MOHIGAN JOURNAL-
BIG WEEK COMING UP- DEC.16- by Coach Hoffman
Your coaching staff was out, both Friday and Saturday scouting future opponents. Coach Storm took his time and went to Parkersburg and scouted South and Robert C. Byrd. Both teams are in our tournament, and hopefully we will play both teams. We also scouted UHS, East Fairmont and North Marion.
It seems that Mount View, being the only AA team in this years tourney, caused Coach Yester to opt to play RCB, which has been a state tournament caliber program for years.
"I want to play the best possible schedule that we can," said Coach Yester. "We added the number one AAA and AA teams in the state, and eleven of our twenty-two games are against pre season ranked opponents. The regular season is a time for learning and we want to know what are boys can do against the best teams we can play, not the worst teams we play. You can build in too many easy games (in your schedule) and your players lose focus. If we lose focus, we will lose games."
This week will offer a big challenge for our Varsity and JV teams as we play Bridgeport, whom many think will win the AA state championship again, this year. They feature a talented player at each position, and look like one of the three toughest teams we play, especially at their place. They will win most of their games and head back to Charleston, this year. We will have to play solid defense and handle their physical nature. If they beat us on the boards and get more shots than us, it will be a long night. If you recall, in fall league, we beat them four times but, they didn't have the football players and their best player, Tyler Dodd was on another team. The next night we host East Fairmont. Coach yester set this up to simulate the state tournament. He has three other back to back games scheduled this year. At the state tournament we will have to play Thursday, Friday Saturday. Regular season is our chance to prepare for the end of the season. As many of you know, Coach Yester always paces his season for the final push. As I told the boys at practice on Saturday, "Championships aren't won or lost in December, or January, for that matter. We want to always be preparing for that final push."
I still need 22 tapes from each varsity player, and a $30 check, made out to Morgantown Basketball. You will be given a game tape of every game. Nathan Smith and Chris Ostein, provided a very professional job, during the Preston game. It is one of the best broadcasts we have ever had. They will be great keepsakes.
I thought the "rowdy society" was very good at the first game. These kids came in and helped us turn a lack luster first half, around in the second half. It was one of the loudest crowds our gym has ever had. We had about 600 people at the game and both the students and the adult section were really into it. I wish more could be like David Shaver. He really gets into it and supports the team. Look for the Gorilla to appear this week. That will liven things up, even more. This is important for us to establish more of a home court advantage. I really like having our fans on the opposite side, they seemed to get into it more. Our players all expressed pleasure in the increased support. The only disappointing thing was, that everybody didn't have red on. Come on folks, get out the red clothes. United we stand! I was pleased to see so many Varsity parents at the JV game, supporting the JV's. That has never happened, but we seem to be more of a family than ever. That showed a lot of class and our younger parents need to take note of all the things these senior parents have done for your kids. The Morgantown Basketball program is in the best shape it has been in, for some time, largely due to the involvement of these senior parents.
I would like to thank all of the players and parents that came and helped clean the gym last weekend. The seniors had 100% participation. We cleaned the floor and the walls, and the place looks a lot better. The custodians, Ronnie and James, expressed their gratitude. They work many long hours and we should appreciate the work they do. Their schedule doesn't allow much time to be in the gym. The work we did will help them keep up the cleanliness of the gym, we hope.
My Father and Mother are in for the holidays. They will be at the East Side game as they will be there to watch the JV's battle my brothers team, then the Varsity will try to figure out how to guard Kyle, my Nephew. East Fairmont handed Preston their second loss of the season, by about the same score as us, 61-46. Their game was played at the Castle and East had no trouble with Preston. Our East game will be interesting. The East JV's lost to Preston, in a close game, but Preston looked a lot better then they did against us. I always say that My Brother Mark, is the best coach I coach against. He knows how I think, but this year he is going to be mixed up, because I don't know what I think. Christmas dinner always tastes better after a victory.
Games this week: Tuesday JV and Varsity at Bridgeport
Wednesday JV and Varsity host East
Thursday Frosh host Buckhannon

We'll see you at the games and Go Mohigans!