PROSPERITY, W.Va. — Greater Beckley Christian spent the last several weeks as the top-rated Class A team in the MetroNews Power Index. The Crusaders (19-2) entered sectional play having won 12 straight games.
“We had a really good group back this year with a lot of good experience,” said coach Brian Helton. “We’ve been fortunate enough to be a participant in the state tournament the last two years, so we certainly had a lot to build on coming back this year. Our guys have been really focused this year against a really difficult schedule.”
When last season’s state tournament run a season ago ended with a quarterfinal loss to fourth-seeded Clay-Battelle, a hungry group set its sights on returning to Charleston.
“Our kids started in the weight room in March,” Helton said. “They’ve played together all offseason and really stuck together throughout the fall. They’re just really good teammates. They all like each other, they all get along, and they all have the same goals.”
Senior guard Elisha Kid averaged over 20 points per game last season, and he’s putting up 25 per game this season, shooting 58 percent from the field and 41 percent on 3s. But it’s an improved cast around him that has made the Crusaders even more of a postseason threat.
“We have four players averaging in double figures,” Helton said. “I think that really speaks to the guys playing unselfish basketball and being willing to share.”
Sophomore Isaiah Francis is averaging 15 points, six assists and just one turnover per game. Another sophomore, Cortney Walton, is averaging a double-double.
Then there’s 6-foot-8 senior Brent Daniels averaging nearly 10 points per game.
“It’s a very balanced team and we’re very excited about the way they play together with good chemistry,” Helton said.
Greater Beckley Christian turned some heads on Dec. 20 with a win over Class AAA contender Capital.
“That seems like ancient history now,” Helton said. “But it was obviously a big win and early in the year set the stage for us. Our guys realized that we could be successful.”
The Crusaders split the regular-season series against 14-6 Tug Valley and yet drew the No. 2 seed in Class A Region 3, Section 1, behind the Panthers. There has been no griping, though, on Helton’s end.
“We’ll have Man in our first sectional game Tuesday, so that’s really what we’re focused on now,” Helton said. “We’re hoping we’ll be able to travel to Tug Valley this week, because that means we would have advanced past Man.
“From the seeding standpoint, the rules are established and we knew the rules going in. To get upset over that would be ridiculous and really unproductive on our part. As long as we get to play and have a shot to advance, we’re good with that.”
The complete interview with Helton is posted at the top of the page.
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| GREATER BECKLEY CHRISTIAN Senior Basketball(B) Schedule Events |
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| 1 | 12/18/14 | 07:30PM | H | CROSS LANES CHRISTIAN | 101 | – | 28 | W |
| 2 | 12/19/14 | 07:00PM | A | PARKERSBURG CATHOLIC @ BLUEFIELD TOURNAMENT | 82 | – | 43 | W |
| 3 | 12/20/14 | 07:00PM | A | CAPITAL @ BLUEFIELD TOURNAMENT | 83 | – | 70 | W |
| 4 | 12/29/14 | 02:00PM | A | RICHLANDS VA @ BRUSHFORK ARMORY | 70 | – | 63 | W |
| 5 | 01/02/15 | 07:30PM | H | MAN | 96 | – | 52 | W |
| 6 | 01/03/15 | 07:30PM | A | TEAYS VALLEY CHRISTIAN | 92 | – | 41 | W |
| 7 | 01/09/15 | 07:30PM | A | TUG VALLEY | 47 | – | 50 | L |
| 8 | 01/13/15 | 07:30PM | H | CHARLESTON CATHOLIC | 72 | – | 57 | W |
| 9 | 01/20/15 | 07:30PM | H | WESTSIDE @ RALEIGH CO. CONVENTION CENTER | 67 | – | 73 | L |
| 10 | 01/22/15 | 07:30PM | A | FAYETTEVILLE | 74 | – | 41 | W |
| 11 | 01/24/15 | 07:30PM | A | MAN | 91 | – | 57 | W |
| 12 | 01/26/15 | 07:30PM | A | MOOREFIELD @ BIG ATLANTIC CLASSIC | 82 | – | 51 | W |
| 13 | 01/29/15 | 07:30PM | A | GILMER CO. @ BIG ATLANTIC CLASSIC | 73 | – | 49 | W |
| 14 | 01/30/15 | 07:30PM | A | TRINITY CHRISTIAN | 64 | – | 42 | W |
| 15 | 01/31/15 | 07:30PM | A | MAGNOLIA | 84 | – | 79 | W |
| 16 | 02/03/15 | 07:30PM | H | FAYETTEVILLE | 93 | – | 40 | W |
| 17 | 02/06/15 | 08:00PM | A | Pikeview @ WJLS TOURNAMENT | 66 | – | 48 | W |
| 18 | 02/07/15 | 12:00PM | A | Trinity Christian @ WJLS TOURNAMENT | 72 | – | 56 | W |
| 19 | 02/11/15 | 11:30AM | A | ST. JOSEPH @ CHARLESTON SHOOTOUT | 69 | – | 54 | W |
| 20 | 02/13/15 | 07:30PM | H | TUG VALLEY | 47 | – | 45 | W |
| 21 | 02/25/15 | 7:30PM | H | PIKEVIEW |
68 | – | 58 | W |
| wins: 19 lost: 2 |
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