Green, Logan — A 6-2 senior guard who averages 24 points, 10.5 rebounds and five assists and has canned 55 3-point field goals.
* Duncan Williams, Hedgesville — A 6-0 senior guard and one of the state’s best-kept secrets. He averages 16 points and has had three 11-assist games this season.
* Justin Jarman, North Marion — A 6-8, 220-pound forward and VMI recruit, he’s one of just two state players to already sign with a Division I school, joining St. Albans’ Adam Williams.
* Adam Fletcher, St. Albans — A 6-9 junior center, he averages 22 points and double figures in rebounds and is already having Division I scouts attend his games.
* Luke Samples, Oak Glen — A 6-3 senior post player, he averages 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Bears.
Marcus Davis, Calhoun — A 6-3, 220-pound senior guard whom averages 27 points, eight rebounds and four assists and has scored nearly 1,900 career points, breaking the former school record of his father and coach, Tim Davis.
* Migel Lockett, Robert C. Byrd — A 5-10 junior guard who averages 20.8 points and ranks among the state leaders with 72 3-point goals.
* Patrick Patterson, Huntington — A promising 6-7 freshman who’s second on the team in scoring at 12.1 points and one of five underclass starters for the No. 4 Highlanders (21-3).
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* Ben Shrader, Mercer Christian — A 6-0 senior guard who ranks second in the state in scoring (28.2 points). He’s scored 46 in a game twice this season, and poured in 42 at the Civic Center during the 2002 West Virginia Hoops Classic.
* Davey Fields, Tolsia — A 6-0 senior guard who averages 16 points and leads West Virginia with 79 3-point field goals.
At least two rematches of note will also take place in the opening round this week:
* Valley and Parkersburg Catholic tangle in the Class A quarterfinals at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The Crusaders outlasted the Greyhounds 61-58 in double overtime in the 1999 title game.
* Williamson and Wheeling Central vie in another Class A first-round game at 1 p.m. Thursday. The Maroon Knights edged the then-defending champion Wolfpack 62-60 on a last-second tip-in during the 2002 tournament quarterfinals.
To contact assistant sports editor Rick Ryan, use e-mail or call 348-5175.