One year after the start of the pandemic brought an end to high school basketball season before boys teams could compete at the state tournament, there were memories aplenty on the hardwood in Charleston.
Some thoughts and observations from the Class A and Class AA state tournaments, which culminated with Man and Williamstown as state champions. (Note: Class AAA and Class AAAA will publish tomorrow.)
Class A
—— Man’s Austin Ball is a force. The 6-foot-7 junior was as steady and consistent as any player in Charleston, scoring 72 over three games to lead the Hillbillies to their first state championship.
When Man struggled to produce offense for much of the title game against defensive-minded Pendleton County, Ball came through in a big way, scoring 10 points in each half to finish with 20 of the game’s 79 points.
Ball’s 72 points led all players at the state tournament and were 20 more than the next highest Class A scorer — Tug Valley guard Caleb May, who scored 52 in two games.
Ball has the skill set to play at the next level and adding strength to his 185-pound frame will only enhance his chances of making that opportunity happen at the Division I level.
Regardless of what the future holds for Ball, he’ll always remember his dunk that marked the final points of the title game and set off a frenzied celebration from the Man faithful.
—— Pendleton County had an impressive showing in its state tournament debut. PCHS played to its strengths, using a methodical style to get past Greenbrier West and Tug Valley, before falling short against Man in the final. The Wildcats had the score and tempo at their preferred pace against the Hillbillies, but came up short down the stretch and were outscored 11-0 to end the game.
Coach Ryan Lambert worked wonders with an experienced Pendleton team, one that rode post players Josh Alt and Bailey Thompson. The Wildcats finished 4 of 17 on three-pointers in Charleston, including 3 of 10 in the title game. Guard Tanner Townsend was 4 of 11 on triples — meaning the rest of the roster did not hit a three and attempted only six.
Without a shot clock, the Wildcats had no difficulty slowing down games and working for the best available shot, which combined with holding opponents to 41 points on average, nearly led Lambert’s team to a championship.
PCHS did not surrender 50 points in any of its 18 games this season. There was some thought that Pendleton’s 40-game win streak dating back to the start of last season was largely predicated off of its schedule, but the Wildcats proved otherwise.
Although Pendleton started four seniors, Lambert’s culture and ability to get players to buy in leaves the Wildcats with plenty of hope in the future.
—— Cameron had a quick stay in Charleston after falling to Tug Valley in a quarterfinal, but the Dragons showed plenty of promise in the 69-55 loss.
CHS trailed by just five through three quarters and was hurt by 6-7 junior Trevor Beresford (the younger brother of former West Virginia player Logan Routt) being in foul trouble. Two of Cameron’s five starters and three of its eight players to see action in Charleston are seniors, suggesting this season could be a springboard for the Dragons.
Class AA
—— Williamstown won its first state championship since 1962 and much of it can be attributed to the Yellowjackets’ defense and free-throw shooting.
WHS held opponents to 28.6 percent field-goal shooting, including 20.5 on three-pointers. The defensive field-goal percentage, along with surrendering 40 points on average, were tops among all 32 teams in Charleston.
In a semifinal victory over Chapmanville and the title game against Poca, the Yellowjackets’ 2-3 zone caused fits for the Tigers and Dots.
For the tournament, seventy-three of the 154 field-goal attempts against Williamstown were three-pointers, and only 15 were made.
As for the free throws, Williamstown made 45 of 62, including 35 of 44 in the semifinal and final. WHS coach Scott Sauro discussed the importance of his team making 21-of-27 tries from the charity stripe following the victory over Chapmanville. His players must have been listening, as they followed it up by making 14 of 17 in the final, including 10 of 13 during a fourth quarter in which they did not record a field goal as they held off a furious charge from the Dots.
—— Poca’s 42-40 win over Charleston Catholic in a semifinal was the most thrilling of the seven Class AA state tournament games from a viewing standpoint.
While the first half was low scoring and saw PHS enter the break with a 17-9 lead, the Irish scored 20 points in the third quarter on the strength of six three-pointers. That enabled Catholic to lead for all but 14 seconds of the fourth quarter.
Only when Virginia commit Isaac McKneely made three-pointers with 23 seconds remaining and again in response to an Aiden Satterfield basket with 1.7 seconds left, were the Dots in front in the fourth.
That final sequence, which featured McKneely hitting a triple to give Poca a 39-38 lead and then another for the final points, was one of the more memorable games in state tournament history.
It was a tough way to go out for an Irish team that was plenty good enough to win it all, but missed all four fourth-quarter free throw attempts and finished 0 for 6 for the game.
Catholic, however, should feel anything but defeated in the aftermath of a tough season-ending loss. Satterfield and fellow senior Zion Suddeth displayed nothing but class in postgame interviews, following in the footsteps of Hunter Moles, who seems to relate to his players as well as any coach in the state.
McKneely was also gracious in defeat the next day, accepting responsibility for his 4 for 22 shooting performance against Williamstown, while vowing to get back in the gym Monday and continue working on his game. He didn’t become the state’s top recruit on accident.
—— Ritchie County’s first trip to the state tournament ended with a 10-point loss to Charleston Catholic in a quarterfinal, but the Rebels held their own.
Despite making 7-of-8 three-pointers in the opening half, Ritchie still faced a five-point deficit at the break after the Irish connected on 7-of-9 triples.
Sophomore Ethan Haught, the son of Rebels’ coach Rick Haught, was an all-tournament team selection after scoring 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting, to go with eight rebounds and five assists.
Haught’s return should only increase expectations ahead of next season for a team that earned its way to Charleston despite being the third seed in a three-team section.
Three of the team’s five starters are seniors, including leading scorer Graden McKinney, but the state tournament experience is something that can’t be replicated.
—— Bluefield is no stranger to state tournaments or state championships, though the Beavers were far from a shoo-in to get to Charleston this season.
A 49-42 loss to Poca in a quarterfinal left Bluefield with a 9-10 record, but the Beavers showed plenty of promise and shot 60 percent (18 of 30) in the loss.
BHS won four straight games before its season-ending setback and hung with the Dots throughout. Sophomore Caleb Fuller had a game-high 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, and with only three seniors, the Beavers will expect to return to Charleston with a better record next season.
They could also benefit from the development of R.J. Hairston, a 6-3 freshman who scored six points in 29 minutes against the Dots.
“We’ll be back up here,” Fuller said. “I promise you that.”