It been an interesting week of sports in the local area with teams getting ready to go into playoff action. Magnolia boys had a close one with St. Marys on Tuesday night, February 13, in New Martinsville, losing by two in a late last quarter rally by the Blue Devils. Keep your eye on the Blue Eagles as they are playing better ball and good be a factor in the upcoming tournament. St. Marys is ranked in the top 10 and the Blue Eagles nearly beat them on both occasions this year. The Blue Eagles also led 7th ranked Cameron on the Dragons home floor, Thursday night, in a game that went to the wire, before losing by five. Add to that the game between Magnolia girls and Wheeling Central. It was a good one last Wednesday night with the visiting Maroon Knights ranked in the top five escaping with a three point decision.

Hundred has had tough luck with their girls team after winning 10 of their first 11 games then losing a couple of their top players to injuries for the season. However Ashlyn Peters and Leah Dean have stepped up their game and put forth great efforts with Peters hitting for 27 points and 38 points in her last two outings and Dean getting a triple double in one of the contests.

Paden City senior three sport star McKenzie Thomas has been scoring at a 20 point per game rate most of the season and is close to hitting her 1,000th point. Despite a loss to a tough Tygerts Valley team, she knocked in 35 points, following up on a 39 point game a week earlier. On Thursday night she added another school record by tossing in 42 points in a big 64-12 win over Parkersburg Christian.

I remember back in 1961 when Paden City made it to the regional semi-final game in St. Marys against a strong Cameron team who featured my first cousin Dave Buzzard, a high scoring guard/forward, and his freshman brother Colin. My Aunt and Uncle picked me up and took me to the game with them, the whole way down my Uncle was telling me how bad Cameron would defeat Paden City. However the Wildcats were loaded with great players including Don Brown a 6á6áá center who was a scoring machine as well. It was a great game with the Wildcats getting the win to upset Cameron and my Uncle’s applecart. Cousin Dave made all-tournament team and scored 23 points that night, but the Wildcats had received double figures from three players. Team play and good free throw shooting usually wins games.

I saw in the paper where South Harrison player Austin Peck hit 20 three-pointers in a recent game and ended with a school record 64 points. That a new West Virginia record for 3ás in a game, the previous record was 12. The results came in a 111-29 victory over Clay County.

River Girls won two games last week, by a combined score of 169-20. River 83, Bridgeport 7, and River 86-Conotton Valley 13. Wow! The Pilots have a very strong team who has lost just twice this season, lets hope they can get to the big dance in Columbus.

Get out and support the area teams as they are now playing sectional basketball, and state final wrestling in WV will be March 3 and 4, in Huntington. Spring sports are right around the corner. Good Luck to all.