MCMECHEN, W.Va. — Bishop Donahue’s boys basketball team has its target on a trip to the state tournament in Class A, coming out of a loaded Region 1, Section 1. The Bishops entered the week with a 15-6 record overall, with solid wins on the year over Clay-Battelle, Magnolia, Madonna and Charleston Catholic.
Bishop Donahue beat the Class A powerhouse Irish 80-58 earlier this month on February 1st.
“Our expectations were high and we are kind of flying under the radar a bit,” Bishop Donahue head coach Tom Wise said. “I had my top seven guys coming back from last year and we have a really good group of guards – two of them are outstanding long-range shooters. And we have a 6-foot-5 post player who I haven’t seen in Class A anyone as good as he is up to this point.”
One of those guards is all-state quarterback Jesse Padlow leading the way for the Bishops.
“He is a great competitor and I think that’s essential,” Wise said. “He sees the floor and is outstanding getting the ball out of his hands to run our transition game. We score a lot of points, and it comes from full-court pressure and transition. He’s still growing and that’s the good news.”
That 6-foot-5 post-player is junior Chaice Truex who has become a big presence inside for Bishop Donahue.
“He’s had some huge games this year and been over 20 rebounds twice,” Wise said. “In the OVAC (championship game) he had 25 boards and 25 points. We haven’t had to use it much, but he’s also an outstanding outside shooter.”
The Bishops claimed the No. 2 seed in their section, right behind top seed Wheeling Central. Magnolia is the three seed, followed by Madonna at No. 4.
“It’s ridiculous to be honest with you,” Wise said of the section depth. “It’s a shame that only two teams are going to have a chance to make it out. Throughout the year we’ve all been in the top 10 in the state.”
Cameron and Hundred are also in that section, seeded No. 5 and 6 as well. You can watch the complete High School Sportsline interview with Wise above.
| BISHOP DONAHUE Boys Basketball Schedule |
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| 1 | 12/20/13 06:00PM | H | BEALLSVILLE, OH H.S. | 110 | – | 43 | W | |
| 2 | 12/21/13 07:30PM | A | CAMERON | 65 | – | 50 | W | |
| 3 | 12/27/13 07:15PM | A | WHEELING CENTRAL CATHOLIC | 58 | – | 63 | L | |
| 4 | 12/28/13 07:00PM | A | CLAY-BATTELLE | 71 | – | 54 | W | |
| 5 | 12/30/13 06:00PM | H | ST. JOHNS,OH H.S. | 98 | – | 38 | W | |
| 6 | 01/03/14 06:00PM | A | CATHOLIC CENTRAL, OH H.S. | 59 | – | 63 | L | |
| 7 | canceled | A | PADEN CITY | – | ||||
| 8 | 01/09/14 06:00PM | A | LINSLY, WV. H.S. | 47 | – | 61 | L | |
| 9 | 01/10/14 06:00PM | A | BEALLSVILLE, OH H.S. | 87 | – | 34 | W | |
| 10 | 01/14/14 06:00PM | H | TORONTO,OH H.S. | 86 | – | 61 | W | |
| 11 | 01/15/14 07:00PM | A | PADEN CITY | 75 | – | 54 | W | |
| 12 | canceled | A | TORONTO,OH H.S. | – | ||||
| 13 | canceled | H | MAGNOLIA | – | ||||
| 14 | canceled | A | TYLER CONSOLIDATED | – | ||||
| 15 | canceled | H | LINSLY, WV. H.S. | – | ||||
| 16 | 01/29/14 06:00PM | H | PADEN CITY | 82 | – | 55 | W | |
| 17 | 01/30/14 06:00PM | H | LINSLY, WV. H.S. | 90 | – | 97 | L | |
| 18 | 02/01/14 01:00PM | H | CHARLESTON CATHOLIC | 80 | – | 58 | W | |
| 19 | canceled | A | MAGNOLIA | – | ||||
| 20 | 02/06/14 06:15PM | A | TYLER CONSOLIDATED | 67 | – | 51 | W | |
| 21 | 02/07/14 06:00PM | A | NOTRE DAME | 67 | – | 83 | L | |
| 22 | 02/11/14 07:00PM | H | PADEN CITY | 78 | – | 50 | W | |
| 23 | 02/15/14 05:30PM | A | TRINITY | 77 | – | 53 | W | |
| 24 | 02/17/14 06:00PM | A | MAGNOLIA | 87 | – | 73 | W | |
| 25 | 02/18/14 06:00PM | A | TORONTO,OH H.S. | 90 | – | 64 | W | |
| 26 | 02/21/14 06:00PM | A | MADONNA | 72 | – | 67 | W | |
| 27 | 02/22/14 02:00PM | H | MAGNOLIA | 55 | – | 61 | L | |
| 28 | 02/26/14 06:00PM | H | ST. MARYS | – | ||||
| wins: 15 lost: 6 ties: 0 | ||||||||